Ah ha! I think we have the solution. Dump DH for the ride and ride your pace. Trust me, you have the legs but you must ride your pace. Lots of warm-up time and no more than a comfortable pace for the middle portion. You know the hills are at the end (wasn't that in Susan's post about the ride?) so save your energy for them.

Not that I don't have fun riding with my DH, but sometimes they are just a hindrance.