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Dear Friends and Members of Club Fat Ass,
Yikes, where has the year gone? It's November already! The days are gray and dreary and most of our running is in the rain. Time to think positive and start planning for a great 2008.
Have you got Christmas presents for everyone on your "A" list yet? (What do you mean you've not even given it a though? What do you think about on those long runs, anyway?) An annual membership in Club Fat Ass is a gift that gives all year long. If your loved one's needs are more along the lines of a hoodie, BBQ apron or (gasp!) a thong, check out the Club Fat Ass store for great gift ideas!
The Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 is the first event of 2008. If you haven't started training for it (the Club Fat Ass event that started it all way back when in 1994) you better get your rear in gear. Only 8 more weeks to go... and it's already close to being full. Rembember to get your registration in before 1 December to be included in the draw for a membership refund. And if you want your collectors edition 2008 shirt - the first of the ClubFatAss Wear label - better get your dips in before 31 December 2007.
Happy Trails,
Sibylle Tinsel
Chief Executive Fat Ass
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UPCOMING EVENTS
 Go Home: 17 November 2007 - North Vancouver, BC. This is a challenging but beautiful 20 km course on lower Seymour Mountain. Register here.
CFA/Peak Centre Group Testing: 17 November 2007 - Burnaby, BC. Sorry for the timing conflict with Go Home, but your personal testing session should fit in nicely after Go Home in the afternoon. If you are plotting your fitness goals for 2008 and missed last weeks seminar, make sure to check out Peak Centre Vancouver and set up  your pesonal testing session. Click here for details.
Photo left: Foot Gear during 2006 Mike and Melissa's Fun Run
Mike and Melissa's Fun Run: 24 November 2007 - North Vancouver, BC. This late fall challenge is not to be missed. Check it out here.
Pure Satisfaction: 9 December 2007 - North Vancouver, BC. 12km or 24km on slippery, wet, rooty, dark trails...the perfect way to start the busy Christmas season. Bring your bear and jingle bells and wear your Santa hat. Details here.
Photo right: Ethelyn, the trusty crew weathering the cold and drizzle during a past Pure Satisfaction Run
 Photo left: Your Event Host for the Galbraith Mountain Tour
Galbraith Mountain Tour. A 20 or 5.8 mile trail run of the Lake Padden & Galbraith Mountain trail systems near Bellingham, WA. Prepare for the lack of stairs, boulders, roots and bears but with all the fun of the true single track. If we have clear weather there will be amazing views of Mt. Baker, San Juan Islands & the Northshore mountains of Vancouver. More details here.
NEWS
2008 Club Garment. Introducing FatAssWare, designed by CFA member Vanessa Fors and cut, sewn and screened in Vancouver, Canada. The 2008 shirt is one you don't want to miss: long-sleeved in a environmentally friendly, no-stink fabric. The colours are still under wraps. Check Sibylle's blog for future updates. Renew or sign-up as a CFA member before January 1st to make sure you get yours!
2008 Membership Registration. Well, it's that time of the year again: Registration and Renewal for Club Fat Ass for 2008 is now open!
New members can participate in all remaining events and seminars in 2007 as well as all of the 40+ free events the Club offers during 2008. Renewing members can benefit from all Club events in 2008 starting on New Years Day. (Note: The Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50K run and Freeze Your Fat Ass swim on January 1 is limited to 100 and is filling up quickly.)
As always, your membership dues include a special Club garment. The 2008 Club t-shirt is extra special (collectors take note!) As in previous years, we expect to have the new shirts ready for mail-out toward the end of February. To make sure you get the limited edition 2008 Club colours, you must sign up before December 31st, as that's when the order goes in. As an added incentive, if you register before December 1st, you will be entered in a draw for a refund of your membership dues. Don't miss out, sign up now!
Your dues will cost you a little more this year. This is partly due to the higher cost of providing you with a top-quality t-shirt and partly due to our overall need to keep the Club sustainable. 2008 membership dues are $75 (with t-shirt) and $50 (without t-shirt) plus any t-shirt shipping costs. With over 40 events and growing, that translates into less than $2 per event... an amazing value. All Club events will continue to be free for members.
New Year's Resolution Contest. It's never too early to start thinking about your New Year's Resolutions! With the new year getting closer every day, I've been thinking about what I can still do to achieve my 2007 fitness goals. This got me thinking about what I'll do with my sorry ass in 2008. Yikes. As in 2006 and 2007 we once again offer CFA members and anyone else who is interested a place where they can log their 2008 fitness resolutions.
You can look at this as a goal-setting tool, as a way to keep yourself honest or as a contest to see how close you come to meeting your goals. More information at 2008 New Years Resolution log.
Free 2009 memberships. Just a reminder that all Event Hosts of scheduled events in 2008 will automatically receive a complimentary 2009 membership in Club Fat Ass. Time to start thinking about your signature event. More info here or contact our Event Host chair person, Berglind. A big thank you to our Club Event Hosts for putting back into the community by hosting free events.
Promoting your Club. We would love your help in promoting the Club in person and online. The easiest ways to achieve this are, of course, to wear your Club t-shirt and tell your friends. Another is to provide a link to our website on your blog or website. We also have a nice brochure we'd like to get into race packets, community centers and running stores. Please contact me if you would like some brochures to distribute.
CLUB FAT ASS ON THE WEB
    
PAST EVENT RESULTS AND REPORTS
 Flash - The Nifty 50 Triathlon: Action Jackson turned 50 and used this memorable day to host a little unconventional triathlon. We ran and swam and ate chili. There was standing room only at the chili judging table. Rating the chili's was extremly difficult. They were all yummy and special. Read about the event, see some photo's and find out which chili took top honours here.
Photo right: heading up Mosquito Creek during the run leg of the Nifty Fifty Triathlon.
Speaker Event - Heart Rate and Lactate Based Training: Event Host - Peak Centre Vancouver. Here is Ean's feedback: "Thank you so much for your time and insights, Anita. I've been "sold" on the concept of heart rate and zone-based training for quite a while, but have slacked off a lot over the past few years. Hearing you speak about all of the advances in knowledge about human performance has got me very excited about getting back on a program. I'm about to enter a new age category and would love to end this year with some hardware. While the prospect of having to do intervals in the rain doesn't get me all that excited, I very much look forward to working with you to figure out how to get the most out of what I've got. Sign me up! "
Photo left: Ellie Greenwood sporting her CFA shirt at the Taj Mahal in India
 Flash Fall Fat Ass: Event Host - Gilles Barbeau. Well, participation was modest but all were enthusiastic including our supporting crew, Lucinda. Weather was so so, but that's the West Coast and that's why we have big trees. Chad Hyson and myslelf completed the 50k distance. He dragged my fat chunky butt back to the fire hydrant in 5:38. Lorraine and Karl joined us about midway on the return to complete about 23km in 2:45. Both looked good, well Lorraine looked better, and Karl seems to be doing well after a bout of back pain and he's defenitively building himself back up to 100 mile shape.
 Ann's Get your Fat Ass Off the Couch: Thanks to all who participated in this years inaugural Ann’s Get Your Fat Ass Off The Couch. The day was met with grey skies and rainy conditions but 30 diehards showed up for a great run. I’m sure many considered staying in their nice cozy beds….but how guilty would we have felt?! The course was very slippery, muddy and wet. There was one extremely large deep puddle that added the adventure element….I was wondering whether we had rounded Lizard Lake early! The 10km runaway winner was Greg Barreca in a smoking 59 minutes. The 20 km distance was made a little longer to make it a true 20 km. Ron Katzman and Chris Benn came in at 1 hour 55 minutes with Des Mott following close behind. Gottfried greeted us at the top of homestead with some delicious baking and homemade wine…what a pleasant surprise. The rear of the field was brought in by Pat Barry, Sibylle Tinsel, Cheryl Johnson and Rhonda Schuler, who missed Gottfried's superb aidstation. The wind up brunch was held at Mosquito Creek and draw prizes were won by Heather, Sophia, Berg, Karl and Lorraine. Gottfried came through again with the donation of his homemade wine and Trail Runner magazine donated 2 subscriptions for a year. Thanks again to all who participated in making this a fun and successful run…it is hard to follow in Wendy’s shoes. I look forward to seeing everyone on the trails. Full results here.
Photo left: Amazing scenery during the R2R2R crossings of the Grand Canyon
Flash - R2R2R Road Trip: What a great trip the boys had. Check out their comments and blogs here.
CONTESTS
 2007 Travelling Colours Contest. Capture and share the tender moments you experience with your Club t-shirt throughout the year, and you might just win some great stuff! To participate, just e-mail me your photos. Those of you who have discovered Flickr can upload your submissions to your Flickr page, add them to the Club Fat Ass group, and tag them with TravellingColoursContest2007. Submissions we've received to date are posted here.
Photo right: Glenn Pace enjoying the R2R2R adventure last month
2007 Point Series. Sibylle, Ean, Des, Craig, and Baldwin are in the top 5, but Ryan and Cheryl are in hot pursuit. Don't forget to pre-register, pick-up litter during the event and refer your running buddies to CFA to maximize your chances of winning. Up-to-date standings are posted here. Read about how to collect points here.
CAUSES YOUR CLUB SUPPORTS
If you have any causes close to your heart and want to raise awareness and/or funds let us know. A number of CFA Event Hosts use their events as fund raisers. Be sure to consider the special section on the Club website that offers ideas on how to raise money for your favorite cause while hosting a free CFA event.
BC Lung Association. Event Host Craig Moore uses his events to raise awareness and funds for the BC Lung Association.
Mary Leliveld Tri BC Fund. Mary was a friend and member of Club Fat Ass. The fund was established in her memory to help deserving athletes get to competitions they otherwise might not be able to race in.
PRPAWS (Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society). The boys who ran the Sunshine Coast Trail 180 in 2003 and 2004 vowed to help raise funds for PRPAWS, a society that aims to protect old growth forest in the Powell River area. 
SPONSORS
For information on how to become a sponsor please go to www.clubfatass.com/business-memberships
    
Please visit the Club Fat Ass store to find cool merchandise with the happy porker logo.
CFA does not sell or otherwise distribute our member list.
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