2007 - Year 14 - Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 Run and Freeze Your Fat Ass Swim - Results

Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 - 2007 Starter Photo

1 January 2007
 
Why is it that every year when I write this run report, the first thing that comes to mind is the weather?  The weather is always awful on New Years Day in Vancouver.  This year was right up there with the worst weather in the 14-year history of the event.  The fact that almost 100 people even bothered to get out of bed on such an ugly morning is proof sufficient that there are a lot of crazies out there.
 
While there was no ice or snow, it was rainy, cold and windy from start to finish.  I personally don't love to run in the rain.  I don't even like to get my shoes wet.  New Years Day, however, is the one day of the day of the year I suck it up.  My expectations are low.  We will get wet.  We will get cold.  It will be harsh.  My day started off on the wrong foot this year because the moment I stepped out of my car I stepped into a deep puddle and got a cold soaker.  All of the other starters, however, seemed to be happy to be alive and healthy enough to be able to go for a resolution run.

This, the 14th year of the Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50, will go down in the history books not as just another wet and cold resolution run, but as as the year of the big blow-down.  In early December, Vancouver was hit by a particularly severe wind storm that blew down thousands of trees in and around the city.  The devastation in the start/finish area was so severe, I had to reroute the course in a way that avoided the interior trails of Stanley Park.  All along the route this year, we saw uprooted trees, fallen limbs and branches and other debris.
 
What is it about people from Coquitlam that makes them so cheerful in the pissing down rain?  As I slowly made my way up from the back of the pack, I caught up to a tight group of keeners who were congregated around Pete Stace-Smith.  These folks were having way too much fun!  They even had a van full of home baked cookies, sport drinks and other goodies that followed them along the course that they shared with all of the other participants.  Pete, who brought 20 of his friends to Club Fat Ass in 2006, won Missionary Position recognition for attracting new Club members.  Thank you, Pete and Norco, for your community spirit!
 
Karen Smith is also part of the lore and legend of this event.  I don't think I'd recognize Karen at a cocktail party as I've only ever seen her on her bike in the driving rain on New Years day wearing a pink wig in some costume or other.  Karen always has some signs of encouragement for the "Fat Asses" and is always full of encouragement.  Thank you, Karen, for again being such a thoughtful cheerleader!

Pat Barry and Gottfried Grosser, both past finishers of the 50K, set up a fabulous oasis of home baked cookies, gels, chocolate covered almonds, sport bars and fluids at the 25K turnaround point.  What a welcome sight they were!  Apparently CITY-TV and News 1140 radio came by to ask them a few questions.  Did you see yourself on TV or hear yourselves on the radio later?  Thanks, Pat and Gottfried for standing out in the rain for so long and for dedicating your day to helping out.
 
Our 15K through the trails of Pacific Spirit Park were downright warm in comparison to the  howling  winds that buffeted the 50K runners next to the ocean on Spanish Banks.  A sailboat had broken from it's mooring at the Royal Vancouver Yaught Club and was being dashed against the rocks of a breakwater as we passed by.  It was painful to look out over English Bay at Stanley Park and think that it's a good 15K more to the finish.  Thanks to Rob McDonnald and Rick Arikado for the kick in the butt while I was walking... without it, I'd have likely frozen to death.
 
Once in Stanley Park on the "new" course, the temptation to cut across to the  finish at the totem poles was great.  Karl Jensen kept me honest, however, and we crossed the finish and kissed the fire hydrant hand in hand.

Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 - 2007It was still raining. It was still cold. Yet the toughest challenge of the day was still in front of us.  As Karl headed for the warm showers, Rainy Kent and I ran back down to the seawall and went into the icy water of Burrard Inlet for a polar bear swim.  While I didn't keep records,  my guess is that about 25 runners also completed the swim leg of the event.  Gary Robbins won the "Chilly Willy" award for being the longest in the water.  Gary also set a new event record (35 minutes) for being longest under the hot shower.

Once warmed up and dry, we concluded the event at the Mosquito Creek Grill with a toast to the new year and recognition prizes for everyone present.

May 2007 bring you health, happiness and prosperity.

Ean Jackson
Host of the Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50K Run and Freeze Your Fat Ass Swim

PS  GPS (Global Positioning System) generally doesn't lie when there is no tree canopy.  Despite my best efforts at measuring the course in the past, I hereby acknowledge publicly that that the "traditional" route was long.  Just about everyone I spoke to also liked the seawall route on the return leg, so assuming the trails are open next year, I propose the  start be through the Stanley Park trails but the finish be along the eastern seawall.

PPS  More photos here
 
 
First Name Last Name Event Points Time  Member
Chris Benn 50km 2 4:19  
Gary Robbins 50km 2 4:19  
Tim Wiens 50km 2 4:19  
Patricia Jensen 50km 2 4:23  
Mark Shorter 50km 1 4:23  
Ellie Greenwood 50km 2 4:35  
Michel Richard 50km 2 4:43  
Ran Katzmann 50km 2 4:54  
Rob  MacDonald 50km 2 4:55   
Geoffrey Palmer 50km 2 4:56  
Desmond Mott 50km 2 4:58  
Ryan Conroy 50km 2 4:59  
Jeb Breckenridge 50km 1 5:02  
Chris Collingwood 50km 2 5:02  
David Crerar 50km 2 5:03  
Glenn Pace 50km 2 5:03  
Lannie Thielen 50km 2 5:05  
Stephen Blyth 50km 2 5:06  
Celina Coombs 50km 2 5:06  
Ean Jackson 50km 3 5:06  
Karl Jensen 50km 2 5:06  
Eric Stacey 50km 2 5:06  
Patrick Hinds 50km 2 5:07  
Rainy Kent 50km 2 5:07  
Ken Legg 50km 2 5:07  
Gavin Tansley 50km 2 5:07  
Rick Arikado 50km 2 5:10  
Barry Kegler 50km 2 5:15  
Ron Adams 50km 2 5:18  
Cheryl Dumaresq 50km 2 5:30  
John O'Connor 50km 2 5:30  
Jim Rupert 50km 1 5:31 no
Rick Smith 50km 2 5:33  
John Little 50km 2 5:35  
Rhonda Gallant 50km 2 5:38  
Susan MacRae 50km 2 5:38  
Mark MacRae 50km 2 5:38  
Heather Somerville 50km 2 5:38  
Angela Spooner 50km 2 5:38  
Peter Stace-Smith 50km 2 5:38  
Peter van Gaalen 50km 2 5:38  
Darren Sawchuk 50km 2 5:38  
Keith Nichol 50km 2 5:54  
Ross Nichol 50km 2 5:54  
David Jenkins 50km 2 5:55  
Betty Wiens 50km 2 5:55  
John Ahern 50km 2 5:56  
Mike Richen 50km 2 6:00 no
Baldwin Lee 50km 2 6:03  
Sheldon Boreen 50km 2 6:10  
Duncan McRae 50km 2 6:19  
 
 First Name  Last Name  Event  Points  Time  Member
Todd Ulriksen 37km 2 4:04  
Rhonda Schuller 35km 2 4:30  
John Neels 33km 2 2:56  
Susan Reynolds 33km 2 2:56  
Kathy Banks 32km & bush whack 2 3:45  
Donna MacIntosh 32km & bush whack 1 3:45  
Doug MacKay 31km 2 3:19 no
Ann Taylor 25km 2 2:15  
Amanda Barlow 25km 2 2:18  
Randy Savoie 25km 2 2:26  
Kim Taylor 25km 2 2:26  
Dan Daoust 25km 2 2:30  
Mark LeFung  25km 1 2:30 no
Marlene Coleman 25km 1 2:30 no
John Machray 25km 2 2:35  
Sal Bugliarisi 25km 2 2:36  
Lori Clerkson 25km 1 2:36  
Don Murray 25km 2 2:36  
Chris Tomkinson 25km 2 2:36  
Owen Davis 25km 2 2:40  
Joyce Reid 25km 2 2:40  
Craig Moore 25km 2 2:57  
Michele Sherstan 25km 2 3:01  
Sibylle Tinsel 25km 2 3:01  
Sharon Bryson 25km 2 ?  
Catherine Harrison 25km 2 2:16  
Rebecca Marshall 25km 1 2:02  
Danelle Laidlaw 25km 2 3:12  
Sharon Street 25km 1 3:12  
Isabelle Thielen 23km 2 2:23  
Arlene MacAulay 23km 2 2:23  
Lori Moody 15km 2 1:51  
Niel Ferguson 15.5km 2 1:47  
Sheldon Low 15.5km 2 1:47  
Maureen Wiens 14km 2 1:38  
William Jans 13km 1 1:14 no
Kandice Leaf 12km 2 1:30  
Kelly Vermette 12km 2 1:30  
Jessica Watson 12km 2 1:30  
Sarah Weinkam 12km 2 1:30  
Rea Blyth ? 2 1:30  
Elizabeth McQuaid  12km 2 1:30  
Ruby Willis 2km (injured)+ crew 2    
Carie Moran 2km (injured)+ crew 2    
Bradley Jones 25km 2 2:33  
Julie Jones 9km 2 :56  
Tim Lepard Custom 2 ?  
Pat Barry Crew 1    
Gottfried Grosser  Crew 1    
Kristina Andersen 0 -1 did not sign in  
Alana Arnold 0 -1 did not sign in  
Lyndsay Belisle 0 -1 did not sign in  
Nelson de Amaral 0 -1 did not sign in  
Corey Doell 0 -1 did not sign in no
Al Harman 0 -1 did not sign in  
Sam Winslow 0 -1 did not sign in  
Gilles Barbeau 0 -1 dns  
Tom Skinner 0 -1 dns  

My Sorry Half Ass

After last years epic 50km on New Years Day I had my heart set on a repeat, but alas it wasn't meant to be.  Despite an increase in our training runs, Michele, Pat and I just couldn't get our mileage up enough to realistically attempt 50km.  When the snow in late November and the storms of early December put a damper on some of our runs we finally declared defeat and aimed for the 25km distance.

The question in the final preparation of this run always is how much partying and drinking can you handle without suffering too much the following morning.  Well, my neighbors child decided he can handle a hell of a lot of partying and didn't consider my need for sleep after an evening of snowshoeing and chocolate fondue on Seymour Mountain (Dom, take note, Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 - 2007you can get altitude and snow and still brave the wet elements to start the New Year) and before a 25km run.

I crawled out of bed with a splitting headache, feeling like I was the one who emptied all the beer bottles that littered the street.  Luckily, there is always vitamin I ;-)  By the time Ean send us of around the east side of Stanley Park I felt slightly better and enjoyed the morning scenery around Coal Harbour and Lost Lagoon. 
 
Photo: Sibylle, Michele and Isabelle rounding Kits Point
 

Like last year, we kept leap frogging Baldwin, who followed some version of the run/walk schedule.  As we approached Burrard Street Bridge, he was definetely ahead of us and I started to feel my hips and was looking forward to the trails of Pacific Spirit Park.  Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 - 2007

 

Turning onto Chestnut Street right after the bridge we picked up a lost lamb.  Turned out Isabelle Thielen missed Kits Point and backtracked, loosing her front position.  Thanks for staying with us for a while, Isabelle.  You certainly pushed us to be much faster than usual.

Photo: Approaching Burrard Street Bridge, not the pack of Fat Asses crossing the bridge

Despite the forecast for rising temperatures, it felt like it was getting colder.  The rain was now mixed with snow and a steady icy wind blew in from the ocean.  Getting into the protection of the trails felt good.  My strides were getting shorter by the minute.  Michele was going strong, but kept me company.  Thanks, Michele.  Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 - 2007

Photo: Karen Smith cheering on the Fat Asses

After crossing 16th Ave, we began to see the faster runner on the return leg.  A welcome distraction and the first sign that the finish was in reach.  Boy, do I love that slight downhill on the trail parallel to Marine Drive just before hitting the turnaround, or in our case the finish.  Pat and Gottfried welcomed us and supplied hot beverages.  I would have liked to hang out longer to see the few runners that were behind us, Sharon, Rhonda and Danelle and her friend, but we realized that we needed to get out of our wet clothes quick and took Owen and Joyce up on their offer of a ride back to the start.

As always, despite the adverse weather we seem to have every New Years Day, it was a great way to start the New Year.