2004 - Year 11

The 11th annual Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 50 will go down in the record book as ‘the year of the big snow'. While most folks don't consider 10cm (4") of snow a 'dump', it's a lot for Vancouver and its not good news for the palm trees we pass by during the Vancouver Fat Ass 50 run.

The Californians didn't show. The person who registered from Tennessee was also nowhere to be seen. At least one person rolled out of a taxi straight from a New Years eve celebration. Ted from CTV was out with a camera crew to document the freak show for the evening news. More than half of the 64 runners from British Columbia and across Canada who did show up to kick the new year off with a little run and a dip in the Pacific were out for the first time. Gottfried in particular (see photos) hoped to shed a few pounds.

The event became affiliated with Club Fat Ass this year. In keeping with the guidelines for environmental-friendliness, there was no special course marking to assist runners through the tricky trails of Pacific Spirit and Stanley Park. Picture 60-odd people wearing numbers from their favorite race, laughing and falling over one another as they slide around icy corners while consulting written course directions. Most participants agreed to 'run friendly' for the first 20 minutes or so and got to know one another before finding their pace.

As the sun rose in the morning sky, the snowy mountains surrounding the city seemed close enough to touch. Fun run or not, Jim Swadling, Randy Hunter, Dom Repta, Dave Cressman, Andy Nicol, Matt Sessions, John McCrank and Scott Riddell were pushing an aggressive pace by the Burrard Street bridge at 10k. Ann Taylor, Ellie Greenwood and Catherine Yoell led the 21-strong women's field. Meanwhile, Gottfried showed the first signs of chafing.

Apart from the snow, the high point of this years event was the truly opulent buffet Mark Shorter offered at his beachfront aid station around 17k. There must have been a dozen varieties of sport drinks, bars and gels as well as real food ranging from chocolate brownies to bagels to chocolate and gummy bears. Our heartfelt thanks to Mark, a top finisher in 2002, and Keith Nichol of North Shore Athletics, for insuring that any New Years resolutions to loose weight would have to wait until another day.

John McCrank finished first overall and completed his first ultramarathon in 4:42. In keeping with Vancouver Fat Ass 50 tradition he kissed the fire hydrant and cooled off in the ocean. First woman to finish and 6th overall in 5:21 was Ann Taylor. After winning her age group in every distance running and snowshoe series in British Columbia in 2003, Ann was off to a great start to 2004. It was a bit surprising that, in one of the cooler years for the Vancouver Fat Ass 50, most finishers found the courage to jog down to the ocean for a quick dip before hitting the showers.

The post-event get-together at the Cactus Club Cafe went smoothly, despite the fact that we threatened to take over the place. Mark Shorter received a standing ovation for the best aid station in the history of the event. Mark and Cactus Club Manager Jason handed out prizes for the most lost (?...about 2km), the best bonk (2001 winner Randy Hunter who planned to go 25k, but changed his mind half way), the farthest traveled (sorry, Fred, ‘had to be present to win...and John, you're a BC boy even if you do live in London, Ontario), longest in the water (2.5 minutes. How's the shrinkage, ?) Finally, Fat Asses, friends and family in attendance voted hands down that Gottfried Grosser should win the fattest ass recognition for sporting the biggest buns and enduring the most chafing. How's it feel to be a poster boy, Gottfried?

Congrats to all participants and may 2004 bring you good health, happiness and prosperity.

Ean “Dho! Left My Water Bottle in the Truck” Jackson