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

...I must say that despite the fact that my body appreciated the flatter finish, my nostalgiac mind laments the loss of character that the final miles presented when the "old" route reared it's ugly final hill. Perhaps I'm turning into one of those crusty ol' trail runners.

R.I. P. Nasty Ol' Climb to Prospect Point . sniff  


I'd like to throw out a really big Thank You to the Norco van & it's occupants...as well as Gottfried's crew at the turnaround...Ean & Sybille, of course....& an apology to Lannie & David for subjecting them to more trail than expected.
As usual, it was a blast!

Congratulations out to all runners in the New Years Day Fat Ass event. It was great to see so many runners out there enjoying the nice weather and starting out the year in fine form. I can't believe how many strong 50 km runners there are out there! WAY TO GO folks, nice work!! Absolutely amazing to see close to 50 or more runners doing the full pull and another 50 doing some nice half ass runs.

Special props go out to the Coquitlam contingency of the Club Fat Ass with over 23 runners making the commute in and coming out for the run. 8 of these keeners finished the 50 km as planned. Yeah!

Ean, regarding route measurement... 2 of us in our group ran with GPS and or quality recording devices. One measured 52 km and mine measured 49.8 km BUT at the turn around we figured we may be a little shy on mileage so on the way back I talked our group into running the older route down the stairs, around the Planatarium path right to the Burrard Street Bridge and up onto the stairs, so that may have added in maybe what... 3-400 metres extra for us if that?

Anyway, I agree fully with the discussions here that if you are able to use the Stanley Park trail route on the way out again next year, then the return route stays "flat" along by Lost Lagoon and the 'round Brockton Point to the finish line area this would be positive in a few ways. First there will for sure be less people getting lost on the darker trails on the way home AND it would add yet another km or more back into the route so to really ensure we are at full distance (not to mention the final point that maybe I wouldn't have to drag my sorry ass back up those hills again at the end of the day). Also by doing this we could use your new '07 route straight from the Burrard Bridge and down to the Maritime Museum in both directions and still be good on mileage. I think this is a great idea.

Fantastic event Ean, way to go... props to you and Sibylle for putting it on for all of us.

Pete (I'm not yet a runner, I'm still a cyclist) Stace-Smith

Ps  Shameless Plug to follow by another event host:  Hey all you CFA runners, if you - like me had any fun at all this past Monday, please put April 22nd on your calendar. Plan to come run the CFA "Run to the Clouds" event out in Coquitlam (short commute, cool trails, well worth the drive). We will lengthen the course this year by a couple of kms making it a true "Half Ass" 25 km distance but don't worry about it not being tough enough... we won't pull out the 2000' of climbing.

Hope to see you all there for this events second year effort.

It's too bad that we had to re-route, but I for one was much happier with not having to think too much in the final 3km. It's the first year I have not gotten lost.
Also great to know that it was bang on 50km.
Thanks for a great day and a plethora...yes a plethora, of draw prizes!

Gary Robbins

Of course, I'll have forgotten about the condtions, cause a year's gone by.

My Polar GPS/Shoepod has 31.62 mi * 1.6K = 50.59 km.

The new course was great Ean - about as close to 50 km as you are likely to get.  Garmin/Sport Tracks yielded 50.1 km, and Garmin/Motion Based said 49.6 km.

You guys are WAY to keen!! But good on ya!!! I thought about you when I was pouring hot tea sitting on the couch. I traded rain for snow and got some altitude.