2008 - Year 6 - Ann's Get Your Fat Ass Off the Couch - Results

Thanks to everyone who was so welcoming on Saturday.  My sister and I felt extremely welcomed, even if it was obvious that we had no idea what we were doing.  I will remember that run for a long time and it was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Vancouver.  A special shout out to Ean (Ian?) - thanks for all your help - if it weren't for you, we would still be on the mountain!! 

This just in:

Hello, I showed up on Sunday and found out the race was Saturday. Good
thing I signed up for a year membership. I found 4 guys and 1 lady who were
running the big Chesterfield on Sunday and they didn't know the course.It
all worked out and we did it in 2 hours and 8 minutes. Not that it counts
for anything.

Greg Barreca

I don't THINK so.... ok, so put down CUSTOM for me Ann, as there were a few sections where I missed the smarties trail. Right about now, I can hear you and Gottfried with your supportive and encouraging comments (Waa, Waa). My time was 2:07, but I did not do 20, so put me down for 17. Where's Ean, when you need him to help calculate your "actual" distance. Hang on, I did run up the little trail from the Ron Andrews parking lot to the Chevron - put me down for 18. he he he

Thanks for the run today, Ann. 

I am always amazed how the skies clear up for Get Your Fat Ass Off The Couch.  Year one saw a gigantic Pineapple Express move through the area, leaving huge puddles, mud and washed out bridges, yet the second we started running the rains stopped.  The pattern continued in the following years, so I wasn't surprised that the weather forecast promised and delivered dry conditions for Saturday morning.

Because of some last minute family matters I was unable to make the start in time, but Ann had everything under control and a good size crowd set out to Get Their Fat Ass Off the Couch.  A handful of CFA virgins had taken us up on the offer for a free trial Single Day Membership and trusted Action Jackson to guide their way.  Judging by the photos they had fun ;-) especially with THE PUDDLE in "the tunnel".  Karl was overheard at the post event party in Mosquito Creek Pub to cut away the brambles in said tunnel for next year and somebody volunteered to engineer dry passage through the puddle.

By the time I set out on the trails, the Cushy Couch runners were on their way down Berkeley and the faster of the Old Chesterfield participants were just hurtling down Bridle Path.  I decided to run the course backwards to be able to greet everybody. 

The course for this event is one of my favorites for the relatively easy trails and the fall atmosphere. There aren't many technical bits, but I did realize why the course follows Homestead and Bottleneck down instead of up.  We west coast citizens don't get blazing fall colours like the east, but during Ann's run, I am always amazed at the blazing, yellow and orange Maple leafs smattered between those ancient Douglas Firs.

A good day all around - and most present at the pub even won a prize thanks to Trail Runner Magazine, Kintec Footlabs and Kinesys.  The free pint courtesy of Mosquito Creek Bar and Grill  was also very appreciated.  Happy Trails - Sibylle