The Fat Ass Trail Run was held in Batawa on Sunday Nov 15 in absolutely beautiful fall weather. 212 runners participated in the 5th edition with all but one finishing (hope your ankle is on the mend Mike)! With 152 runners in the 7.5k Tim Doris was the top male in 32:10 and Jenn Tretina was the top female in 41:50. The 17.5k had 39 runners; Lee Shooter crossed in the line in 1:22:30 with a tie in the female race seeing Angela Lilly and Janet Hozleiter cross together in 1:39:15. The 25k was a little lonelier with 21 runners; top male was Peter Phillips in 1:53:33 and top female and best smile was Aimee Young in 2:19:02. Sandra Farrington was the half way finisher, Cathy Girard and Lorri Davidson travelled the farthest (Temiskemaing), Calvin Newman was the dirtiest and Nick Cooley has the distinction of being the most lost and the slowest Fat Ass and maximizing his race dollar. The term "fat ass" is common amongst ultra events and is derived from runner Joe Oakes in 1979 who needed a 50 mile race to qualify for the Western States 100 miler. After a frustrating experience organizing a relay, the next year Joe invited anyone who wanted to run an informal 50-miler to join him. He called it the Fat Ass 50. A complete listing of results and photos can be found at
http://triandrunsports.com/triforum/index.php/topic,2778.0.html.
While we are proud of all runners, this article is about our volunteers. Race volunteers begin their service weeks and months before race day by organizing, ordering, booking, planning and arranging. The days? leading up to race day sees our volunteers marking the course and putting race kits together. On race day the volunteers arrive hours before race time and leave hours afterwards. While the runners are stressing and making multiple washroom trips, volunteers are solving, getting and making things work so that when the gun goes each and every runner enjoys their event. No event could go without the tireless efforts of those people who are up early, sit in the elements for hours and stay to clean up. The Fat Ass volunteers were Nick and Patti Teske, Cathy Warren, Mary McBride, Nancy and Don Cooper, Sue and Emma Haynes, Stephanie Rupnow, JoAnne Baker, Lisa Cahill, Linda Marshman, Rick Farrington, Ken and Jamie Reive, Nancy Coakley, Dennis Hills, Jeff and Sandy Musson, Greg Woodbeck and Ray Lilly.
No experience is necessary to volunteer, just your time and energy. Upcoming events to run or volunteer at are the Egg Nog Jog which is held at Tri & Run Sports on Saturday December 5 with 5k and 10k distances, seasonal treats to follow. There is no registration fee for this event but donations to the Coats for Kids campaign will be appreciated. A good way to start your New Year is by running the Tri & Run Sports Resolution Run 5k on New Year?s Day. You can register at Tri & Run Sports or online at
www.triandrunsports.com.
