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Dear Friends and Members of Club Fat Ass,
With spring in full swing and summer is overtaking, I hope your training is going well and you are enjoying the great outdoors.
There's an interesting variety of events on your Club roster this month. For something a bit different, don't miss the 2nd Annual Bagger Challenge, the 5Peaks Warm-Up at Burnaby Mountain (contact me if you like to lead a group), the Chuckanut Calf Cramper in Bellingham, Lorie's Chilli Willy 2 "Into the Heat" 100 miler and the Escape to Egmont on the Sunshine Coast. Please find details below.
Last call to pick-up your 2010 Club colours! Did you order a t-shirt when you signed up for 2010? If you did and you don't have it yet, chances are it's patiently waiting for you at your local Kintec Footlab store. Please make some time this week to pick-up your shirt, as those not claimed by the summer will go back into the Club inventory and will be made available to new members.
From the "Ask and you shall receive" file, you can thank Jackie for pointing out that it would be good to have a simple, easy-to-use member directory for car-pooling, road trips and follow-ups with those interesting fellow members you meet at Club events. Take a moment to check it out now.
Happy Trails,
Sibylle Tinsel
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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. Start racking up points now by bagging the snowless Howe Sound Island peaks. Find out more here. We are also looking for GPS data of last years bagging extravaganza to share with all Baggers this year.
Photo left: On the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Brunswick Lake.
Photo right: Lynn Loop Trail
 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.
Flash - Ultra Fuel Cook Off. 13 May - East Vancouver, BC Canada. Get that skinny ass some padding. Details 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 and plenty of freshly-brewed ultra-fuel. Room for one more boats that can sleep 4+! Find out how to enter your boat and crew here.
 Chuckanut Calf Cramper. 22 May - Bellingham, WA USA. Something special for our members in Washington. Join new Event Host, Genissa, for a 20 mile run on well maintained dirt and gravel trails. Option to turn around earlier and run fewer miles. Enjoy the beauty of the Chuckanut mountains while toning those calves! Details and registration here.
Photo right: Chuckanut Mountains
Photo left: Pushing up Burnaby Mountain
 Flash - 5 Peaks Burnaby Mountain Warm Up. 22 May - Burnaby, BC Canada. A fun and free group orientation run on the Sport (6.3K) and Enduro (9.8K) courses of the 5Peaks Simon Fraser University Race. 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 on Burnaby Mountain in June. 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.
Flash - Chilly Willy 2 "Into the heat" 100 miler. 29 May - Vernon, BC. Tough but pretty. Figure 8 loops in beautiful Kalamalka Provincial Park. Fatass style with one major aid station for your drop bags. Details here.
 Vancouver 100. 5-6 June - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. The toughest 100 km in Canada... maybe the world! Due to the challenging nature of this event, participation for the full 100 km is by invitation only, but everyone can still participate by running part of the course with the 100 km participants, coming out to the aid station/picnic area at Cleveland Dam or crewing for a runner. More info and applications here.
Photo right: Event Host Craig Moore powering down the Baden Powell Trail during a past Vancouver 100 adventure.
Photo left: Angus Mclellan, film maker of the XS-NRG documentary about the Sunshine Coast Trail and the attempt of 4 city boys to run it's entire length non-stop taking a rest at one of the many beautiful bridges on the Sunshine Coast Trail.
 Flash - Escape to Egmont. 6 June - Egmont, BC, Canada. A part-road/mainly-trail out and back run from the Earl's Cove Ferry Terminal, past Klein Lake to Ruby Lake. An excuse to check out the northern-end-of-the-lower-Sunshine-Coast (have I confused you yet? Anticipated distances are approx. 15k and 25k (but custom distances easily accommodated). More here.
Vancouver Skyline XTC. 12 June - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. This trail run with a twist explores some of the most scenic areas of Vancouver's famous North Shore mountains. Runners can choose to run 25K "Up," 25K "Down," 50K "Up and Down" or a "Roll Your Own" custom distance to suit their abilities. Runners will experience approximately 3,000 m (9,000 ft.) of elevation change over the 50 km course on moderate to challenging trails. Find out more and register here.
NEWS
 New Member Chair. Please join me in welcoming your new Membership Chair, Jackie Montgomery. Jackie joined Club Fat Ass late last summer and promptly jumped in to rescue the Sunshine in September run. She enthusiastically is planning an array of new member initiatives and a flash event every month of the summer on the Sunshine Coast. Please don't hesitate to contact Jackie with thoughts and suggestions about your membership in Club Fat Ass.
Member Directory. Thanks to Jackie's idea and Ran's coding magic, I am very excited to introduce our first online member directory. A few things you should know about the member directory:
- Privacy. We assume that you do not want to share your basic contact information outside of the Club.
- Members only. For privacy reasons, we felt that this was best. Only current Club members can access the directory.
- Logged in. Please make sure you enter your website user name and password before consulting the member directory.
- What information is shared? The member directory shows your Username, First Name, Last Name, City, Province/State and Country.
- Accuracy. The information about you in the directory comes from the information you provided when you set up your web account.
- Updates to Your Member Profile. Say you spelled your name wrong when you joined the Club or you have moved. Whatever the reason, it's easy to change what shows in the member directory! First, go to your user profile. Click on the "Edit" tab, then "Personal Info". Finally, select the information you'd like to change.
- Note: To save you time (autofill), the information in your profile is also used when you register for Club events. Beneath each field you will find an explanation as to who can see the information. (e.g. the information in the "city" field is visible to logged in members, postal code and phone number is only visible to admin users and is used when you register for events to autofill your registration form)
Member Initiatives. We've had a record numbers of new members over the past month. Please be sure to say, "Howdy!" and do what you can to make our new members feel welcome if you see a new face at the next Club event. To keep the drive alive and add even more value to your membership, we are planning a number of initiatives. Keep your eyes peeled for the new member Welcome Wagon, Member Ambassadors, Bring a Friend program, Member of the Month feature and Student Memberships. If you're outgoing and would like to contribute, please let me know.
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 as Event Host Chair and with PR and marketing. Please drop me a line. For a couple of hours a month, you can make a big difference (and we actually have a lot of fun!)
2010 Membership Registration. Registration and Renewal for Club Fat Ass for 2010 is ongoing! Don't miss out on a whole summer and fall 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
 Fluffy Bunny. Event Host - Jess Dagg. The sun started to shine just after we finished! But..... the rain held off at the beginning, so we all enjoyed cruising around the Buntzen Lake area. A new member, John Pickles, came out for his first CFA event, and I must have done alright, as he says he'll be back :-) Doug and Bill tackled the new "long" course I developed, and my estimate was thankfully correct at 27km. A good challenge they said, especially since this was Doug's longest trail run ever. He shortened it a bit, but still...Congrats Doug! He also won a Trail Runner subscription at the post-event coffee locale so that should keep him going. Thanks Trail Runner mag and other sponsors for prizes. Photo and results are posted here.
XS-NRG - the movie. Six years ago, a handful of club members set out to run a 180-kilometer wilderness trail. Their attempt became the subject of this documentary film that was shown to a select, sold-out audience this month. While it was very cool to see so many familiar faces in the film, critics agreed that it was a great story about a famous trail, about friendship and about teamwork. It was also quite funny! The filmmakers plan to take it on the festival circuit. Check here for the next viewing opportunity.
Marathon Shuffle. Event Host -  Eagle Walz. The Marathon Shuffle on the Sunshine Coast is quickly proving to be one of the more popular Club Fat Ass events. Over 75 starters explored the beautiful Sunshine Coast Trail, the trail work and new shelters by Eagle and his friends. We hope that the attention will help to stop the clear cut logging of the old growth forest. Mark this event on your calendar for next year. Results and photos here.
 5Peaks Bunzten Lake Warm Up. Event Host - 5Peaks (Eric Lorenz) and Club Fat Ass (Sibylle Tinsel) It was a perfect day for a run in a rain forest. The sky was overcast when our car pool arrived at the parking lot near Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Soon excited chatter bonded the runners trying to figure out which group to sign-up for. We had 9 run leaders for about 30 runners, not a bad ratio.
There were two different distances, 8.8km Sports- and 14km Enduro to choose from. We set out together on the Valley Trail, following Eric, who had devilish fun guiding via his GPS. The rest of us leaders navigated from our memory of the course from years past and maps. Photos and participants list here.
 Burnaby Mountain Run. Event Host - Tara Haddad. We had a good crowd out, with a number of newbie members testing the waters and Event Host, Tara, testing her baby jogger with one of her twin boys along for the ride. The weather was beautiful. If memory serves right, this was the first and only Burnaby Mountain Run, when the rains were not torrential and we even got to enjoy the touted view ;-) Des had registered, but wasn't toeing the startline - a bunch of point hounds were jubilant, only to discover, that Des had put in an early start and collected points alright. Almost everybody scooped litter of the trail to do their good deed of the day and of course keep up with Des and Reagan in the Point Series. More here.
Foolishly Yours 50km. Event Host - Karl Jensen. Results here.
CONTESTS
 Refer A Friend Contest. Same contest, same rules, new year. Up-to-date standings here. Check out how to participate in the Refer a Friend Contest.
2010 Travelling 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 instructions here. All submissions to date are posted here.
Photo left: What did the nurses say, John?
2010 Point Series. Same contest, same rules, new year. With Reagan, Des, Jess, Sibylle and Ean almost head to head, it promises to be a heated battle. There's still time for you to win bragging rights and a pair of new runners, though! Read about how to collect points. Up-to-date standings 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.
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
    
CFA does not sell or otherwise distribute our member list.
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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. Start racking up points now by bagging the snowless Howe Sound Island peaks. Find out more 
Vancouver Skyline XTC. 12 June - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. This trail run with a twist explores some of the most scenic areas of Vancouver's famous North Shore mountains. Runners can choose to run 25K "Up," 25K "Down," 50K "Up and Down" or a "Roll Your Own" custom distance to suit their abilities. Runners will experience approximately 3,000 m (9,000 ft.) of elevation change over the 50 km course on moderate to challenging trails. Find out more and register 
The Slack Ass 50. 13 June - Edmonton, AB, Canada. Join Event Host Alli Conroy for 13 or 50 miles of Edmonton's extensive trail system along a beautiful river valley. A mix of forest trails and pavement, the trail will follow rolling, well-established trails through major parks for most of the route. There will be some steeper cross country style terrain to mix it up a bit so be prepared. Start/finish at the main pavilion at Hawrelak Park. Find out more and register 
even if you are not registered for the 5Peaks race. Details and free registration 
Vancouver 100. Event Host - Craig Moore. The skies cleared for what might be the toughest 100km run out there, helping to accomplish a high finisher rate. We had 10 runners attempting the full enchilada, with a total of 51 athletes participating in one way or another. You can check out photos, comments and results 
Escape to Egmont. Event Host - Jackie Montgomery. With a brief break that allowed us some nice weather, we ran the first Escape to Egmont yesterday. With nine starters, we had fair representation of the communities of the sunshine coast. Powell River, Sechelt and Earls Cove runners made the trip to the Earls Cove ferry terminal for the 8:30am start. After starting off with a fairly long uphill along the highway, we made our way along Egmont road (past the brand new firehall!) and onto the forest service road that took us up to Klein Lake. For a full report and results, click 
Chuckanut Calf Cramper. Event Host - Genissa Sygitowicz. Fun was had by all at the inaugural Chuckanut Calf Cramper! We had beautiful, sunny weather, cool and perfect for running. After 5 hours on the trails, we were anxious for a cold homebrew and some BBQ. The course proved to be challenging even for the RD, who decided to turn herself around early and hightail it for the keg! Next year's event will be held on Saturday, May 28th (4th Saturday in May) and feature shorter run options in addition to a longer (30k ish) route. Results, photos and videos 
5Peaks CFA Burnaby Mountain Warm Up. Event Host - Craig Moore. We had a nice cool day for a group run on top of Burnaby Mountain. In fact it was only about 8C with a breeze that lacked the warmth of the previous few days when temperatures where up to double that. I for one kept my sweatshirt on until we started to run. Starting in parking lot C was the right place to be for access to the race day course, but, as many of us hadn't been there before it was a little fun to find. Slowly everyone trickled in after driving in circles a bit and making phone calls to help locate the lot. Then we had the challenge of buying a parking ticket to steer clear of the campus security forces that I saw driving around. Actually, that was a nice way for some of us to get a little warm up run because the ticket meter was quite a distance from the area where we parked. Read on 
Flash - Foolishly Yours 50km. Event Host - Karl Jensen. Results are posted 
Refer A Friend Contest. Same contest, same rules, new year. Up-to-date standings
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.
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
Run with A Local. Club Fat Ass' contribution the the Olympic and Paralympic excitement matching locals and visitors up for runs. Details 
Spring Mountain Highway Madness. 21 March - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. This mind-numbing interval session is officially held twice a year. Runners complete one or more 15 km laps (with approximately 1 km or 3,300' of elevation change per lap) on a wide dirt and gravel access road (no traffic). Check it out 
Run to the Clouds. 27 March - Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada. A 12.5km or 25km run, all on trails with some gravel road sections. Come see and run around beautiful Buntzen Lake and surrounding mountains. A challenging route with over 2000 vertical feet (or 600 metres) of elevation gain/loss. Fantastic views of Buntzen Lake and the Greater Vancouver area. 
Spaghetti Trees. 3 April - Victoria, BC Canada. The newest offering on the Club Fat Ass calendar features a 12km or 16km trail run in East Sooke Regional Park past ancient copper mines and gorgeous west coast vistas. Get to the start via an optional bike ride along the Galloping Goose trail from the ferry. Play along with antics along the course and finish the day with a pint of local micro brew in a 116-year-old pub. Why is it called Spaghetti Trees? We'd love to hear your guesses :). Find out more 
Burnaby Mountain Run.
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
Speaking of shirts, we have a deal for you: Buy a classic blue or black short sleeve Club Fat Ass shirt and get a box of PowerBar Sport bars or gel chews. You can order yours 
Please 
Refer A Friend Contest. Same contest, same rules, new year. Up-to-date standings
Healthy Eating Workshop. 23 January - Vancouver, BC. Check out this nutrition workshop by business member Curb Ivanic of Core Fitness. Special rate for Club Fat Ass members. Details 
Spring Mountain Highway Madness. 21 March - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. This mind-numbing interval session is officially held twice a year. Runners complete one or more 15 km laps (with approximately 1 km or 3,300' of elevation change per lap) on a wide dirt and gravel access road (no traffic). Check it out 
Vancouver New Year's FA 50 Run. Event Host - Ean Jackson. 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 
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. 
Galbraith Mountain Tour. Event Host - Daniel Probst. The promised views were shrouded in fog, but the rains held off for the 14 runners who participated in the Galbraith Mountain Tour. Fueled by donuts provided by Daniel's mom the "slow" group was only 45min behind the fasties. Here is what Carolyn Goluzza had to say after the run: "I had SO much fun on this run!! Great trail system, awesome group to run with, and the views...well the trees were really pretty! And a big thanks to Daniel and his mom for the donuts!!!" To read more comments, see photos or results click 
Pure Satisfaction: Event Host - Craig Moore. Pure Satisfaction has always been a popular run: right from day one seven years ago. I’ve enjoyed every year of it even in the slippery cold and sometimes rainy and the sometimes dark starts. And I figure people keep coming back year after year so others must like it too. Like our dedicated Chief Fat Ass, Sibylle, who has participated more than anyone else now (6 times). 
Travelling Colours Contest. As the year came to a close, there were some interesting battles going on between the top finishers in the 2009 Travelling Colors Competition. Tactics included: promoting t-shirt photos on Facebook and Flickr with the message to friends and family being, "Vote for me!" All's fair in love and war! 
Pure Satisfaction: 13 December - North Vancouver, BC. 12km or 24km on slippery, wet, rooty, dark trails...the perfect way to start the busy Christmas season. Bring your jingle bells and wear your Santa hat. Details 
trail run on the Lake Padden & Galbraith Mountain trail systems. Prepare for the lack of stairs, boulders, roots and bears but with all the fun of the true single track. If we have clear weather there will be amazing views of Mt. Baker, San Juan Islands & the Northshore mountains of Vancouver. More details 
Vancouver New Year's FA 50 Run. 1 January 2010 - 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 
Squamish Scrambler. 6 February - Squamish, BC, Canada. This is an out-and-back snowshoe hike/run up to Elfin Lakes Cabin in Squamish (22km). Bring the family as far as Red Heather, a 10km return snowshoe hike, or continue on up towards Little Diamond Head, or out towards Mamquam Lake, depending on conditions and motivation. Savour spectacular views of The Tantalus Range, Howe Sound and Sky Pilot. More info 
Seymour Super Fun Run. Event Host - Michael Wardas. This run was blessed with lots of water. We almost needed snorkels to navigate the rivers on the trails. Read Jason's report - Midwest U.S. Style 
the way to Horse Loop!
New Year's Resolution Contest. It's time to stop thinking and to start acting about your New Year's Resolutions! We're again offering CFA members and anyone else who is interested a place where they can log their 2010 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 
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Time for some scheming and scamming...if you submitted photos to this years contest, you might want to ask your friends to comment and fave your contribution. The image recording most views/comments and faves (as determined by Flickr) will win this years contest and win a full refund of his or her 2010 Club membership dues. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can still be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
Flash - Foolish Gerbil 100 Mile Trail Run. 21 November - Vancouver, BC. A 100 mile run on the trails in Pacific Spirit Park. Join The Fools for a loop, or two, or three....or 16. Great training for the Vancouver New Year's Day 50km. Find out more 
Pure Satisfaction: 13 December - North Vancouver, BC. 12km or 24km on slippery, wet, rooty, dark trails...the perfect way to start the busy Christmas season. Bring your jingle bells and wear your Santa hat. Details 
Vancouver New Year's FA 50 Run. 1 January 2010 - 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 
Ann's Get your FA Off the Couch: Event Host - Ann Taylor. Thanks to all who endured another balmy monsoon at Ann's Get Your Fat Ass off the Couch.
Photo right: Sunrise at Dundarave Beach during the Seawall 100
Adventure Slideshow: Speaker Event thanks to Kintec Footlabs. It was a full house for the Club Fat Ass Adventure Slideshow and Year End Social. Members, members-to-be, spouses and friends, kids and dogs came out to share stories and photos of their outdoor adventures over the past year. More 
Flash - The Silly Chili Triathlon: Event Hosts - Ean Jackson and Sibylle Tinsel. The Run. 13 starters. All finished. When we met at Griffin gym, it was pouring, but the rain mercifully stopped for an hour as we did intervals on Mosquito Creek trail. Keegan Freeland was the speedster of the group.
Go Deep: Event Host - Cheryl Johnson. What can you say about a wonderful run with a great bunch of people on a day made for running. It was sweet! Sweet Go Deep is a great, great course. To make it even better 15 of my favorite Fat Assses came out to the start, including two new members. Welcome Heather and Scott! 
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Don't miss your chance to submit you pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour, any year) The winner of this popular contest will receive a full refund of his or her 2010 Club membership dues. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
Bagger Challenge 2009
Ann's Get your FA Off the Couch: 17 October - North Vancouver, BC. A fun run on winding trails and backroads of lower Seymour Mountain. Two distance options, the "Old Chesterfield" 20 km or the "Cushy Couch" 10 km. Enjoy the fall atmosphere in a temperate rain forest. Trial membership available. More info and registration 
Seawall 100: 24 October - West Vancouver, BC. An urban 100 miler, mostly on the Seawall path from Dundarave Park in North Vancouver to UBC. Enjoy an ultramarathon challenge with minimal concerns about wild beasts, altitude or elevation gain. Could definitively be described as the easiest 100 miler in North America if there is such a thing as an easy 100 mile run. Custom distances of 25-50-75 miles. Find out what else run100widow and her hilarious husband have up their sleeve 
Adventure Slideshow: 4 November - North Vancouver, BC. Join us and our friends and sponsors at Kintec for a social wrap up to the year. The evening will start with images from our 2009 events, munchies and the opportunity to mix and mingle. Slideshows and presentations of recent self propelled adventures, including the Baggers Challenge will be the highlights of the night. If you would like to contribute with a story and/or photos please 
Flash - Coldstream Chilly Willy 100: 7/8 November - Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, Vernon, BC. Lorie dares you to run all night long under an almost full moon just after Halloween around a haunted lake! 100 miles or custom distances - pick your poison. Find out more 
Go Deep: 14 November - North Vancouver, BC. Challenging but beautiful 20 km course on lower Seymour Mountain. Register 
Pure Satisfaction: 13 December - North Vancouver, BC. 12km or 24km on slippery, wet, rooty, dark trails...the perfect way to start the busy Christmas season. Bring your bear and jingle bells and wear your Santa hat. Details 
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour, any year) can be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
Sunshine in September: 5 September - Langdale, BC Canada. 20km or 26km on beautiful, mostly single track trails just off the ferry terminal in Langdale on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Run in forests of grand old trees and gigantic mushrooms. Easy logistics with carpooling, walk on the ferry, run off the ferry and a lovely post-run get together with super views on the ferry ride back. As close to a get a way in a day as you can get! Changes this year include a new Event Host, bag drop and no more running on the highway. More details 
Bagger Challenge 2009
Seawall 100: 24 October - West Vancouver, BC. An urban 100 miler, mostly on the Seawall path from the Dundarave Park in North Vancouver to UBC. Enjoy an Ultra marathon challenge with minimal concerns for naughty beasts, altitude or elevation gain. Could definitively be described as the easiest 100 miler in North America if there is such a thing as an easy 100 mile run. Custom distances of 25-50-75 miles. Find out what else run100widow and her hilarious husband have up their sleeve 
Core Running Performance Clinic
Building a Strong Foundation. 
5Peaks Buntzen Lake Warm Up: "It was a perfect day for a run in the mountains. The morning dawned clear and fresh and the temperatures soon reached the mid twenties. This was the first Club Fat Ass hosted orientation run for a 5Peaks race. Response was overwhelmingly positive from both run leaders and participants, especially for the short notice runners were given. Thanks to everybody who made this a success. 
Quite a few runners switched their shoes to take advantage of the Salomon shoe demo before heading out on either the 11km Sports- or the 15.5km Enduro course. Run leaders soon fell into a pace with their respective charges and enjoyed the vistas. With a leader/runner ratio of 1/3 everybody was well taken care off. Read on 
Go Home. Event Host - Des Mott. Well, the second running of the Hanes Valley went off without any problems. I had been a bit worried 3 days before the event as only 5 people had signed up, but my pleading for more eventually worked and 20 started with 2 no shows. 
Six runners opted for the 14 km out and back to Norvan Falls. Fourteen of us continued on our way in to the Hanes. As Rob, Dave and myself proceed to the creek crossing, we ran in to some hikers who told us they had heard what sounded like a large rock slide coming from the direction of Hanes Valley. I was a little concerned, because Wendy had set out earlier and should have been in the Hanes by this time. It turned out that the rock slide was closer to the third debris chute. 
Flash - Loving Lynn. Event Host - David Crerar. The inaugural Loving Lynn 33K run was held on Sunday, August 23rd below a sunny sky and a canopy of trees. Originally misbilled as a 50K, it actually felt like a 50K, with grueling climbs, dexterous rock-hopping up Lynn Creek, and the spongy, rooty, and gravelly goodness of the trails that run the entire length of Lynn Creek. More 
Flash - Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Event Host - Carlos Castillo. Once again a brave group of adventurers strapped up their hydration packs, took one, possibly, final look at their vehicles and punched the start of their chrono's and headed into the deep dark woods of the west coast rainforest. The start was delayed by about 30 minutes as Jeff, our play leader, made arrangements as to who was doing what with which cars at which end! The weather was cool but clear, so we were looking forward to some breathtaking views and climbs 
Flash - Duel at the Pool. Event Host - Ean Jackson. Read all about the attacks of the Whale-, Mako- and Reef Shark 
Capilano Canyon Night Run - A Midsummer Night Dream. Event Hosts - Sibylle Tinsel and Ean Jackson. It's a lazy Sunday morning in August. The 8th annual Capilano Night Run ended a few hours ago. The co-host of the event tasked me with summarizing the evening before I can play, so here I sit in the hammock eating some delicious brownies left over from the party trying to think what to write... Since this event is intended to focus on the party, I'll start there... Full report, results and photos 
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
Bagger Challenge 2009
Flash - E Momona 'Okole e holo ia ka hale 'u'uku o Pu'u 'Ula'ula (Fat Ass Run to the Red Hill Cabin). August 1 - Big Island, Hawaii, USA. Trail run on the Pu'u lava fields of Mauna Loa. Registration 
Capilano Canyon Night Run - A Midsummer Night's Dream. August 15 - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. Don't miss our classic night run, followed by a garden party. More info 
Flash - Duel at the Pool - 2009. August 19 - Vancouver, BC, Canada. A 5K swim in Kits Pool. At 8 complete laps to the kilometer, that makes this challenge 20 return laps, or 40 lengths of the world's best pool. Meet the Whale and Mako sharks 
Go Home via the Hanes Valley. August 22 - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. Chose between a nice and easy 14km trail or tough, backcountry wilderness runs of 18km or 30km length. More 
You'll find the latest event reports, including results, photos and videos 
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
2009 Point Series. "Out of Action" Jackson is still the runaway leader, closely followed by Craig, Sibylle and Des. Up-to-date standings 
Vancouver Skyline XTC. 13 June - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. This trail run with a twist explores some of the most scenic areas of Vancouver's famous North Shore mountains. Runners can choose to run 25K "Up," 25K "Down," 50K "Up and Down" or a "Roll Your Own" custom distance to suit their abilities. Runners will experience approximately 3,000 m (9,000 ft.) of elevation change over the 50 km course on moderate to challenging trails. Find out more and register 
Fluffy Bunny Trail Run: 20 June - Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada. Are you tough enough for the Fluffy Bunny? 11km, 15km, 25km and 35km options provide fun distances for the whole family. Go for a dip in Buntzen Lake afterward. Find out 
The Squamish Brick. 27/28 June - Squamish, BC Canada. Two back-to-back trail running days from Hell on the STORMY 50/100-mile course. Most 100-mile runners will agree that bricks (back-to-back long runs) build character and stamina. This little jog in the woods ought to do that. Run one day or run both. For anyone who is planning to run the STORMY 50-mile or 100-mile race in 2008 or otherwise. Great familiarization run and perfect timing at 7 weeks before the big event. More info 
The Full Monty
Vancouver 100. Event Host - Craig Moore. How do I put into words how great this event is and how much it affects the runners and the club? It is possible but daunting.I’ve been involved with Club Fat Ass for many years, almost since the beginning. I stick with it because I get to do what I want (run on the local trails with old friends and make new friends). It’s easy to sign up for events and see clearly what I’m getting myself into before the Event Host says “go!” The challenge is ready and the purpose is obvious. So what is it about the Vancouver 100 that astounds me every year and makes it so different from the other events? More 
Flash - Lord of the Loop(s). Event Host - Max. The weather was spectacular & we had a stellar turnout. 40 Fat Asses & their friends & family came out to enjoy a picnic and a spirited run through the Capilano Canyon. Race director, Max (age 8), gave a brief speech that summed up the spirit of Lord of the Loops...""Thank you all for coming out here today. The only rule is to have fun". Read the full report and see results 
Flash - Foolish Plunge 100 Mile. Event - Host Karl. Thanks to Tony and Shawn’s participation the Foolish Plunge became an international event. It’s always nice to see our American friends, eh. Shawn suffered a bad ankle sprain going down the Plunge on her fifth loop and had to call it a day. At last report the ankle has considerable swelling and is being aggressively iced. Tony had serious stomach issues during the night, but after some recovery time in his vehicle came out again to finish the full 100 miles. It takes character to come back out after being in as bad a condition as we saw him. Well done Tony! Shawn and Tony are not strangers to suffering, having completed the McNaughton 150 mile race in April under very difficult wet and muddy conditions. More 
Flash - Baldy's Bonkfest. 16 May - Squamish, BC, Canada. Part of the CFA - Stormy collaboration on training runs for the Stormy Trail Race. Details 
GPS Scavenger Hunt. 24 May - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. A GPS guided scavenger hunt on the North Shore between Skyline Drive and Mountain Highway. More info and registration at 
Vancouver 100. 6-7 June - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. The toughest 100 km in Canada... maybe the world! Due to the challenging nature of this event, participation for the full 100 km is by invitation only, but everyone can still participate by running part of the course with the 100 km participants, coming out to the aid station/picnic area at Cleveland Dam or crewing for a runner. More info and applications 
Vancouver Skyline XTC. 13 June - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. This trail run with a twist explores some of the most scenic areas of Vancouver's famous North Shore mountains. Runners can choose to run 25K "Up," 25K "Down," 50K "Up and Down" or a "Roll Your Own" custom distance to suit their abilities. Runners will experience approximately 3,000 m (9,000 ft.) of elevation change over the 50 km course on moderate to challenging trails. Find out more and register 
The Slack Ass 50. 20 June - Edmonton, AB Canada. Join Event Host Alli Conroy for 13 or 50 miles of Edmonton's extensive trail system along the beautiful river valley. A mix of forest trails and pavement, the trail will follow rolling, well-established trails through major parks for most of the route. There will be some steeper cross country style terrain to mix it up a bit so be prepared. Start/finish at the main pavilion at Hawrelak Park. Find out more and register 
Poster Children. Our 
North Shore Enduro. Event Host - Andy Nicol. Many thanks to the forty-two participants, including Missouri runners, Jason and Lauren Eads, who took part in the 7th running of the Enduro 6-hour run on the Lynn Loop Trail in the Seymour Demonstation Forest. Conditions were ideal on the intense 7.8 km course, featuring exposed roots, boulders, loose gravel, and steep grades where runners have 6-hours to complete as many loops of the course that they can handle.
Marathon Shuffle. Flash Event Host - Eagle Walz. "
Sigouin and a few of his running mates from Avid Fitness were getting fed up with having the Tom Mills Marathon Shuffle trophy show up for a weekend in Powell River and then see it leave town again. Sigouin said he and others in the local running fraternity weren't happy about having a trophy for running the Sunshine Coast Trail claimed by out-of-towners every year. This year they decided to participate and train on the trail." Read the full report, see photos and results 
Flash - Dam Foolish 33 1/3 Mile Trail Run. Event Host - Karl Jensen. Only four people toed the starting line at 7AM on Monday, but it seems that the good weather energized Sibylle, Claudia and Baldwin who did custom runs. Lorie and Barry ran the Zumbro 100K in Minnesota on Saturday. Barry's feet were still giving him some pain so he wisely decided to take a rest day. Lorie couldn't think of an excuse, so she started with the other three. It was a nice surprise to meet Sibylle who ran from her home near Mosquito creek. John completed his intended distance and left the group to run home shortly before we got to the Grouse Skyride. Lorie had to leave for some family business, but came back later and completed the return to Deep Cove on her own. Read the full report 
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
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 hold 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 
Flash - Hyson's Hiatus. 
Flash - Hotspring Hustle. Date TBD - Pitt Lake, BC, Canada. There are hot springs in the mountains on Pitt River. They are hard to reach. Word is that they are quite beautiful. This is an adventure that aims to reward the adventure-seeker with not only an adventure, but with a relaxing dip in the springs! Find more info 
Photo left: ActionJackson soaking in a hotspring in an undisclosed location...
f course, if you are like most of us and are just getting the hang of Facebook, you can join the 
Burnaby Mountain Run. Event Host - Tara Haddad. Thanks everybody for coming out to attack the killer hill on Burnaby Mountain. I believe this is the first time in the history of the event that the weather gods laughed upon us. It was certainly nice to take in the breathtaking panoramic views of Vancouver, Burrard Inlet, Indian Arm and the snow covered mountain ranges beyond. Still, there were a few isolated snow patches hiding beside the trail on the north side of Simon Fraser University and the trees were bare (opposed to last year, where the event took place at the beginning of March and some green was already sprouting.) Read on 
Spring Bunny Hop. Event Host - James Sinclair. James was the lone bunny hopping around the beautiful trails of Oak Ridges Moraine. He's eager to meet BC Fat Asses, Amy and Andrew, who are about to move to Ontario and hope to get some more events and participation going.
2010 version, and I'd say if there is this type of interest, the run must go on. Special thanks to Diane Stace-Smith (my wife) and our friend Ruby Ferguson who came out and help set up the aid station at the North end of the lake - getting all those health food chips, cookies and gummy worms ready for runners wanting a short break. Also thanks to Peter vanGaalen (another CFA runner) who took a few hours off on Friday to come lug water and Gatoraid up the mountain to the high point turn-around so that runners would have a stash to draw on if needed up top. Full results 
Spring Mountain Highway Madness. Event Host - Ean Jackson. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... Or so it felt as we assembled under the Kintec tent at the start of the 8th annual Mountain Highway Madness. Global warming? What global warming? Yes, Mother Nature threw another late-season curve ball and gave us the most snow in the history of this event. In summary, the event was a disaster for those hoping to set a course speed record or get in multiple loops.
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
Spring Mountain Highway Madness. 15 March - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. This mind-numbing interval session is officially held twice a year. Runners complete one or more 15 km laps (with approximately 1 km or 3,300' of elevation change per lap) on a wide dirt and gravel access road (no traffic). Check it out 
Run to the Clouds. 28 March - Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada. A 10km, 13km or 25km run, all on trails with some gravel road sections. Come see and run around beautiful Buntzen Lake and surrounding mountains. The long route is challenging with over 2000 vertical feet (or 600 metres) of elevation gain/loss. Fantastic views of Buntzen Lake and the Greater Vancouver area. 
Spring Bunny Hop. 4 April - Claremont, ON, Canada. The opportunity for Ontario members to mix and mingle and show their loyalty. This 25 km trail run (which may turn into a cross country ski outing) takes you up and down two of the Oak Ridges Moraine forest tracks. Find out more 
Capilano Canyon Night Run. Event Hosts - Ean and Sibylle. As I was greeting runners at the start last night, it occurred to me that the MardiGras Night Run had grown up. Why’s that, you ask? No, not so much that it’s been an annual cult gathering for 7 years running. Not because the event now attracts more than a handful of nutcases with headlamps. Not because there were now starters from as far away as Singapore or Switzerland, either. No… what impressed me the most as I stood in the parking lot checking folks in was that our little event boasted two portable toilets next to the start line… just like a “real” race! This year, 
starters were blessed with clear skies, temperatures just below freezing and perfect winter night running conditions. It was great to welcome friends and veteran Capilano Canyon night runners, but I was especially surprised to see so many keen first time night runners. Are we at the forefront of a new running trend? Roxy the Ultradog howled with excitement as we took the obligatory starter photo, separated into short and long-course groups and headed off into the night. Full report and results 
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
video about a true outdoor story, back country code of responsibility, what happens when you screw up: Search and Rescue in BC. The evening will conclude with discussion about your outdoor questions and experiences. This event is free and we highly recommend it for anyone who gets off the main trails. More info and registration 
Run to the Clouds. 28 March - Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada. A 12.5km or 25km run, all on trails with some gravel road sections. Come see and run around beautiful Buntzen Lake and surrounding mountains. A challenging route with over 2000 vertical feet (or 600 metres) of elevation gain/loss. Fantastic views of Buntzen Lake and the Greater Vancouver area. 
Flash - Pure Foolishness 100K. 14 February - North Vancouver, BC Canada. Event Host - Karl Jensen. Read on 
Flash - Mount Kenya Summit Circuit. Event Host - Chris Benn. We haven't heard yet how Chris and Benn fared during their Summit Circuit of Mount Kenya in Africa. We'll post photos as soon as the runners are back home.
Flash - Foolish Gerbil Twenty-Four Hour Trail Run. Event Host - Karl Jensen. The biggest difference between gerbils and fools is that gerbils have enough sense to get off the wheel when it gets tedious. Read more of Karls report 
New Contest Announced. We'd like to see CFA grow to include even more active, community-minded members. We've noticed that people who learn about the Club from people they trust and admire quickly become active CFA members. Many go on to host Club events. Every year since the Club was founded, we've noticed that a special few make the effort to share their passion for the Club with friends. Without asking for recognition, these individuals act from the heart to help mold the vibrant CFA community that all Club members benefit from. This contest is intended to recognize those special people who actively contribute to the growth of the Club. Check out how to participate in the 
2009 Travelling Colours Contest. Same contest, same rules, new year. Pictures of your 2009 adventures wearing your Club shirt (any colour) can be posted to Flickr following the instructions 
Flash - Valentine's Double Fat Ass. 7-8 February - Vancouver, BC Canada. A 50 kilometer run: Your special Valentine's for the true love of your life: Running!! Show that you really mean it and do The Double. A less extreme challenge (1K to 49K) for those slightly less in love. More info 
Capilano Canyon Night Run. 21 February - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. A 90-minute run that starts in a suburban neighborhood, traverses the twilight zone, then stimulates your senses with a trail run in the mist and inky blackness of the Capilano Canyon. Choose between a guided group run at a gentle pace for the socially-inclined and first time night runner or a competitive run for those more motivated by the clock and the opportunity to rip their buddy's lungs out. Both runs followed by a potluck party and celebration of Fat Tuesday. Entry limited to first 50 entrants, so please 
Spring Mountain Highway Madness. 15 March - North Vancouver, BC, Canada. This mind-numbing interval session is officially held twice a year. Runners complete one or more 15 km laps (with approximately 1 km or 3,300' of elevation change per lap) on a wide dirt and gravel access road (no traffic). Check it out 
Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50 Run and Freeze your Fat Ass Swim. Event Host - Ean Jackson. We live in interesting times. What an interesting day it was for our little Club resolution run. We were served-up a smorgasbord of winter conditions: snow, sleet, rain, wind, ice, slush, mud, puddles, all with a little blowdown thrown in for good measure. Given that the snow was deeper than at any time during the run's history, let's call the 2009 run "The Year of the Big Snow."Snowed-in driveways, icy roads and hangovers aside, a near record number of fat asses made it to the start. We had representatives from as far away as Toronto, Prince George and Vernon including an enthusiastic mob 
of 18 from snowed-in suburban Coquitlam. Despite the frozen pens and wet sign-in sheets, we managed to start skating down the trails of Stanley Park promptly at 9. (Hey Vernon, where were 'ya?) 
Pure Satisfaction. Event Host - Craig Moore. Thanks to everyone that came out on a chilly day for the run. We had a record 64 people sign up and about 34 people showed up for the official start on Sunday morning in Deep Cove. All the others either ran on Saturday or earlier Sunday morning from Lynn Canyon and we had 2 people running up in Vernon. Of course, there were the expected no-shows but for today it was understandable as many of them were Snow-ins. There was a light dusting of snow on the trail but I know there were several areas around the Lower Mainland that got a whole bunch more snow. It was quite chilly at the start but with our 9:04 am beginning time the sky was bright and everyone was ready and anxious to go. We had a few first timers and, as always, a small number that weren't familiar with the good ol' Baden Powell Trail. I asked the newbies to stick with someone experienced and not just bunch up so they could get lost together, if you know what I mean. Full report. photos, video and results 
2008 Travelling Colours Contest. As the year came to a close, there were some interesting battles going on between the top finishers in the 2008 Travelling Colors Competition. Tactics included: secretly collecting points, promoting t-shirt photos on Facebook and Flickr with the message to friends and family being, "Vote for me!" All's fair in love and war!
2008 Point Series: Ta da... the most active Club member of 2008 was Desmond Mott of North Vancouver, Canada with 49 Club points. His strategy? Des participated in 16 CFA events in 2008. He signed-up early, showed up, and collected trash at most of the events he participated in. Des won a certificate for a pair of running shoes from 
2008 New Year's Resolution Contest: And the winner is...Baldwin! He feels he was able to accomplish 91% of the athletic resolutions he made for 2008. I was tempted to deduct some points for not washing his Club colors all year, but his lead was impressive and Baldwin truly deserved his win. Baldwin also received a certificate for a pair of running shoes from our business member, 
Pure Satisfaction: Sunday 14 December - North Vancouver, BC. 12km or 24km on slippery, wet, rooty, dark trails...the perfect way to start the busy Christmas season. Bring your bear/jingle bells and wear your Santa hat. Details 
2009 Club Garment. Did you know Club membership dues include a garment? Collectors take note... the 2009 Club t-shirt will be 
Flash - Foolish Gerbil 12 Hour Trail Run. Event Host - Karl Jensen. There were not as many participants as in the six hour version of this run. I'm don't know if that was because of the ridiculously early start time, the weather or perhaps some of the runners in the previous version have simply concluded that running with Fools is not really an experience that they want to repeat. It was a treat to have some out-of-town friends join us. Van "Pigtails" Phan drove up in the morning from Maple Valley, south of Seattle. For those of you who don't know Van, she is a phenomenally prolific marathon and ultra runner. In 2006 she ran 53 marathons/ultras and won the 2006 Trail Runner Magazine Ultra Runner Series with 1462 points. That was 561 points more than her nearest female competitor and 888 more than the nearest male. In 2006 she also kicked my butt at the Lost Soles 100 Mile Race, taking first place in the women's division and fifth place overall. She finished 33 minutes ahead of me, a humbling experience. Lorie Alexander and Barry Hopkins drove from Kelowna, risking their lives on the Coquihalla Highway to join us. Both of their names appear frequently in Ultra race results. Lorie recently completed two 100 miler races on consecutive weekends. Claudia Bullington did 43 K and qualified to become a Marathon Maniacs member. She joins at least one other CFA member, Gilles Barbeau, in that distinction. Being a Maniac beats being a Fool I suppose, although Gilles seems to be hedging his bets. Kirstin Ramage came out and ran 30 K in the morning and returned in the late afternoon to drag one Fool along for the last 20.5 K if his run. Thanks Kirstin, I really appreciate your help. Thanks to all who braved the mud and somewhat cold and miserable weather. Stay tuned for details of the 
Mike and Melissa's Fun Run. Event Host - Michael Wardas. Congratulations to all that came out for a wonderful day of camaraderie and running! I'd like to thank Melissa and her daughter Justine for being our two 'un-official' aid stations; one at the Vancouver picnic area after the first climb and one at the LSCR. They had chips, brownies and M & M's for those that wanted to stop long enough to partake. 36 starters today plyed the treacherous trails of the North shore, some on route some not! The 'official' route is ~27km with 3,200 ft (975m) of elevation gained and lost. The weather was wet most of the time with temperatures around 5-7 deg C and puddles-o-plenty on the trail. We encountered 2 hiking entourages with 20+ members that made zigging and zagging through moving obstacles all the more challenging! I ran with Jeremy who ran extremely well which enabled us to challenge each other duelling it out down Ned's! Of course Nevee the wonder dog accompanied me the whole way having a blast!
Flash - Foolish Gerbil 6 Hour Trail Run. Event Host - Karl Jensen. It was great to see so many new faces at the start of the run. I regret that I wasn’t able to run and chat with all of you. It was especially nice to see an “old” face that has recently been missing in action. Gilles has been out with sciatica and made his CFA comeback in style, running five big loops and one small one for a total of 51.5 K in 5:53. Welcome back Gilles. Kirsten came out intending to run just one or two loops, but did a bit of bonus distance on the first loop and then got connected with a couple of Fools. She did a total of 52 K in 5:53. Gilles and myself decided to do the second loop in reverse because we got tired of only seeing the backsides of the speedy kids: Chad, Ran and Rick. The scenery didn't improve. However, this was a learning experience because we discovered that doing the big loop counter-clockwise was more enjoyable. It seems that quite a number of people put in some bonus distance. That was in most cases a result of the foolproof directions being somewhat vague for the section between the Camoson and the intersection of the Salish and Clinton trails. We will fix that for the Twelve Hour version. Our apologies to all. Please read the motto. As an accountant I insist on accuracy, so I’ve added an extra 1 K to those who indicated that they did a bit extra but didn’t know the distance. Results 
New Year's Resolution Contest. It's time to stop thinking and to start acting about your New Year's Resolutions! We're again offering CFA members and anyone else who is interested a place where they can log their 2009 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