Alex's Fat Ass 50

Mt. Pleasant, SC, January 5, 2002

Results courtesy of Alex's Fat Ass 50.

Recovery from the Holidays - 50M/50K

by Alex Morton, RD

"One of the most scenic courses of any ultra in a city".

Here is an event, which is eclectic, eccentric and iconoclastic. I hardly ever get to use some of my favorite words except when I write up the report for the Fat Ass Run.

The Fat Ass (FA) is kind of like a party. A party that I put on and one that I am in charge of. I don't really have to ask anybody's permission about anything, since this is really not an organized "event". (I can see myself asking the state highway commission for permission to run over and back over the Cooper River Bridge and then trying to get a running permit from four towns!) Plus, I don't promise anybody anything. Yet, here is an opportunity to host a running party where I attempt to deliver the best race support and most entertaining event in the area.

There are no sponsors, so I don't have to ask or beg for anything. I don't have to please anyone. I pay for it myself. The run usually costs between $100 and $400 depending on what I decide to do that year... not a whole lot of money if you think of this as a party where you are asking people to come over for a fun, get together...a running get together. When I have people over for dinner at my house, I don't charge them money and/or have to get corporate sponsorship to feed them. They are not subject to advertising banners about what's going to happen and what they are going to eat and drink. So why do this at a run?! In the FA, runners usually enjoy a pretty good complete meal plus entertainment... certainly more than a few pieces of fruit and a sip of sports drink.

I recently had a request from a potential sponsor who wanted to provide me with T-shirts and publicity to help increase participation in the event. I politely refused their offer, since I didn't "want no stinkin' T-shirts" (a la Blazing Saddles). Plus, I didn't really want more runners than usually participate. I certainly don't want more runners in the FA than I can remember their name and/or face.

So, I keep the numbers in the 20's or less. The local running club helps with this number as I have difficulty getting my event listed in their local running calendar. The name describing a large body part may offend. However, this year, David Quick, a writer for the Post and Courier, wrote an incredibly great article including a big picture for the Sunday paper. Now, I may have to prepare for more entrants next year. However, as long as the event is free, most people will probably stay away, since anything "free" couldn't be "any good", right? I mean, where else do you get to see historical places and architectural delights while running a two mile bridge twice, see four other bridges, visit four towns, and run on two islands and a beach?

For those unfamiliar with FA events, the guidelines for this race are: No fees, No awards, No aid, No whining and No wimps. Almost anyone can get a franchise for a FA event if they can come up with the capital ($1.00.) While this was the fifth time I put on this event, next year will be the 25th anniversary of the first FA event, so we hope to do something special on a nation/world wide basis.

"Unadvertised" support consists of almost everything that a sponsored run would have that is thought of as "good." I take their races' ideas and try to incorporate them into the FA run and then, try to make them even better. We have all kinds of fluids and ultra race foods form a roving aid station. All miles are clearly marked, all turns are marked with flour, and accurate maps and mile locations are provided. This year I gave a surprise FA Hat to all the finishers of the FA (as well as to whomever I wanted to give one).

The weather started off cold (29 degrees F) but was nice and clear with no wind. It later warmed to the 50's with high clouds. The bridges had been sanded earlier in the week for a snowstorm and this helped with the potentially slippery surfaces from the morning frost. We had a new course record set for the 50 Mile event with Brian Kistner of Florence, SC beating the old record by over seven minutes.

50K 1. Leonard Martin, 48, TN 5:48:34

2 starters

50 Mile 1. Brian Kistner, 31, SC 7:23:14 * new record 2. Robert Crosby, 43, SC 9:36:27 3. Kerry Trammell, 45, TN 10:16:13 4. Leslie Trammell, 46, TN 10:16:13 5. Bill Piper, 55, PA 10:50:43 6. Robert Roberts, 59, SC 10:51:30 7. Ray Krolewicz, 46, SC 11:34:18

7 starters

The Directors' Cut - Alex's Fat Ass 50 - 50K Run

January 6, 2002 - Mt. Pleasant, SC

The directors want to run too! So we got up the next morning (after debating whether we wanted to start running that evening when all the finishers had come in. We knew the weather was changing and that rain was coming, so we got up really early to try and beat it. (Well, we think 3:00 AM is early!) The weather was not as great as the day before, but we had a warmer start (44 degrees F), strong wind, and a great storm for the last 7 miles with hard pelting rain, but no ice. The "Directors' Cut" was really fun, especially because there was no traffic for several hours. We could run down the middle of the roads in Charleston as well as on the Cooper River Bridge! Again, local merchants at the major convenience stores (the ones which were open!) provided unlimited aid when money was presented and exchanged for food and drink.

The run was evenly matched, as Tara Novit of Charleston, SC tied with Alex Morton of Mt. Pleasant, SC.

1. Tara Novit, 32, SC 6:14:09 2. Alex Morton, 52, SC 6:14:09

2 starters