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Dear Friends and Members of Club Fat Ass,
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
With the Galbraith Mountain Tour coming up this Saturday and the Flash - Vancouver Christmas Fat Ass 50 on the Saturday before Christmas, you still have the chance to get a CFA event or two in this year.
It's been a great year of running and camaraderie and 2008 is shaping up to be even better. Don't forget to renew or join the Club before the end of the year if you would like an '08 "collectors edition" long-sleeve, no-stink, Club Fat Ass t-shirt. If you still have any gifts to get that special someone, don't forget that a Club membership ($75) or a signature t-shirt ($25) make for great Christmas presents.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays and peace on earth!
Sibylle Tinsel
Chief Executive Fat Ass
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UPCOMING EVENTS
 Galbraith Mountain Tour. 15 December 2007 - Bellingham, WA, USA. A 20 or 5.8 mile trail run of the Lake Padden and Galbraith Mountain trail systems near Bellingham, WA. Prepare for the lack of stairs, boulders, roots and bears but all the fun of the true single track. If we have clear weather there will be amazing views of Mt. Baker, the San Juan Islands and the North Shore mountains of Vancouver. More details here.
Photo above: Daniel, Event Host of the Galbraith Mountain Tour, with breakfast and crew - mom Probst and Ethelyn
Mehehune Midnight Madness. 16 December 2007 - Hawaii, USA. A 60 km road run in celebration of a 60th birthday. Details here.
Photo left: Karl, the Flash Event Host of the Vancouver Christmas Fat Ass 50, tackling the trails at last year's Galbraith Mountain Tour
Flash - Vancouver Christmas Fat Ass 50. 22 December 2007 - Vancouver, BC, Canada. A 50 km run on the traditional Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 course. Why? Because you are training for the VNYDFA50K, you procrastinated  too long and didn't get into the VNYDFA50K, you want to get an early start to losing some of all that weight you're going to put on over the holidays or you signed up for a spring 100 miler and you need to get in some miles. More info here.
Vancouver New Year's Fat Ass 50 Run. 1 January 2008 - Vancouver, BC, Canada. A 50 km resolution run to kick off the New Year on the right foot. Those who are more hung-over and those with resolutions they are not likely to keep can opt for a custom course of 1 to 49 km. More details here!
Photo above: A true Fat Ass (must be Elke?) at the 2006 Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50
Photo below: Weather permitting, participants at the Squamish Scrambler will be rewarded with breathtaking views
 Squamish Scrambler: 10 February 2008 - Squamish, BC, Canada. An out-and-back snowshoe hike/run up to Elfin Lakes Cabin in Squamish (22 km). Bring the family as far as Red Heather, a 10 km return snowshoe hike. For a more challenging day, continue up toward Little Diamond Head or out toward Mamquam Lake, depending on conditions and motivation. Spectacular views of the Tantalus Range, Howe Sound and Sky Pilot. Rental snowshoes will be available. More info here.
NEWS2008 Membership Registration. Register or Renew as a Club Fat Ass for 2008 now for maximum value. Please note that only members registered or renewed before 1 January will receive the 2008 collector edition Club garment!
2008 Club Garment. Introducing FatAssWear, designed by CFA member Vanessa Fors and cut, sewn and screened in Vancouver, Canada. The 2008 shirt is one you don't want to miss: long-sleeved in a environmentally friendly, no-stink fabric. The colours are finally revealed: a deep purple for the girls and a warm burgundy for the guys. Renew or sign-up as a CFA member before January 1st to make sure you get yours! As in previous years, we expect to have the new shirts ready for mail-out toward the end of February.
 2008 Steering Committee. Our Steering Committee has been working hard all year and we are starting the new year with an enthusiastic group. All positions are filled - with the exception of the membership committee. Michele Sherstan has served two years and feels it's time to make room for somebody else with passion and a vision. We shall miss Michele's insight and ideas, but she will still be running with us and helping with this newsletter. If you are interested in developing the CFA membership, please contact me.
Photo above: Lara, Berglind and Michele, members of the 2007 Steering Committee, model the green shirts
2008 Membership Refund Draw. Tom Mills is the lucky winner of the 2008 membership refund. Tom has been a longtime supporter and friend of Club Fat Ass. He is not a runner and actually purchased the membership for his son, Russell. Tom has been collecting lots of good Karma - and not because he is into collecting brownie points, but because he is a genuinely nice and thoughtful guy. He helped the "city boys" survive the Sunshine Coast 180 km adventure, he shuttled another set of city boys to and from the Stein Valley and waited patiently for the missing runners, he always answers the yearly call for a donation for Mary Lelivelds Tri BC fund, he has participated as crew at the Night Run . . . in short, a very worthy winner. Thank you, Tom. I hope Russel will wear his shirt with pride and come out to a few club events!
New Year's Resolution Contest. It's never too early to start thinking about your New Year's Resolutions. As in 2006 and 2007 we once again offer CFA members, and anyone else who is interested, a free place where they can log their 2008 fitness resolutions. You can look at this as a goal-setting tool, as a way to keep yourself honest or as a contest to see how close you come to meeting your goals. More information at 2008 New Years Resolution log.
Free 2009 memberships. Just a reminder that all Event Hosts of scheduled events in 2008 will automatically receive a complimentary 2009 membership in Club Fat Ass. Time to start thinking about your signature event. You can find more info here or contact our Event Host chairperson, Berglind. A big thank you to our Club Event Hosts for putting back into the community by hosting free events.
Promoting your Club. We would love your help in promoting the Club in person and online. The easiest ways to achieve this are, of course, to wear your Club t-shirt and tell your friends. Another is to provide a link to our website on your blog or website. We also have a nice brochure we'd like to get into race packets, community centers and running stores. Please contact me if you would like some brochures to distribute.
CLUB FAT ASS ON THE WEB
    
PAST EVENT RESULTS AND REPORTS
 Pure Satisfaction. Event Host - Craig Moore
The weather is always exciting one way or the other for this winter run. Either it rains in buckets or it is very cold and icy. This was a frosty run, with temperatures not climbing above freezing. But the trails were magical, the trees covered with white icing and the company couldn't have been better. Full results here.
 Photo above: The starters at Pure Satisfaction in Deep Cove
Photo left: Capilano Commandos in camouflage night gear before setting out
Forbidden Forest Run. Classified Capilano Commando report here.
Mike and Melissa's Fun Run. Event Host - Michael Wardas
I think we had 19 people meet out front of Bean Around the World coffee shop just before we started the run. I kept saying to Melissa as we drove to the start that it was a 'grey day' but she thought I was saying it was a GREAT day, which explains the quizical look on her face. As it turned out it was in fact a Great day and a Grey day!
The usual suspects toed the line and suffice it to say I only saw most of them at the start and at the finish! I have a quick story to tell about our friend Karl who only a short time ago was off for 5 months with a serious back injury. We has always been a great ultra runner but now he seems to have a very 'lively' spark in him. As if Karl wasn't positive enough about life already he's back and running at full force. I'm afraid he will not only be finishing the long 100 milers but I predict he will be finishing them very competitively. Keep up the good work Karl!
Nevee the wonderdog was back running her 2nd M&M in her life and had a fantastic time out there. She truly loves playing with all the people on the trail and is at this moment lying spread out on the floor exhausted from the run Saturday and subsequent hike today!
The rain held off and there were rays of sunshine at times on the course. The temps were in the 3-4 degree Celsius range and quite enjoyable for running. Personally I was happy to be out running and enjoying the commraderie that these FA runs embody. haven't run with our friends for a while seeing them seemed like we haven't missed a beat.
More here.
Photo below: Starter photo for the Go Home 2007
 Go Home. Event Host - Desmond Mott.
Thanks to the 30 or so runners who came out for a tough 20 km (rumour has it it might be a little less). We all started the day in dry conditions but that was short lived - as we got to the high point of the run, the rain started. There where a few missed turns (even though the runners had directions) and a couple of tumbles, Chris being the most serious, with a scraped knee which drew some blood. Tim and Micheal set a fast pace which a few of us kept up with for a while, but they dropped us (me anyway) on the downhill on Neds. I now take it a little easier on the downhills and definitely don't look at my watch when I'am going down steep trails. I've learnt my lesson after a bad face plant a few months ago. Bill was next to the finish a few minutes behind Tim and Michael, followed soon by Ran. Laddie and Carrie ended up with the draw prizes and most of us enjoyed our free beer courtesy of Mosquito Creek Grill. Next year Cheryl will take over this event in this time slot, and I'll will put on the Hanes Valley Crossover run in late August. Hope to see you all there. Full results here!
CONTESTS
 2007 Travelling Colours Contest. The Travelling Colours Contest 2007 is almost coming to an end. If you haven't submitted your 2007 photos of you and your Club Fat Ass shirt yet, you better get going. All submissions must be uploaded to Flickr before 31 December 2007. Please add them to the Club Fat Ass pool and tag them with TravellingColoursContest2007. I also recommend to tag them with TravellingColoursContest and ClubFatAss. I have noticed some Club Fat Ass shirt photos on Flickr, but not in the Club Fat Ass pool. If one of those photos is yours, you better add them to the pool soon to not miss out.
The judging will happen directly on Flickr this year. The photo listed as the most interesting will win. Views, comments, favorites are all taken into account to come up with the most interesting photo. Currently, the Alamo Fat Ass, aka mudrunner, is in the lead. Do you have the shot to beat him?
To participate in the judging, please browse the photos in the CFA group tagged with TravellingColoursContest2007 at www.flickr.com/search/groups/?q=TravellingColoursContest2... and comment or mark as a favourite to your heart's delight.
The winner will be announced early in the New Year.
Please remember that in order to participate you will need to set up your own free Flickr account and join the Club Fat Ass pool. If you do not want a Flickr account you may send your photos to your Chief Executive Fat Ass and I will add it to the Club Fat Ass account. Commmenting/voting does require a Flickr account.
2007 Point Series. Sibylle, Ean, Des, Craig are in the top 6, but Cheryl and Baldwin are in hot pursuit. Don't forget to pre-register, pick-up litter during the event and refer your running buddies to CFA to maximize your chances of winning. Up-to-date standings are posted here. Read about how to collect points here.
CAUSES YOUR CLUB SUPPORTS
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.
BC Lung Association. Event Host Craig Moore uses his events to raise awareness and funds for the BC Lung Association.
Mary Leliveld Tri BC Fund. Mary was a friend and member of Club Fat Ass. The fund was established in her memory to help deserving athletes get to competitions they otherwise might not be able to race in.
PRPAWS (Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society). The boys who ran the Sunshine Coast Trail 180 in 2003 and 2004 vowed to help raise funds for PRPAWS, a society that aims to protect old growth forest in the Powell River area. 
SPONSORS
For information on how to become a sponsor please go to www.clubfatass.com/business-memberships
    
Please visit the Club Fat Ass store to find cool merchandise with the happy porker logo.
CFA does not sell or otherwise distribute our member list.
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