2009- Year 5

6 June 2009 - Starter Photo

Report:

2009 Vancouver 100 – Event Report

How do I put into words how great this event is and how much it affects the runners and the club? It is possible but daunting.

I’ve been involved with Club Fat Ass for many years, almost since the beginning. I stick with it because I get to do what I want (run on the local trails with old friends and make new friends). It’s easy to sign up for events and see clearly what I’m getting myself into before the Event Host says “go!” The challenge is ready and the purpose is obvious. So what is it about the Vancouver 100 that astounds me every year and makes it so different from the other events?

It’s freaking hard. Ya that better be obvious by now. But there are other very tough events that get put on that are special as well. So this means I have to be very careful about who comes along for the ride.

It’s also very local and thus very accessible. I get a couple of requests a year from people to do the run that have absolutely no clue how rough and tumble the Baden Powell course is over the 30 miles each way. Once I give them a dose of reality they kindly offer to train for a few more years before considering this event again.

I love doing it. Not just the running part. But getting people together that may or may not know each other and seeing what becomes of their lives and mindsets over two days. They are asked to push themselves to the limits both the runners and the crews. We’re looking out for people’s well being and their sanity of course. Their health part is a bit tricky since we aren’t necessarily professional caregivers but we do have a lot of collective experience at this stuff. And the mental part, well, that’s probably the biggest surprise each year. Those that you figure are totally up to the challenge may or may not make it intact. Those that you figure might not understand what it takes to complete the run come around and dramatically surprise you with their tenaciousness and determination. That’s the part I enjoy the most including in myself for my two finishes in 2005 and 2008.

The Vancouver 100 involves lots of people. Especially considering how few actually complete the course. Each runner is required to have a dedicated, 24-hour crew. If I get out there and run a section I try my best to still be around to help the crews and pick up the slack where required. And I know that lots of you are excited to read the reports and see the results. Hopefully we did okay to keep you up to date and excited about the finishes. Thank you very much to everyone that helped make this one a success no matter how little or much you did.

So, congratulations are in order. Karl Jensen finished the Vancouver 100 for the third time. This is the most anyone has done it (along with Gilles Barbeau’s three finishes in previous years). What’s best about Karl is that he knows his limits, he’s willing to test them and he’s more than willing to help a fellow runner. Way to go Karl and thank you for participating again. Our only other finisher out of five starters is Kirsten Ramage. Kirsten has been training with the Fools and proving how great a runner she has become. Only two other women have completed this course and in 2009 Kirsten set the new record for time. Amazing and fantastic Kirsten!

If I could change one thing about this year’s event I would have wished to be at the finish line when Karl and Kirsten arrived. My intentions were good but execution was sadly poor. I set my alarm and when it rang I promptly turned it off and went back to sleep after thinking there was no reason to get up at 3:30 am yet again. How terribly wrong that was. I can only hope they’ll forgive me because I’m sure it was a great finish.

Will it happen again in 2010? As we know, 2010 is a special year for Vancouver. I know there is interest in the 2010 Vancouver 100 already but it is a long way off. So much will happen between now and then including lots of special CFA events.

Make sure to keep training and having fun and be sure to tell people about the hardest 100km trail run anywhere.

Craig Moore

Photos should be uploaded to Flickr, added to the CFA Flickr group and tagged with Vancouver1002009 Vancouver100 ClubFatAssEvents. Photos posted so far are here.

Post Event Survey. Please give us your feedback via this brief survey:
http://www.clubfatass.com/events/Vancouver100/posteventsurvey

Results:

First Name	Last Name	Distance	Time	Points
Karl	Jensen	100km	23:35	2+1*
Kirsten	Ramage	100km	23:35	2+1* !!!
Dave	Berg	77km	17:00 (10:57 1/2 way split)	2
Gilles	Barbeau	63km	15:00 est	2
John	Machray	63km	15:00 est	2
Baldwin	Lee	60km	12:18	2+1**
Laddie	Hannam	33+9km	6:50+0:50	2+1**
Desmond	Mott	32km	4:20	2+1*
Chad	Hyson	32km	4:40	2
Craig	Moore	27km	5:39	2+2+1+1****
Gord	Thompson	27km		1+1**
Ron	Adams	12.5km		2
Bryce	Adams	12.5km		2
Sibylle	Tinsel	10km	2:20	2+1+1***
Ean	Jackson	10km		1+1**
Lorie	Alexander	dns		-1
Barry	Hopkins	dns		-1

Helen	Phillips	crew for Dave		1
Pano (& Gord)		crew for Dave		1
Shauna		crew for Kirsten		1
Linda	Machray	crew for John		1
Cathy	Adams	crew for Ron/Bryce		1
Lucinda	Iglesias	crew for Gilles		1
Doug	Keir	crew for Baldwin		1
Craig	Moore	crew for Karl/Gilles etc

*	garbage pick up
**	crew/pacer
***	crew/pacer, garbage pick up
****	event host, crew, garbage pick up
!!! women's course record