THE FAT ASS RETURNS – 2022

Looking forward to running the 2022 course and celebrating 17 years with this race!

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.

2022 Race Dedication

This year our marathon/ultra community lost an amazing runner and friend – Robert Bondurant. He left us all too soon and he will be missed by the entire running family that knew him. The 2022 race was to be his 11th race with Pigtails Fat Ass December races. Since he cannot attend as a physical participant we will be celebrating him in another way. Your race medals will have a dedication to him on them and there will be some other creative ways to celebrate him on race day.

Robert touched many people in his life through his love of running. I hope that everyone that knew Robert gets out and enjoys the outdoors, the run, and the climb like he did… always; not just on a race day. Wherever you are; let’s celebrate Robert’s life.

It was through the Marathon Maniacs / Half Fanatics* that I met Robert; we ran many races together and his smile and drive were infectious. My runner family that came from joining these groups has changed my life for the better I’m so lucky to have been Robert’s friend and part of this family.

*For more information on the Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics please visit their websites https://www.marathonmaniacs.com/ https://www.halffanatics.com/

REGISTRATION / RACE COSTS

Race registration fee $22.50 (plus Ultra Signup fees)

No refunds.

Register Now

https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=91040

In past years we asked runners to also donate soup and canned goods. We are not asking for this anymore. There will be a cash donation jar that will go straight to local food banks in Kent, Maple Valley, and Seattle.

NO Day of race registration!

Distance changes are allowed up to and on race day.

CELEBRATE THAT BRUCE IS BACK AGAIN

Bruce is back again! Our only legacy runner will be running this for his 17th year! Bib #17! Be sure you give him some huge love out there on the course!

RACE DAY SCHEDULE AND CUTOFF TIMES

RACE DAY: 12/10/2022

Early Start: 

NO EARLY START FOR HALF MARATHONERS

6:30AM for 50K & Marathon

(Bring headlamp), 

Regular Start for 50K & Marathon: 7:30AM, 

Start for Half Marathon: 8:30AM with no early start.

Check-In: 

6:10AM-Early Start

7:00AM-Regular start 50K and marathon

8:00AM – Half Marathon

(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. The home aid station will begin packing up at 2.

RACE DAY – COURSE –

THIS COURSE IS USATF SANCTIONED

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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 addresses. 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 footbridge) on the way to Landsburg and turnaround. 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 a paved blacktop trail. There are portions of the race that will have some dirt and gravel.

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.

COVID PRECAUTIONS –

Love your fellow runner and be safe out there and always wash your hands

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

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

THE TURN FOR THE HALF MARATHON/MARATHON IS AT 7.7 MILES WATCH FOR IT.

THE TURN TO THE OTHER TRAIL FOR THE 50K RUNNERS IS

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

COURSE MARKINGS

The course will be marked with sports paint. The course will be marked at important turnaround points and intersections. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION to the race briefing before the start and the sports paint on the course.

FOOD

There will be water/Hammer electrolyte drinks along the course, and you can refill your bottle (no cups on the course except for hot drinks and soup)

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

I understand that we all have different tastes in food so there is a lot of hot food restaurants at race start / finish for other options.

BATHROOMS ALONG COURSE

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

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.

SPONSOR – Hammer Nutrition

Thank you to Hammer Nutrition for consistently being an awesome sponsor for this race. They will be providing ENDUROLYTES FIZZ® and  HAMMER GEL® for the manned stations – registrants will also receive some of these items in their bag at back pick-up.

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.

I understand there was a business owner threatening to tow cars in 2021; it didn’t happen. As with any race, it is important to pay attention to no parking signs and park responsibly.

PACKET PICKUP

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

DROP BAGS / SPECIAL REQUESTS

No drop bags – Pack your own items on your person. In past years it has been a huge challenge for volunteers to manage runners’ items.

SPECIAL REQUESTS

Please respect the FAT ASS aspect of this race. It is low budget to allow all who want to run; run. Volunteers simply cannot cater to all requests for special treatment every runner wants. The food to be provided is listed. If you require vegetable broth because you don’t care for the soup offered and insist it be heated by volunteers midrace…you may be disappointed. Please do not ask the volunteers to stop everything to handle these requests. They are there to make the race great for all, to manage medic emergencies and be a cheerleader for all the runners.

SWAG

With the return of the Fat Ass race, the larger swag items are available for purchase on Ultra Signup when you register. Quantities are limited and IF items are still available you can purchase race day with Venmo or cash.

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

NO MAILING OF SWAG NOT PICKED UP ON RACE DAY!

Ribbons for 2022

Left to right

Coral Hat – limited to 40 – $10

Womans pom pom hat – limited to 2 – blue $10

Fleece ear warmer – limited to 40 – $6

Mens original hat – limited to 10 – $10

__________________________

There will be LIMITED additional items of the below sold-out items at the main tent on race day.

Women’s 13.1 HOODIE – REMOVED PHOTO – SOLD OUT (last one)

MEN’S GRAY BEANIE SOLD OUT – REMOVED PHOTO – SOLD OUT – Gray / Navy – $10

MEN’S STRIPED BEANIE- REMOVED PHOTO – SOLD OUT – – $10

MEN’S NAVY BEANIE – REMOVED PHOTO – SOLD OUT

VOLUNTEERS

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

  Volunteers are needed for the 2022 Race!

Volunteers, please use the race registration link above to register as a volunteer.

All 2022 Volunteers will be given free entry to the 2023 race and receive race swag.

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.

CURRENT COURSE RECORDS

The top 3 Female and Top 3 Male runners in each race distance will receive a ceramic piggy bank celebrating that win.

Upholding the longstanding tradition of record breaking cash prizes – The Marathon and The 50K will continue to receive $31.10 and $26.20 in cash for a record breaking time of the distance they registered for. If you dropped, you do not qualify for cash prizes. You will still have the fame in future race websites and on ultra signup. See below for more information on records and dropping distances.

Marathon:

Female: Marlene Farrell 3:02:10 (2012)

Male: Uli Steidl 2:31:26 (2012)

50K:

Female – Gina Slaby 3:40:58 (2017)

Male: Ben Brown 3:12:13 (2019)

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 just feel your body wanting to stop.

ALL runners can drop to a lower distance race with no time penalty. You will need to alert the timers of your drop at the finish and if you took the 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 THE 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 the 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 after showing up with one and being told you can’t start with one.  SO LEAVE THE PUPS AT HOME WHERE IT IS WARM AND THEY ARE COMFORTABLE.

WEATHER

Weather is iffy this time of year – rain, sleet, snow or possibly sun, be prepared to have the best race. it’s the PNW; please check the weather and plan accordingly. 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 the course to help supplement but not to fuel everyone for their entire run.

**PLEASE, NO LITTERING ON THE COURSE. CARRY YOUR TRASH TO THE AID STATIONS GARBAGE BINS.

WAIVERS

In addition to the Ultra Signup waiver; Insurance waivers MUST BE SIGNED. They will be available at check-in.

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 A RUNNER DEMEANS VOLUNTEERS THEY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. IF THERE IS ANY DISCREPANCY OF TIME THE RD IS/HAS THE DECIDING AND FINAL SAY.

Thanks and Happy Running

April

Disclaimer 2 –

The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Maniacs or Fanatics (but I hope they would all agree it’s one big crazy family that really has fun while running …).