Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 Run and Freeze Your Fat Ass Swim

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What?

A 50 kilometer resolution run to kick the New Year off on the right foot (Use the New Years Resolution tracker to keep yourself honest!)
A less extreme challenge (1K to 49K) for the more hung-over and those with resolutions they are not likely to keep
A refreshing post-run dip in the Pacific Ocean to blow away any cobwebs that remain
Out and back course through the most beautiful areas of the city
60% trails, 25% bike paths, 15% sidewalks
100 participants max. Please register early to avoid disappointment. Sorry, no event day registration! (Too hard to manage when hung over, and besides, it will be full)
17th year running!

When and Where?

1 January 2011 (first day of the year) 9:00 am
Start and finish at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
See FAQ for answers to Frequently Asked Questions, Agenda for details on how to get to the start and Course for the route description

Who is registered?

Check out who is registered here.

How Much?

Free for Club Fat Ass members (click here for current membership fees and benefits)
To keep hassles on the morning of the run to a minimum and allow the host to participate, please sign up for both Club membership and the event online and in advance.

Event Registration - Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50

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Thank you for registering online and in advance.

This is a Club Fat Ass (CFA) event, so we adhere to CFA event management guidelines and privacy policy. Please complete the whole form. Your personal information is needed to make sure I spell your name right in the results and so I can contact you... or your next of kin! The other information helps me to plan any aid or post-event activities. Please help me to host a safer, better event by registering early and by notifying me if you can't make it. I'm constantly looking for ways to improve, so please share your thoughts or questions with me in the Suggestion Box below. After you click on "submit" below, your registration details will be confirmed.

Ean Jackson - Your Club Fat Ass Event Host

Membership: *

I am a member of Club Fat Ass.

Any Club member in good standing may participate in this event at no cost. If you're not currently a member, please choose a membership type

I am prepared: *

I have read the Frequently Asked Questions, have printed off the course instructions, and will read the instructions and bring them with me on event day.

see Frequently Asked Questions and Course Instructions

Release of all Claims: *

I have read the Release of All Claims and understand and agree to its terms.

See Release of All Claims.

First Name: *

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Last Name: *

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City: *

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Email: *

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Phone: *

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Age: *

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Event: *

Predicted Finisher Time: *

If you are planning to run more than 7 hours, you will need to start 1 hour early at 8:00am. For safety reasons we also ask you to arrange for a pacer for the last 10km, and that you carry a flashlight and a charged cell phone. Please include your cell phone # in the phone field above.

How many times have you participated in this event?: *

How many friends including yourself are planning to join us for the post-run get-together?: *

For those left standing, a post event celebration will be held at the Mosquito Creek Grill. The Mosquito Creek is about 10 minutes from the finish in the Westview Plaza at Westview and Highway #1. Their telephone number is 604-983-3083.

Suggestion Box:

Please let me know if you have any questions that aren't answered on the event web page. If anything isn't clear, there are any problems with the website, you have any suggestions as to how I might improve the event or you have any special needs, please tell me here.

Agenda

Best you print this and the course description off if you don't want to get lost! Go to the bottom of this page and click on "printer-friendly version" for best results

Friday 1 January 2010
07:00?	Drag your sorry, hung-over carcass out of bed. Check the weather. Be sure to print off this agenda and the course description!
08:30	Arrive at Brockton Track, Stanley Park, Vancouver. Check-in next to the fire hydrant in front of the change rooms.
08:50	Welcome and final briefing
08:55	Photo
09:00	Start
11:00	First 25K finisher
13:00	First 50K finisher
16:00	Brunch and celebration - Mosquito Creek Grill, North Vancouver

Course

Despite the detailed description and warnings (e.g. If in doubt, read the directions!!), people get lost on the course every year. Consider it a rite of passage.

This is an informal, environmentally-friendly event. Be sure to print this agenda and the course description and bring them with you on the first of January as there are no flags, marshalls or other directions. (I recommend you put them in a plastic baggie, as they will otherwise surely turn to mush.) Better yet, train on the course and bring the directions.

Getting to the Start

The start and finish is at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park in downtown Vancouver. Follow the signs as if you were going to the aquarium. Just past the aquarium, take the road to your right and follow it to Brocton Oval. Best to park in the lot nearest the change rooms, as that's where the start is. Note that it's pay parking.

Javascript is required to view this map.

What to Bring?

bring your New Years resolutions. (Use the New Years athletic resolution logger to keep yourself honest... and maybe win a prize, too!)
if you want a race number, bring one (for example, your favorite or most exotic race)
bring your own aid (if you don't know what that is, better wait another year)
bring your own official timing system (a watch will do, even if the second hand doesn't work)
bring a change of clothes and shower stuff for afterward
Freeze Your Fat Ass 50. Celebrate surviving the Fat Ass 50 and kick-off the new year with a 50 second (or longer) "polar bear" swim in Burrard Inlet. Bring a towel and, if you want, a bathing suit.
there's no cost to enter if you're a member of Club Fat Ass, but bring a few bucks to pay for parking, to buy yourself some junk food along the way and for the finisher party

Post-Run Brunch

runners, friends and family are encouraged to meet afterwards for brunch and beverages at the Mosquito reek Grill...about 10 minutes from the finish in North Vancouver.
From Brockton Oval in Stanley Park, drive down to the water and turn left (you can't turn right!) Go to the very end of the road, up the hill and onto Lions Gate Bridge heading toward the north shore. Stay in the right lane (North Vancouver) then turn left at the first set of lights (Capilano Road.) Go straight about a kilometer then go right onto Highway #1 East. Take the first exit (Westview) and go to the shopping mall on the north side of the street where you will find the Mosquito Creek Grill. (Call 604-983-3083 if you get lost.)
Great runner food. Liquor license means no kids, sorry. May be some draw and recognition prizes. Manager Kelly Nielson has offered up a free pint for all runners and crew, so bring a thirst!

Notes

it's not a race, but I do keep track of your times so you have something to compare to next year
I hope everyone will run the same course, but won't disqualify folks for getting lost and running extra distance
this event is not sponsored, sanctioned, permitted or anything else that would qualify it as an official event
parking, showers and change facilities (08:30 to 16:00) are available at Brockton Oval. It's pay parking: 2 hours for $1 or all day for $3. The machines take credit cards. The showers are lukewarm, but seem hot after you've been for a dip in the ocean
results will be submitted to the the media for the sake of posterity. We often get coverage on the television news. It seems a lot of people think we are nutbars because we do this
expect rain, maybe snow, some trails, some pavement, some old friends and maybe some new

Event Home | Registration | Background | Agenda |
Course | Thanks! | Results | Contact | FAQ

Course

Please print out this course description (scroll down for a printer-friendly version) and bring it with you in a plastic baggie to the start. For a satellite view of the course from data Rick Arikado downloaded from his GPS after the 2006 event please click here. Here is a map view of the current course. Thanks to Tim Wiens for the amazingly accurate waypoints.

Time (4:45 finish)	Description Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50	km
08:30	meet at Brocton Oval washrooms, just in front of the track. (Go right just after the aquarium.)
09:00	start - Brocton Oval fire hydrant - everyone together for first 20 minutes!	00.0
	Stanley Park Trails. This 6.3 km section of the route is for the most part on tame dirt trails that contour the shoreline. Be sure to look up and around as you pass through the ancient old growth Douglas firs.
	- straight along Kinglet Trail to Lumberman's Arch, pass on the left of orange concession stand and rejoin trail	00.6
	- straight along trail (right at only fork) to Pipeline Road and bridge. Straight across road, then go right at the "Beaver Lake Interpretive Trail" sign and descend trail marked 'No Cycling Environmentally Sensitive' down to creek	01.4
	- turn left at creek and zigzag up the creek until you reach Beaver Lake. Go right at the lake and continue along lakeside path
	- go right at the next 2 forks. You should be back on a narrow trail that borders a small creek (North Creek Trail)	01.9
	- zigzag up the creek, over a couple little bridges until trail merges into gravel access road
	- follow gravel road straight up until you reach the paved road. (Don't go left or right at the "T"!) Cross the paved road carefully and rejoin small trail directly in front of you	02.5
	- follow small trail through trees, then left on large gravel path (Avison Trail.) Continue along trail to highway bridge with lion statues, then along sidewalk to Prospect Point washrooms (first building.)
09:20	Reference Point (RP) #1 - water / washrooms at Prospect Point - faster folks can now put the hammer down	03.1
	- take crosswalk opposite washrooms to regain wide gravel trail. Stay right at trail intersection then cross paved road onto gravel road that leads downhill toward water. After 50m, go right down gravel road (Siwash Rock Trail)	03.4
	- continue downhill to the cliff edge, then stay left on gravel road. Follow along cliff edge through blowdown of 2006, then steeply uphill to a lover's bench. Note WW2 lookout bunker above Siwash Rock (the little island) on your right.	04.3
	- turn right after the bench onto the larger gravel road and continue downhill to Third Beach washrooms and concession	04.8
	- after concession stand, follow the paved road straight ahead and slightly uphill. Take small trail on your left (away from water). This will take you to a paved road crossing after about 50m. Cross road and turn right onto large trail that parallels the road. (Rawlings Trail.)
	- follow Rawlings Trail until you come to a wooden shelter at a major trail intersection. Turn right and cross the road to Second Beach pool and concession stand	05.9
09:30	- at concession stand, go left and stay on paved seawall trail
	The Sea Wall. This 13.4 km section of the route follows the ocean shore back to the woods along one of Vancouver’s most popular paths.
	- continue along seawall to English Bay bath house (site of big polar bear swim on return leg). Fountain may be working.	07.4
	- follow seawall to Burrard Bridge. Almost under bridge, cut left through Aquatic Center parking lot. Carefully cross street. Go up stairs, then turn right onto bridge.	08.8
	- cross to Kitsilano on bridge sidewalk closest to English Bay
	- at end of bridge, south of big green apartment building, turn right at the first street (Chestnut St). Note there is no sidewalk for the first bit on the east side of Chestnut. Watch for cars! Follow to Maritime Museum (big A-frame) at the end of Chestnut	10.3
	- at the parking lot, go left along the upper trail past the totem pole. (20 bonus scenic meters and some stairs if you take the oceanside trail.)
10:00	RP #2 - water / washrooms at Kitsilano Beach (junk food is 2 blocks east at Mac's Milk - Maple Avenue at Cornwall and Starbucks is across the street at Yew and Cornwall)	11.2
	- continue along trail near to water past Kits Pool, then take paved trail past Kitsilano Yacht Club where it turns into dirt path. At end of path, take concrete stairs up to street and run up one short block to Point Grey Road	11.9
	- go right on Point Grey Road. Stay on sidewalk 7 blocks to Alma Street then straight along beach past Vancouver Yacht Club. At Jericho Beach parking lot zig left, then right onto bike path.	14.1
	- continue along path to left of Jehrico Sailing Club. (10 bonus meters if you take scenic oceanside path in the sand.) Pass to the left of the concession and water fountain at Locarno Beach, then enjoy the refreshing breeze off the beach.	15.5
10:30	RP #3 - water / washrooms at Spanish Banks ( !!! small detour from previous years due to trail work. Continue 500m past last concession stand to end of parking lot !!! Look for Kristin from Kintec who may have a little aid station set up. )	16.7
	Pacific Spirit Park. This 7.7 km section to the turnaround is on dirt trails that range from rooty and muddy to wheelchair-accessible.
	- at then end of the parking lot, look both ways before you cross the paved road into a ravine. Go right and uphill on the trail.
	- take Admirality Trail west parallel to beach along the escarpment to the end	18.6
	- go left (south) on Salish Trail. There's a long, tough uphill. Go past school on left to Chancellor Blvd. Cross street and reenter Salish Trail directly opposite	19.5
	- continue along Salish Trail past UBC golf course (on left) to University Blvd. Cross street and take Cleveland Trail (the one on the left, nearest the golf course)	20.7
	- continue straight on Cleveland Trail to the park offices (some trailers) at 16th Avenue.
11:00	RP #4 – Park office. Water / washrooms	21.5
	- Cross street and turn right (toward UBC) following trail next to woods. Rejoin Salish Trail on left after about 400m
	- continue along Salish to t-intersection (Powerline trail.) This is where a lot of folks get lost. Turn left and go 125m uphill	23.7
	- rejoin Salish trail on right, then continue on Salish to junction with Clinton trail and a clearing with a garbage can and wooden bench. Go right, then left and along trail next to the paved roadway (SW Marine Drive).
	- continue about 700m parallel to road to the park sign (Southwest Marine Drive, Comosun Street and 41st Avenue.)
11:15	Half Way - RP #5 - Southwest Marine/41st/Comosun. This is a good place to have someone meet you if it's your first 50K	25.9
	- follow larger path back to the smaller trail and go right to the clearing with garbage can and bench. Take large trail on left (Salish) to Powerline Trail. Turn left.
	- follow Powerline 120m, then turn right onto Salish Trail. Stay on Salish until you get to 16th Avenue
	- go right approx. 300m on trail parallel to road next to the woods. Cross street to park office
11:30	RP #4 - water / washrooms at park office.	30.3
	- run straight along Cleveland Trail to University Blvd. Cross the street carefully. Regain Salish Trail at the corner of the golf course (diagonal to left)
	- at major trail intersection keep running straight. At Chancellor Blvd., cross street and regain Salish Trail at far left of the school
	- descend long hill to bottom, right onto Admirality Trail before you get to the street
	- follow Admirality Trail back along escarpment to the bottom of the first ravine. Turn left and cross the paved road back to the beach and right on bike path
11:50	RP #3 - water / washrooms at Spanish Banks	35.0
	The Sea Wall. This 10 km section of the route follows the ocean shore back to the Stanley Park. Yes, that’s it way off in the distance!
	- retrace steps along bike path then straight along Point Grey Road until at curves to the left at Bayswater, up little hill and left at Trafalgar Street to beach. Descend stairs, turn right and follow beach trail to Kits Beach
12:40	RP #2 - water / washrooms at Kits Beach	40.5
	- retrace steps around Kits Point. At the A-frame (Marine Museum), go right after the totem pole, angle left and turn right onto Chestnut Street. At the corner of Cornwall (big green apartment) go left and onto the Burrard Bridge
	- At far end of bridge, go down stairs on left. Cross road. Go toward ocean through parking lot. Turn right onto paved seawall path.
	- pass gathering crowd of polar bear swimmers at Sunset Beach. If the crowd is too thick, take the upper bike path
	- past the crowds, return to seawall and follow to Second Beach concession. (Washroom, fountain may be working.) At the concession, turn right. (Do not go back through the park unless you want to add a couple of km and maybe get lost!)	45.6
	- Cross road at crosswalk when it is safe. Continue straight (east) on path that parallels a little river then contours north side of Lost Lagoon. When you almost reach the tall buildings, go left through the pedestrian tunnel, then left again at the seawall.
	- follow the seawall path with the ocean and the city skyline to your right. Pass the big white rowing club, yacht club and Deadman's Island. Pass the totem poles and say "Hi" to the statue of Harry Jerome breaking the tape. You should be able to smell the barn!
	- pass under the white and red lighthouse. The Brocton Oval track should soon be in view in the distance on your left. Look for a short staircase from water with a paved road directly opposite. Go left and carefully cross the road. (Note: if you reach the mermaid statue in the water, go back!)
	- Zone in on the fire hydrant and sprint!
13:45	finish - Brockton Oval fire hydrant. Kiss it! You're done.	50.0
	- now run 100m back to the beach and jump in Burrard Inlet or someone might call you a wimp. You will need to get the plastic entry card to enter the change rooms. If showers at the track are not warm or they are closed, call Vancouver Parks and Rec at 604-257-8400 to complain.
15:30 - 17:30	celebrate – Mosquito Creek Grill – Westview Mall at Westview Drive and Highway #1, North Vancouver (604-983-3083). We have about 50 seats reserved together until 4:30, after that they will open the area to general seating. Friends are welcome, but under 19 not allowed. (Sorry. Stupid BC liquor laws don't permit.) Free pint for runners and crew!

Event Home | Registration | Background | Agenda |
Course | Thanks! | Results | Contact | FAQ

Results

Event Home | Registration | Background | Agenda |
Course | Thanks! | Results | Contact | FAQ

How time flies... it seems like only yesterday that I hosted the first Vancouver Fat Ass 50.

Some years were better for record keeping than others, so my apologies in advance if your name is missing. I'm very interested in getting photos and starter info for those missing years, so please contact me (click on my name below) if you can help.

Ean Jackson
Host of the Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50 and Freeze Your Fat Ass Swim

2010 - Year 17 - Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 Run and Freeze Your Fat Ass Swim - Results

1 January 2010 - 106 Starters

New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. ~Mark Twain

Like many running friends, I have managed to accomplish many running goals because I established goals in the first place. Getting those running goals out in front of each other while doing something we love was what I had in mind when I loosely organized the first Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50 in 1994.

Straight up, I also needed to get out of the house and move a bit. I figured that by picking a stupid run distance, for a day that has the worst weather in the year, on a day when most friends have the least amount of sleep and are the most hung-over, I'd find an equally stupid friend to run with and earn bragging rights. I was shocked and amazed that New Year's day 17 years ago when 10 friends showed up.

With the weather forecast calling for record rainfalls on the first day of the second decade of the second millennium, I was even more shocked an amazed that 106 running friends should show up for this bizarre resolution run. It was a record-breaking year in many ways.

First, and most obviously, the weather. It rained at the start. It rained at the finish. It rained the whole freaking day. I've experienced torrential downpours in Singapore, but during this lifetime of running, I've never experienced the type of cloudburst Des and I ran through as we approached the home stretch at Second Beach. Even the ducks headed for cover!

Second, the turnout. I accepted 116 sign-ups for this free resolution run assuming that at least 20% would roll over on the morning-of, hit the alarm button and go back to sleep. An unbelievable 106 showed up from all over North America.

Third, the times and distances. Several new world records were established. Tim Wiens earned the "Double Bagger" award and bragging rights for becoming the first person in the history of the world to run the 50K course twice. Congrats, Tim, for setting the high bar at 10:48... and not even puking once! First Dave Papineau, then Sammy Lotfi-Pour broke the record of longest swim. Sammy earned the "Numb Nuts" award for spending 16 1/2 minutes in the icy Pacific, and is apparently still looking for his boys. This is a run, not a race, but the fact that four (4) men broke the previous speed record deserves mention. Congrats to Dave Papineau for his record time of 3:51.

Fourth, the smiles. A confession: I don't love to run in the rain. Did I mention it rained all night on New Year's eve? I had nightmares of running 50K in the rain and didn't sleep a wink. I was in a less-than-ideal frame of mind when my nightmares became reality. However, everyone I spoke to before and during the run told me they either enjoyed the rain, preferred it to the snow of last year or didn't even notice it was raining. Despite the rain and the wind, the pavement and the mud, the very challenging distance and all of the other physical and mental hardship, everyone I spoke to during the run was either smiling or outright beaming.

Ran Katzman barely made it to the start after a long flight from Israel. Ran ran the 50K in a great time but almost fell asleep at the wheel, so opted for bed and felt bad for missing the finisher party. Gary Robbins ran 10K to the start, broke his own record for the 50K and ran home. Robbins felt bad for missing the swim for the first time. Glenn Pace was injured, but still came out and ran the first 500m with his pooch, then drove out to several points along the course to encourage the other runners. Pace felt bad for not being able to keep his streak of 50Ks on New Year's Day alive. David Crerar ran the last marathon of 2009 on New Year's eve and a 50K on New Year's Day. Crerar just felt bad all over the next day!

A great big "Thank you" to the Kintec crew. Kirsten, for the second year in a row, thank you for standing out on Spanish Banks in the cold to host the aid station. I'm sorry your car broke down on New Year's eve and that you had to scramble and bum a ride to even get there with all of the goodies. Graham, thanks for the recognition prizes. Ryne, congrats on being one of the 4 participants to break 4 hours this year. Thanks, also, to Trail Runner Magazine for the prizes and to Kelly and Lucie at the Mosquito Creek Grill for the free celebratory pint at the finisher party!

To Sibylle Tinsel, Manager of Club Fat Ass, thank you for all of the help with the event website and other aspects of organizing this run. Club Fat Ass is the best running club in the world and you make it run. Congrats, as well, on overcoming your injuries and completing the 50K.

This was my 100th ultramarathon. Thank you for celebrating it with me.

Whatever your distance you ran or time you finished in, congrats to you for your accomplishment and my sincerest best wishes to you for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010!

Ean Jackson
Host of the Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50K Run
and Freeze Your Fat Ass Swim

New Years Fitness Resolutions
Too late to get into the contest for 2010, but never too late to make them!

Results
Preliminary results are posted below. If I don't have your time/distance or have either recorded incorrectly, please email me.

Photos
Did you or yours take any photos? If so, please share them on Flickr. Add to the CFA Flickr group and tag them with VancouverNewYearsDayFatAss50 VancouverNewYearsDayFatAss502010 VancouverNewYearsDayFatAss ClubFatAssEvents ClubFatAssEvent2010

Click on the start/finish line (the fire hydrant, silly!) for a slideshow of photos and entertaining little videos shared so far:

Video:

Post Event Survey. Please give me your feedback via this brief survey:
http://www.clubfatass.com/events/VancouverNewYear/posteventsurvey

I'd love to see you add your story either via the comment function below or through a post on your CFA blog. (If you use your blog, I'll attach it to this page)

Keith Nichol kindly supplied the GPS readings from his Garmin at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/21462735

First Name

Last Name

City

Event

Points

Time

Comments

Tim

Wiens

Vancouver

100km