Congratulations to all from your official cheerleaders, Kristie, Marie, Adrienne, Jake the dog, Lily the dog. I think we managed to "woohoo" most of you. For those we missed consider yourself officially "woohoo-ed". Thanks to flu wasn't able to run but got in an 11.5km power walk just in time to cheer a bunch of you on your way past Kits. Glad we got to see a picture of the buns on the shorts as they weren't in evidence on the runners as they went past us.
Happy New Year to all
Submitted by Craig Moore on 1 January, 2009 - 12:34.
thanks again Ean for the opportunity to start the new year the right way ... with friends and exercise. Put me down for 2:30 on a custom route - to the Burrard Bridge and back by way of the finishing leg through the park. It was soupy and slurpy and all kinds o' fun! Please also put me down for an extra point for garbage pick up at English Bay where all the garbage cans were so conveniently placed for me to use. thanks. Craig
Congrats to all who managed to get down and participate. We woke up here to another 5 inches of snow wih it coming down pretty good and couldn't get the Mini up the driveway.
As this would be an inauspicious beginning to New Years and Resolutioning in general, I will be running this course next Saturday (Jan 10th) same time. If there is anyone else in the same boat from today, let me know and I'll post it as a Flash.
Submitted by Sibylle on 31 December, 2008 - 12:50.
To all you procrastinators out there: Registration for the New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 will close at 3pm today. There is no morning off registration, so get your online app in now to join your fellow club members for a great start to the New Year.
Hi everyone, A couple of us Coquitlam Fat Assers just got in from a little reconnaissance trip to check out the conditions for the New Years Day run. Here are the 'highlights':
• Start of route and out along Kinglet Trail to Lumberman's arch has 2-3” of icy/slushy snow on it. Note: If it gets as cold as they call for on Wed night, this will probably still be hard (and very icy) in the morning.
• Avison Trail up to Prospect Point, and down Merilees/Siwash Rock Trail all has 5-6” of packed down snow, trail roughly 16” wide. Pretty good really - the snow has good traction.
• Packed down icy snow at bottom of Siwash Rock Trail as it leads out to Third Beach parking lot
• Rawlings trail has had a truck drive down it, so 2 narrow packed down tracks, the rest is snow covered.
• 2nd Beach Pool all the way to Burrard Bridge is packed down clear ice with some "bare sections" -- but they were fully covered in black ice at 11:00 am still so this section will be really sketchy… Please be careful here.
• Burrard Street Bridge - the sidewalks are clear. Enjoy the dry pavement and good grip!
• Planetarium to Kits Beach Pool waterfront trail is snow/ice covered, with some semi clear sections.
• Point Grey Road to Jericho Tennis Club is nasty for sure. I agree with Rank's comment on rich people not clearing sidewalks - 70% of sidewalks are not done so be prepared to run/shuffle along packed snow/ice with a single narrow route. Be patient, slow and careful along this section for sure.
• Jericho Sailing Center to Spanish Banks West (where we turn up into the trails) is all packed snow/ice.
• See additional note from Chris on CFA site re Admiralty Trail. He mentioned a slide closing or blocking this trail but sounds like he made it around. I didn't go up there.
• Up Salish to Chancellor Blvd is packed snow/ice. Then on up to University Blvd and all the way out to 16th at the Park offices there has been a quad drive on the trail, so again, two packed down tracks on top of 6” or so of packed or (or what might be semi slushy by Thursday) snow.
• 16th down to turn around looks good with packed snow on trails. Again, these sections seem pretty good. Very little hidden ice, just packed down snow. Good traction.
• On the return route when you get to 2nd Beach Pool and head through to Lost Lagoon, this trail has been plowed down to about 1” of hard packed snow/ice.
• Once back on Seawall on Coal Harbor side, again be very careful, this has not been cleared, so same as the the seawall on the English Bay side… this will have some slippery icy sections with black ice intermixed for even more fun.
Note: There has been a few mentions of running on the road along Point Grey Rd but IMHO although the street will look inviting it is really going to be too narrow to hop out on and try to bypass the sidewalks. The farther west we go the traffic gets down to one lane each direction with hardly any shoulder room - so if anyone is out on the road they will be asking for consideration and patience from any drivers we encounter, something you don’t always get as a runner (and there seems to be quite a few cars along this section).
Anyway, in summary... the course looks great. To be honest, quite a bit better than I thought it would :) Watch for black ice or bumpy packed ice sections (mostly seawall) and take yer time and it should all be OK.
Cheers, seeya there on Thursday morming.
I went along Spanish Banks and Admiralty trail this morning (Dec 30) and there is a bit of a slide that is blocking the Admiralty trail at the ravine. I found myself heading back to NW Marine Drive before realising and then cut up the bank to rejoin the trail - it is not a big issue though. Conditions are bad though - quite a lot of ice and Point Grey road is a mess - the sidewalk is a joke and you are much better off on the road. Should be fun!
If you can take just one thing to the run from all this blabber:
stay away from the shiny/transparent patches.
Get your feet wet or dirty by stepping aside to the mud or puddle or deeper snow, just not on that slippery ice.
Chris is right, there's a blow-down on the Admiralty stairs. It's easy to bypass though (twice) to the right, just remember to keep going up and not towards the beach.
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 30 December, 2008 - 10:20.
If a "fat ass" is someone who runs the full 50K, then it logically follows that a "skinny ass" is someone who runs less than 50K. (Your Event Host's logic. Work with me here...)
Given the gobs of snow on the course, puddles, blow-down, ice, mud etc. I've received a higher than normal number of inquiries about the possibility of running less than 50K in the Vancouver NY Day Fat Ass 50 and freeze your FA Swim. Is it officially deemed wimping out to participate in this event as a "skinny ass"?
Well, the official answer is that all ass-sizes are welcome... so get your sorry ass out of the chair and over to Brockton Oval at 8:30 on New Years Day! There is still space left, so sign up here.
I am injured and will likely only hobble to Second Beach and back. If you're not in shape, worried about the snow or the bears in Stanley Park, then I hereby publicly commit to holding your hand out-and-back for 5-10K total distance.
While this may appear to be a noble sacrifice on my part, it is not, because I need you to jump in the icy Pacific with me when we get back to the start! (Remember... this is technically a run and a swim!)
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 30 December, 2008 - 19:57.
Let's see, if a fat ass is someone who runs the full 50K and a skinny ass is someone who runs less than 50K, wouldn't a boney ass be someone who signs up, shows up, but who is too hung over to run?
(Hey, I'm an electrical engineer, not a rocket scientist!)
Submitted by Sibylle on 29 December, 2008 - 17:51.
Thanks for all the updates on the course conditions. To sum it up, it's going to be interesting The event will go ahead as planned, but some of the slower runners (me included) might need to adjust the distance to avoid ending up in the dark. As for any CFA event, be prepared for the distance, time on the course and conditions. If you are slower, you may want to take a flashlight along. Yaktrax or something similiar look like a splendid idea (thanks, Michele for lending me yours). Bring a cell phone and cab number/fare . You are responsible for your own safety! Looking forward to seeing you all on New Year's Day.
Submitted by cbullington on 29 December, 2008 - 14:30.
MEC sells a traction device similar to the Yaktrax, but offers better traction on packed snow, but specially on ice (which is obviously the most dangerous). I Bought the Kahtoola Microspikes Traction device. I've been using it, pretty much everyday, long runs, up or down hills... it works great. It's only $51. Cheaper than the cast.:) Just an option. This is the link with more info: See you in 2009!!!
Hey Ean,
Well, this event has been on our planner now for a few months and we (the Coquitlam Tribe) are all signed up and set to come on down regardless of what happens... but I'm getting a little concerned about the snow still on the ground. Although I love snow - I also know how darn hard it is to actually run along anything that resembles a sidewalk that has not been shoveled off but has been walked on. The "potholes" left behind are downright dangerous... There may be certain areas (Point Grey Road for instance) that are going to be too narrow to jump onto the road and duke it out with cars, but the sidewalks could be downright nutty.
Has anyone done any route checking?? Are the seawalls in Stanley Park plowed yet?? how about the Burrard Bridge sidewalks? or the smaller paths along the water by the Maritime Museam etc??
So fellow Club Fat Assers... some updates on course conditions would be awesome if anyone lives or travels near them (or could simply go check em out)...
Thanks you guys/gals...
Here is hoping for sunny skies during the day for the next few days, but plus 15 degrees and maybe even rainy at night, so all the snow can melt off the course pronto.
Cheers Pete SS (event host, Run-to-the-Clouds in March)
See below what my spy told me about the trail condition today (Sunday).
However, take it with a grain of salt (ha) as there are 4 more days of snow melting (or new snow?) left.
Stanley park trails - don't know.
Western side of the Stanley Park seawall - think icy, slippery or slushy.
The stairs up to Burrard bridge - think frozen water fall.
The Burrard bridge - clear.
Kits seawall - same as Stanley Park seawall above.
Point Gray road - real bad, dangerous (there must be a statistical significance regarding rich people and not clearing a sidewalk).
Jericho, Spanish banks beaches - choppy ice, slushy at places.
Pacific Spirit trails - all are covered with wet, crunchy snow. I believe that by Thursday these trails will turn to heaps of slushy mud.
Submitted by kcongra on 28 December, 2008 - 23:12.
Good news, it's melting - fast. The bad news, there's now a layer of water on the ice. What looks solid - isn't, there are some drops of 6 inches. It's easier running than walking but the chance for a twisted ankle are very high.There will be some areas where the will be two ruts that are clear and running water. If you have YakTrax - wear them!!!!!
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 28 December, 2008 - 10:55.
Ha ha. Got you. No course changes and all systems "Go!" for New Years Day.
It's looking like there may be some ice and maybe even fresh snow on the course this year. I've not run on the Stanley Park trails in the last few days, so can't offer feedback on conditions in the park. Anyone have a report to offer?
'Hope Santa was good to you and looking forward to seeing you at 9:00 on New Years Day!
Submitted by Gilles Barbeau on 28 December, 2008 - 12:11.
The Seawall like you never seen it and a workout like you never had. Not one step is without extra energy. Anyone who finishes this thing is a fool. Heck, anyone who starts this thing is a fool. Can't wait to see everybody on Thursday.
Comments
Cheerleaders
Pics
I was able to take a few pics. click on my flicker set to view more.
thanks for the run
Couldn't get out of the flipping driveway
Congrats to all who managed to get down and participate. We woke up here to another 5 inches of snow wih it coming down pretty good and couldn't get the Mini up the driveway.
As this would be an inauspicious beginning to New Years and Resolutioning in general, I will be running this course next Saturday (Jan 10th) same time. If there is anyone else in the same boat from today, let me know and I'll post it as a Flash.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Registration will close at 3pm!
who's running????
Fat Ass Route... New Years Day
Hi everyone, A couple of us Coquitlam Fat Assers just got in from a little reconnaissance trip to check out the conditions for the New Years Day run. Here are the 'highlights':
• Start of route and out along Kinglet Trail to Lumberman's arch has 2-3” of icy/slushy snow on it. Note: If it gets as cold as they call for on Wed night, this will probably still be hard (and very icy) in the morning.
• Avison Trail up to Prospect Point, and down Merilees/Siwash Rock Trail all has 5-6” of packed down snow, trail roughly 16” wide. Pretty good really - the snow has good traction.
• Packed down icy snow at bottom of Siwash Rock Trail as it leads out to Third Beach parking lot
• Rawlings trail has had a truck drive down it, so 2 narrow packed down tracks, the rest is snow covered.
• 2nd Beach Pool all the way to Burrard Bridge is packed down clear ice with some "bare sections" -- but they were fully covered in black ice at 11:00 am still so this section will be really sketchy… Please be careful here.
• Burrard Street Bridge - the sidewalks are clear. Enjoy the dry pavement and good grip!
• Planetarium to Kits Beach Pool waterfront trail is snow/ice covered, with some semi clear sections.
• Point Grey Road to Jericho Tennis Club is nasty for sure. I agree with Rank's comment on rich people not clearing sidewalks - 70% of sidewalks are not done so be prepared to run/shuffle along packed snow/ice with a single narrow route. Be patient, slow and careful along this section for sure.
• Jericho Sailing Center to Spanish Banks West (where we turn up into the trails) is all packed snow/ice.
• See additional note from Chris on CFA site re Admiralty Trail. He mentioned a slide closing or blocking this trail but sounds like he made it around. I didn't go up there.
• Up Salish to Chancellor Blvd is packed snow/ice. Then on up to University Blvd and all the way out to 16th at the Park offices there has been a quad drive on the trail, so again, two packed down tracks on top of 6” or so of packed or (or what might be semi slushy by Thursday) snow.
• 16th down to turn around looks good with packed snow on trails. Again, these sections seem pretty good. Very little hidden ice, just packed down snow. Good traction.
• On the return route when you get to 2nd Beach Pool and head through to Lost Lagoon, this trail has been plowed down to about 1” of hard packed snow/ice.
• Once back on Seawall on Coal Harbor side, again be very careful, this has not been cleared, so same as the the seawall on the English Bay side… this will have some slippery icy sections with black ice intermixed for even more fun.
Note: There has been a few mentions of running on the road along Point Grey Rd but IMHO although the street will look inviting it is really going to be too narrow to hop out on and try to bypass the sidewalks. The farther west we go the traffic gets down to one lane each direction with hardly any shoulder room - so if anyone is out on the road they will be asking for consideration and patience from any drivers we encounter, something you don’t always get as a runner (and there seems to be quite a few cars along this section). Anyway, in summary... the course looks great. To be honest, quite a bit better than I thought it would :) Watch for black ice or bumpy packed ice sections (mostly seawall) and take yer time and it should all be OK. Cheers, seeya there on Thursday morming.
Pete SS
Admiralty Trail
I went along Spanish Banks and Admiralty trail this morning (Dec 30) and there is a bit of a slide that is blocking the Admiralty trail at the ravine. I found myself heading back to NW Marine Drive before realising and then cut up the bank to rejoin the trail - it is not a big issue though. Conditions are bad though - quite a lot of ice and Point Grey road is a mess - the sidewalk is a joke and you are much better off on the road. Should be fun!
Ice and blowdown
If you can take just one thing to the run from all this blabber: stay away from the shiny/transparent patches.
Get your feet wet or dirty by stepping aside to the mud or puddle or deeper snow, just not on that slippery ice.
Chris is right, there's a blow-down on the Admiralty stairs. It's easy to bypass though (twice) to the right, just remember to keep going up and not towards the beach.
I got spikes!
>>>> For Fence-sitters and Skinny-ass Runners <<<<
If a "fat ass" is someone who runs the full 50K, then it logically follows that a "skinny ass" is someone who runs less than 50K. (Your Event Host's logic. Work with me here...)
Given the gobs of snow on the course, puddles, blow-down, ice, mud etc. I've received a higher than normal number of inquiries about the possibility of running less than 50K in the Vancouver NY Day Fat Ass 50 and freeze your FA Swim. Is it officially deemed wimping out to participate in this event as a "skinny ass"?
Well, the official answer is that all ass-sizes are welcome... so get your sorry ass out of the chair and over to Brockton Oval at 8:30 on New Years Day! There is still space left, so sign up here.
I am injured and will likely only hobble to Second Beach and back. If you're not in shape, worried about the snow or the bears in Stanley Park, then I hereby publicly commit to holding your hand out-and-back for 5-10K total distance.
While this may appear to be a noble sacrifice on my part, it is not, because I need you to jump in the icy Pacific with me when we get back to the start! (Remember... this is technically a run and a swim!)
Question for MR Science
Boney Ass
Let's see, if a fat ass is someone who runs the full 50K and a skinny ass is someone who runs less than 50K, wouldn't a boney ass be someone who signs up, shows up, but who is too hung over to run?
(Hey, I'm an electrical engineer, not a rocket scientist!)
Course Conditions
A good option for running on the current New Year's 50 Km Road ?
MEC sells a traction device similar to the Yaktrax, but offers better traction on packed snow, but specially on ice (which is obviously the most dangerous). I Bought the Kahtoola Microspikes Traction device. I've been using it, pretty much everyday, long runs, up or down hills... it works great. It's only $51. Cheaper than the cast.:) Just an option. This is the link with more info: See you in 2009!!!
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302733919&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442627657&bmUID=1230589333521
New Year's Day Run... Hmmmmmm????????
Trail condition on Sunday
See below what my spy told me about the trail condition today (Sunday).
However, take it with a grain of salt (ha) as there are 4 more days of snow melting (or new snow?) left.
Kits and point west
Course Changes
Ha ha. Got you. No course changes and all systems "Go!" for New Years Day.
It's looking like there may be some ice and maybe even fresh snow on the course this year. I've not run on the Stanley Park trails in the last few days, so can't offer feedback on conditions in the park. Anyone have a report to offer?
'Hope Santa was good to you and looking forward to seeing you at 9:00 on New Years Day!
It's a thick, wet, soupy, mess