PIGTAILS RUN “SWEET 16” – THE FAT ASS RETURNS

The plan is for a very sweet run…. non covid with the COVID-19 Omicron variant . Please run safely for us all.

WHAT IS A FAT ASS?

Fat Ass races are in the grand tradition of ultras being relaxed, low key, low amenities but still a solid good time. Please remember the low amenities and pack what you feel you need. Snacks and soup are on the course.

REGISTRATION DONATIONS / RACE COSTS

• https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=81743

NO Day of race registration!

Distance changes allowed up to and on race day.

Suggested donation $10 –  CASH ON RACE DAY – Donations are needed to keep these runs going. Donations are used to pay for event costs, ie permits, insurance, food, supplies, improvements for future races etc. Left over funds are donated to charity.

Please understand this simply cannot be a “FREE race”, there are thousands of dollars spent on insurance, on permits, food, propane and swag.

IN ADDTION TO THE MONETARY DONATION WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR YOU TO

Please bring 2 and have at least one item be chicken noodle soup or butternut squash soup so that we can warm ourselves up at the aid station and the finish. All left over donated can goods will be going to various local Food Banks.If you want to bring other items to donate please feel free to do so.

RACE DAY SCHEDULE AND CUT OFF TIMES

RACE DAY: 12/11/2021

Early Start: 6:30AM for 50K & Marathon Only (Bring headlamp), Regular Start for 50K & Marathon: 7:30AM, Start for Half Marathon: 8:30AM with no early start.

Check In: 6:10AM-7:25AM-8:25AM (All runners must check in.), Race Briefing: 6:25 for Early and 7:25 for Regular and 8:25 for Half.

CUT OFF FOR THE 50K and Marathon IS 2:30 PM. Please remember your volunteers that worked hard in the cold all day do want to go home. If you feel like you will take longer than 6.5 hours take the early start to get the extra hour so we can all go home and get warm.

The manned aid station on the course will begin packing up at 1:30pm

COVID PRECAUTIONS – ALL runners need to wear masks at check in and when approaching aid stations and interacting with volunteers. You will have the ability to fill your containers with Hammer Fizz and water and grab snacks. There will be sanitizer and wipes and most food items will be packaged individually. Please be respectful of the people coming out to support you. Non compliance = disqualification.

RACE DAY – COURSE –

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Start the route in Maple Valley at Four Corners shopping area (by the Mod Pizza, Panera, DQ, Dumpling house and Grocery Outlet). MOD Pizza address – 23912 SE Kent Kangley Rd, Maple Valley, WA 98038 and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints address – 26800 236th Pl SE, Maple Valley, WA 98038 The start is a trail on Kent Kangley between these two address. Do not park at the church. Park at 4 Corners Shopping area. There is a lot of parking there and the trail is right next to it. You would run out to the intersection where the Green to Cedar trail becomes the Cedar river trail and make that right turn that the 50kers do on their way back to the finish on the original course. For a half marathon, you turnaround near the last bridge that crosses the Cedar River (it’s a big foot bridge) on the way to Landsburg and turn around. There is a road about half a mile before that for an aid station. Marathoners will do a double out and back. 50Kers can run all the way to the Landsburg parking (original start) and do an out and back twice for about 32 miles.  There is a little more elevation on this course for all distances than there was in prior years, but not much difference overall. The course is mostly paved blacktop trail. There are portions of the race that will have some dirt and gravel.

THIS COURSE IS USATF SANCTIONED

RACE COURSE –

13.1

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/4217819740

26.2

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/4219814569

50K

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/4219520143

Total mileage marathon: 26.26mi Total mileage 50K: 31.16mi

COURSE MARKINGS

The course will be marked with spray paint by the wonderful original race director that started this great race, Van Phan. Course will be marked at important turnaround points and intersections. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION to the green sports paint.

BATHROOMS ALONG COURSE

There has always been one port o’ potty at the start/finish. There will be an additional port o potty at the manned aid station.

FOOD/AID

There are water/Hammer electrolyte drink along the course, you can refill your bottle (no cups on the course).

MANNED AID STATION

In addition to the soup we will provide the regular race fare of chips, gummy candy, cookies, mini candy bars, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bananas, oranges, pretzels, etc.

Hammer nutrition will be providing ENDUROLYTES FIZZ® and  HAMMER GEL® for the manned stations – registrants will also receive these items in their bag at back pick-up. In addition you will receive a cup that is reusable from HAMMER.

Half Marathon runners will hit the manned aid station at approximately 5.5, 7.75

Marathoners will hit the manned aid station at approx mileage 5.5, 7.75, 18.5, 20.5

50K runners will hit the manned aid station at approx mileage 5.5, 10.5, 21.5, 26

UUNMANNED AID

There will be 1 unmanned aid station at the old Landsburg trail entrance turnaround point for the 50k racers. there will be a bin of peanut butter crackers, HAMMER gel, swedish fish, sour patch kids, fruit leather, cookies and candy and water and electrolytes.

FINISH LINE FOOD

Soups (butternut squash and chicken noodle)- in addition to the soup we will provide the regular Fat Ass race fare of chips, gummy candy, hot water for hot chocolate or apple cider, chocolate candy, cookies,  bananas, oranges, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pancakes, pretzels etc ….

COURSE AND SAFETY ON IT

Try to do your best to be safe at all times and try not to put anyone else in an unsafe situation. Aid Station Volunteers will have cell phones to call for assistance or emergency support. Ensure your emergency contact is updated and correct in UltraSignup. We do not have the availability to evacuate mid course. An ambulance can arrive at the manned aid or main aid station. Please run safe and with a phone.

Since this is a fat ass and the course finishes near a ton of yummy and warm places to eat the fare will not be over the top, please do not think items laying out are items to “pack for later” eat all you want and need but remember this is a FAT ASS.

PARKING

PLEASE CARPOOL! – Start the route in Maple Valley at Four Corners shopping area (by the Panera and Grocery Outlet). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints address is 26800 236th Pl SE, Maple Valley, WA 98038 and it is next to the start. Do not park there. Park at Four Corners Shopping area.

PACKET PICKUP

Packet pickup is race day morning please see above check in times listed with start times.

DROP BAGS

No drop bags. In past years, only a few people used them and it was always a hassle to get them back to the runner’s expectations. You can leave stuff at the first aid station and grab it on your way back. If you forget to pick it up again, you will just have to wait until the aid station closes and for the aid station workers to return to the start/finish to get it back.

SWAG

With the return of the Fat Ass race there will be left over swag while it lasts at packet pickup. Hats will sell for $10 each. CASH ONLY.

All runners will receive a race medal, a Pigtails patch and a vinyl Pigtails car sticker for you to place wherever you want.

Extra patches and stickers will be available at $2 a pair but only available at the finish line if they are available.

NO MAILING OF SWAG NOT PICKED UP ON RACE DAY!

VOLUNTEERS

Remember to be thankful to all the volunteers for their hard work.

  Volunteers will receive a wonderful warm hat that has the pigtails logo and race entry the next year.

PHOTOS

There will be no photographer this year to keep costs down. We will gladly take your photo at the finish for you as we can and we encourage you to share photos of your run with us if you take them on the course.

Half Marathon:

With the only live half marathon participation being in 2019 and then the race being virtual in 2020, course records for this distance will be determined for 2022 with this race.

DROPS

Should you be asked to drop due to time constraints or you just feel your body wanting to stop. 50K and Marathon runners can drop to the lower distance race with no time penalty. You will need to alert the timers of your drop at the finish and if you took early start. If you have a record breaking time on the distance you dropped to, you will unfortunately not be eligible for the cash prize but you will have your time in the race results posted to UltraSignup under the correct race.

ANIMALS AND STROLLERS ON COURSE

Unfortunately, the course does have some crushed rock portions, actually over 6 miles of it; so strollers aren’t the best idea.

Also, race insurance doesn’t cover dogs on the course and we ask that you leave them at home.  Sorry folks, no dogs on course.  You will not be allowed to start if you have a dog with you.  You will not leave your dog in your car upon arrival and being told you can’t start with one.  SO LEAVE THE PUPS AT HOME WHERE IT IS WARM AND THEY ARE COMFORTABLE.

WEATHER

If weather is really nasty, I will have garbage bags for runners to help with rain and wind. Everyone should carry one water bottle and most of their fuel. There will be gels on course to help supplement but not to fuel everyone for their entire run. Weather is iffy this time of year – rain, sleet, snow or possibly sun, be prepared to have the best race.

**PLEASE, NO LITTERING ON THE COURSE. CARRY YOUR TRASH TO THE AID STATIONS AND DEPOSIT THERE.

SPONSOR – Hammer Nutrition

Once again we have been given the continued support from Hammer Nutrition.  They will be providing: ENDUROLYTES FIZZ® and  HAMMER GEL® for the start and aid locations, registrants will also receive these items in their bag at back pick-up

WAIVERS: MUST BE SIGNED. There will be some available at check in.

As a reminder the cups on course are for soup! Hammer was great to send all the runners these cups. Please make sure that you carry these or carry another hydration solution for yourself.

DISCLAIMER

PARTICIPANTS IN THIS EVENT ASSUME ALL RISKS OF SUCH PARTICIPATION. PARTICIPANTS CERTIFY THAT THEY ARE PHYSICALLY FIT AND SUFFICIENTLY TRAINED TO COMPLETE SUCH PORTION OF THIS EVENT AS THEY CHOOSE TO COMPLETE. BY ELECTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT, THE PARTICIPANT WAIVES, RELEASES AND DISCHARGES FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, LOSSES OR LIABILITIES FOR DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY, PARTIAL OR PERMANENT DISABILITY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, MEDICAL OR HOSPITAL BILLS OR THEFT WHICH MAY ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE TO PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT. PARTICIPANTS AGREE NOT TO SUE, AND TO HOLD HARMLESS ANY AND ALL PERSONS, SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS, PARTICIPANTS OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OR LIABILITIES THAT THEY HAVE WAIVED, RELEASED OR DISCHARGED BY THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE PIGTAILS RUN.  IN THE END IF THERE IS ANY DISCREPANCY OF TIME THE RD IS/HAS THE DECIDING AND FINAL SAY.

Thanks and Happy Running

April