Spring has definitely sprung... and that means by now you should have received your bright yellow 2010 Club colours in the mail or at your local Kintec Footlab store. Be sure to give it a good workout and let me know what you think of it. Take lots of action photos of you in it, too, as there are good prizes in the Travelling Colours Contest this year!
Good news, bad news. The good news? The Club calendar of events is getting ever more crowded with awesome free events. Bad news? You can't do them all!
I'd especially like to draw your attention to the 2nd Annual Bagger Challenge, the 5Peaks Warm-Up runs (contact me if you like to lead a group), and the Film World Premier of the XS-NRG documentary about four ultra-marathon athletes (some of whom you might just know) who attempt to conquer the 180km Sunshine Coast Trail, non-stop. Details below.
Last, but not least, have you met The Porker yet? Find out what our corpulent mascot has been up to recently in the newsletter below... and be sure to let me know if you'd like to be the first to take him out on a long run!
Happy Trails,
Sibylle Tinsel
UPCOMING EVENTS
Bagger Challenge. 1 April - 10 October - North Shore Mountains, BC Canada. See how many North Shore peaks you can run up and bag in a summer. Until 21 June only the snowless Howe Sound Island peaks qualify. Find out more here. We are also looking for GPS data of last years bagging extravaganza to share with all Baggers this year.
Photo right: View of Howe Sound during a past Bagger adventure
Burnaby Mountain Run.10 April - Burnaby, BC, Canada. Check out the trails around Simon Fraser University. Great views - weather permitting - and a killer hill! Detailshere.
Photo right: Moody vistas at a previous Burnaby Mountain Run
Flash - 5Peaks Golden Ears Warm-Up. 17 April - Golden Ears Park, BC Canada. A fun and free group orientation run on the 8.8km Sports- and the 14km Enduro Course. There will be faster and slower pace groups on each course, so there's something for everyone. This event is for trail runners who are registered or thinking of signing up for the popular 5Peaks race at Golden Ears Provincial Park on Saturday 24 April 2010. Get to know the trail you will race on so you can kick some butt on race day! Of course, you are welcome to run with us even if you are not registered for the 5Peaks race. Details and free registration here. If you are able to lead a group, please contact me.
Film World Premiere - XS-NRG. 24 April - Powell River, BC Canada. The Sunshine Coast Trail is a relatively undiscovered gem of a trail that stretches 180 kilometers from Sarah Point in the north to Saltery Bay in the south on the upper Sunshine Coast near Powell River, British Columbia. A few years ago, four city boys from Vancouver threatened to run the entire 180K trail non-stop. Locals said it couldn't be done. The attempt was filmed. The world premier of the film has now been scheduled for release in Powell River on the Marathon Shuffle weekend in April. A week later, on 1 May, the film will premier in Vancouver. Find out what happened on the trail in this never before seen footage by film maker Angus McLellan and run the Marathon Shuffle the following morning to discover the trail firsthand. Buy your ticket here.
Flash - Marathon Shuffle. 25 April - Powell River, BC, Canada. The Marathon Shuffle is a new CFA event with a long standing history. Since 1991, Eagle Walz has hosted the "Shuffle" as a fund-raiser for the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS). A CFA member is the only person to have run the whole SCT and CFA members are threatening to take back the current course records for the Marathon Shuffle, a 30km run or walk through beautiful terrain and remaining stands of old growth rainforest. A Half Shuffle distance is also possible. In support of Eagle and his environmental and social goals, CFA has "adopted" the Marathon Shuffle as a Flash Event. (Free for members and non-members of Club Fat Ass). More info here.
Photo right: On the Sunshine Coast Trail
Photo left: Suspension Bridge over Buntzen Lake during the Fluffy Bunny
Fluffy Bunny Trail Run: 1 May - Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada. Are you tough enough for the Fluffy Bunny? 9.5km, 15km and 27km options provide fun distances for the whole family. Go for a dip in Buntzen Lake afterward. Find out more here!
Photo right: On Lynn Loop Trail during the Enduro
North Shore Enduro. 8 May - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. A fun run in Vancouver's rugged North Shore mountains, the Enduro is on a 7.6 km loop course that lasts up to 6 hours. A safe and challenging first trail run featuring some easy and some technical terrain. A great social event for the team runner (2-6 runners can form a team). A tune-up for Western States and other summer 100-milers for the competitive solo runner. More info and registration here.
Tour de Howe Sound. 14-16 May, Howe Sound, BC, Canada. A sailing, trail running/hiking weekend adventure. Featuring a sailboat "race" around the outside of Bowen, Anvil, Gambier and Keats Islands, Fell Running: 4 peaks on 4 islands, approximately 46 km of trails, 8,300m vertical climb. Boats that can sleep 4+ needed! Find out how to enter your boat and crew here.
NEWS
2010 Club Garment and Poster Children. By now you should have received your 2010 Club colours in the mail or at your local Kintec Footlab store. Give it a workout. Let me know what you think of it and please take lots of action photos of you in it for the Travelling Colours Contest!
Our very photogenic 2010 t-shirt poster children were chosen spontaneously at the Mosquito Creek Grill after running the Mountain Highway Madness in March. Sarah Anderson and Noal Cattone from Seattle are enthusiastic new members of Club Fat Ass. They believe in their trademark, "Movement is Medicine" and claim not not to set any new land speed records. "Our next adventure is the Diez Vista 50k. We hope to get our Bad Ass Fat Ass shirts MUDDY!!!" Check out their FA style Urban Trail Race and website.
ActivePorker iphone App. If you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, please download the free ActivePorker app to stay connected to the club while you're on the go. We are excited and encouraged by the steadily increasing usage of the app and are working on a few updates to be released in the coming months. If you like the app, please leave a review on iTunes and let us know what you think. You can also become a fan on the ActivePorker Facebook Fan page, to get the latest info about the app and to follow the hog-wild antics of our traveling club mascot.
The Porker. "The Porker" is Club Fat Ass's official mascot. He has a rich history and is manifested in several forms: our "golden" mascot, our Club logo and most recently, the ActivePorker iPhone app (see above). Our Club mascot is made of brass. He's a bit bigger than a loaf of bread and weights a ton! (Well, figuratively, anyway. You can read all about his history here.
CFA Steering Committee. A small group of community minded people are selflessly working behind the scenes to build and manage your Club. We are always looking for help and fresh ideas. We'd especially like to hear from enthusiastic folks to help with PR and marketing and someone to represent the voice of Club members. Please drop me a line. For a couple of hours a month, you can make a big difference.
2010 Membership Registration. Registration and Renewal for Club Fat Ass for 2010 is ongoing! Don't miss out on a whole year of free events.
TECH TIPS
Website Help. The list of help topics is ever expanding. What would you like to see demystified to make your enjoyment of our events and website even greater? Email us with suggestions for the help pages, please.
CFA ON THE WEB
PAST EVENT RESULTS AND REPORTS
Please click here for recent results, photos and reports.
Photo right: The mainlanders under Carlos' expert guidance posing at the Spaghetti Tree run in East Sooke Regional Park.
CONTESTS
Refer A Friend Contest. Same contest, same rules, new year. Up-to-date standingshere. Check out how to participate in the Refer a Friend Contest.
2010Travelling Colours Contest. Same contest, same rules, new year. Pictures of your 2010 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can be posted to Flickr following the instructionshere. All submissions to date are postedhere.
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.
North Shore Rescue.NSR is a volunteer Mountain Search and Rescue Team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The team consists of approximately 40 volunteers skilled in search and rescue operations in mountain, canyon and urban settings. A few of our members are also NSR members. We'd like to continue our record of not using their services and rather help with their promotion of back country safety. NSR depending on your donations... consider a few bucks donated as a life insurance policy for yourself or a loved one!
Run for the Cure. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure is Canada's largest single day, volunteer-led fundraising event dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research, education, and awareness programs. If you would like to support one of your fellow members, please click here.
Easter Seals 24 Relay. The Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay is an annual community based fundraising event that challenges groups of people to run or walk Relay-style for 24 hours. Teams of runners and/or walkers made up of Corporate and Recreational groups collect individual pledges or organize team fundraising events to raise funds towards their collective team totals.
CFA member, Glenn Pace, again ran the 24 hour relay (this time he completed 110 Miles) to raise funds for less fortunate children. Here the link to his fundraising page. Read about his 2008 adventure here.
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 CFA. 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. You can help, too, by participating in the Marathon Shuffle.
SPONSORS
Bagger Challenge. 1 April - 10 October - North Shore Mountains, BC Canada. See how many North Shore peaks you can run up and bag in a summer. Until 21 June only the snowless Howe Sound Island peaks qualify. Find out more 
Burnaby Mountain Run.
Film World Premiere - XS-NRG. 24 April - Powell River, BC Canada. The Sunshine Coast Trail is a relatively undiscovered gem of a trail that stretches 180 kilometers from Sarah Point in the north to Saltery Bay in the south on the upper Sunshine Coast near Powell River, British Columbia. A few years ago, four city boys from Vancouver threatened to run the entire 180K trail non-stop. Locals said it couldn't be done. The attempt was filmed. The world premier of the film has now been scheduled for release in Powell River on the Marathon Shuffle weekend in April. A week later, on 1 May, the film will premier in Vancouver. Find out what happened on the trail in this never before seen footage by film maker Angus McLellan and run the Marathon Shuffle the following morning to discover the trail firsthand. Buy your ticket 
Flash - Marathon Shuffle. 25 April - Powell River, BC, Canada. The Marathon Shuffle is a new CFA event with a long standing history. Since 1991, Eagle Walz has hosted the "Shuffle" as a fund-raiser for the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS). A CFA member is the only person to have run the whole SCT and CFA members are threatening to take back the current course records for the Marathon Shuffle, a 30km run or walk through beautiful terrain and remaining stands of old growth rainforest. A Half Shuffle distance is also possible. In support of Eagle and his environmental and social goals, CFA has "adopted" the Marathon Shuffle as a Flash Event. (Free for members and non-members of Club Fat Ass). More info 
Fluffy Bunny Trail Run: 1 May - Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada. Are you tough enough for the Fluffy Bunny? 9.5km, 15km and 27km options provide fun distances for the whole family. Go for a dip in Buntzen Lake afterward. Find out more 
North Shore Enduro. 8 May - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. A fun run in Vancouver's rugged North Shore mountains, the Enduro is on a 7.6 km loop course that lasts up to 6 hours. A safe and challenging first trail run featuring some easy and some technical terrain. A great social event for the team runner (2-6 runners can form a team). A tune-up for Western States and other summer 100-milers for the competitive solo runner. 
The Porker. "The Porker" is Club Fat Ass's official mascot. He has a rich history and is manifested in several forms: our "golden" mascot, our Club logo and most recently, the ActivePorker iPhone app (see above). Our Club mascot is made of brass. He's a bit bigger than a loaf of bread and weights a ton! (Well, figuratively, anyway. You can read all about his history 
Please 
Refer A Friend Contest. Same contest, same rules, new year. Up-to-date standings
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