Joe Blogger: post creampuff

I figured I'd give a little race report of the Creampuff -

The fam and I headed out on Fri the 10th - set up camp that night and hung out on Sat enjoying each other and the towns of Westfir/Oakridge. Notice the great pics taken by my personal photographer/wife:

The next morning was not unlike any other early morning race prep - bunch of people shoving food down their pie hole and long lines to the can, and the pre race jitters. At this point I felt pretty good.

The race started about 5:10am - a 2 mile rolling start with a pace vehicle - then we were on our own. It was cold and damp. About 4 miles in I hit dirt, a 7 mile climb straight up. After that, pass though aid 2, on to the tiger mountain trail. A brutal trail with screaming fast descents, switch backs, hike a bikes, and a ton of mud. Approx 25 miles into the race I passed aid 3 - mandatory 1 min stop - then the 20 miles back to aid 2 - this loop was done twice.

For whatever reason the first 65 miles were brutal for me - felt nauseous - soaked to the bone - got bit by some weird forest bug though my shorts that removed a little flesh, and my spirits were just plain low. At 60 miles I was getting a little pouty and contemplated dropping out - I knew it would not get though the the contemplation phase - but it did get there.

My second time though aid 4 (between 3 and 2) I was sick of feeling sick so I shoved my face full of red vines and M&Ms - I figured I'd feel better or worse - that was the trick, and I started racing. Soon after I was at aid 2 again and I got another boost - the whole fam was there for support. A quick change from my summer to winter gloves and I was off again.

A little aid station heckling from my 14 year old.

From there to the end I felt great ~ 30 miles, - I was doing a bunch of passing and actually enjoying the ride - all the way to the finish - where I recieved my coveted finishers hat.