January 2011 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Members of Club Fat Ass,

A belated "Happy New Year!"

I hope you kicked off 2011 on the right foot, got the year off to a running start and are resolved to give Reagan White and Jess Dagg some serious competition for being the most active CFA member in 2011.

Thanks to all who renewed their membership or joined the Club over the holidays. Woo-hoo... All shirts ordered before Christmas are either in the good hands of Canada Post or waiting for you at a Kintec store. Please let me know if it doesn't arrive by mid- January.

Your Club Steering Committee is about to launch into another year. This group will meet about 7 times in 2011 to manage the Club. Our goals are simple: more events and more members to enjoy them.

Many thanks to Ran Katzman, Reagan White, Jackie Montgomery and Ean Jackson who were active not only on the trails but also behind the scenes to keep Club Fat Ass the best deal going.

Can you spare a couple of hours a month this year to help improve and grow the Club? Lots of rewards. No heavy lifting or experience necessary. Please contact me!

'Hope to see you at one of the Foolish Gerbil and Pacific Nights runs, the Squamish Scrambler or the Capilano Canyon Night Run in the next few weeks.

Happy Trails,

Sibylle Tinsel
Chief Executive Fat Ass

Flash - Pacific Nights. 12 January - Vancouver, BC Canada. A mid-week group trail run in the dark. Expect mud, rain, cold temperatures, total darkness, slippery roots and stairs. Possibility of magnificent views of lights on the ocean, north shore mountains, and downtown Vancouver. More details here.

Flash - Foolish Gerbil 80K Trail Run. 22 January - Vancouver, BC Canada. Train with The Fools on a great 10km loop in Pacific Spirit Park. Do 1 or 2 loops or the whole 80km. More details here.

Photo right: Trish plays the agony pipes at the Run for the Haggis

Flash - Ride for the Haggis. 5 February - North Vancouver, BC Canada. A road ride of approximately 80 kms followed by a full-on traditional Robbie Burns celebration with elements of poetry, music, address to the haggis, feasting, and drinking of Scotch whiskey. Find out if you have what it takes here.

Flash - Foolish Gerbil 100k Trail Run. 6 February - Vancouver, BC Canada. Run with The Fools. Do 10km, 20km 30km or the whole foolish thing. Details.

Squamish Scrambler. 12 February - Squamish, BC, Canada. This is an out-and-back snowshoe hike/run up to Elfin Lakes Cabin in Squamish (22km). Bring the family as far as Red Heather, a 10km return snowshoe hike, or continue on up towards Little Diamond Head, or out towards Mamquam Lake, depending on conditions and motivation. Savor spectacular views of The Tantalus Range, Howe Sound and Sky Pilot. More info here.

Photo right. The Capilano Canyon Night Run is as much a social affair as a run.

Capilano Canyon Night Run. 19 February - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. A 90-minute run that starts in a suburban neighborhood, traverses the twilight zone, then stimulates your senses with a trail run in the mist and inky blackness of the Capilano Canyon. Choose between a guided group run at a gentle pace for the socially-inclined and first time night runner, or a competitive run for those more motivated by the clock and the opportunity to rip their buddy's lungs out. Both runs are followed by a pool party, a potluck party as a celebration of Fat Tuesday. Entry limited to the first 50, so please register early!

2011Membership Registration. Club membership registration for 2011 is open. Yes, that means it's time to get off the couch and join the Club or renew your membership so you can benefit from all of the sweaty pleasures CFA offers.

Great news for renewing members: Your annual Club membership dues won't change and the number and variety of Club events continues to grow. Tell a friend so you'll never run alone again.

Photo left: Rachel, winner of the Refer A Friend Contest

Club Shirts. All Club t-shirts ordered before Christmas are ready for pick-up at the Kintec store you selected. Shirts ordered after Christmas will be available for pick-up in about 2 weeks.

Photo right: Reagan and Jess, Champions of the Point Series

Contests. (Drum roll...) I am happy to announce the winners in the annual club contests. Reagan White and Jess Dagg share the crown in the 2010 Point Series. Reagan walked away with a pair of Salomon trail running shoes. Both scored an impressive score of 60 by skillfully accumulating points through event participation, good sportsmanship, submitting race photos in their Club Fat Ass shirt, by referring their friends to the Club and by hosting scheduled and flash events.

A pair of Montrail trail runners went to Rachel Fouladi in the Refer a Friend Contest for for signing up the most new Club members. Way to go Rachel!

Jason Eads of Tampa, Florida, managed to accomplish most of his 2010 New Year's resolutions as documented in the New Year's Resolution Contest. He won a Sole Footcare package and a gait analysis.

Lastly, Bill Dagg took way the prize, a sock package and gait analysis, in the Traveling Colours Contest with his very creative squat while on safari in Africa. All annual prizes were kindly sponsored by Kintec.

Photos left and right: Bill Dagg playing with elephant poop, winner of the 2010 Traveling Colours Contest

Business Members. Are you a business owner? Want to share the gift of fitness or connect with outdoor enthusiasts? Consider joining Club Fat Ass as a Business member. For a low annual fee you'll see your banner rotating on the Club Fat Ass website, have a web page on the Club Fat Ass site, featuring your product or services and receive 2 personal annual memberships for your staff. Details here.

New Initiatives. So many ideas, so little time. We are hoping to offer training runs in the new year as well as another free, short course, Check-Us-Out run. If you like to be involved in rolling this out, please let us know.

Photo left: Resolution Contest winner Jason and Action Jackson hamming it up during the 2010 Bagger Challenge

Club Fat Ass and our members support a variety of charities, causes and events. Please check them out here.

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.

BUSINESS MEMBERS