[Rockhopper]

The Cape Cod Ultrarunning Society will be hosting the 2nd annual Frozen Fat Ass 50 K at Sandy Neck in Barnstable, Cape Cod, Massachusetts on Saturday, February 2.<br><br>
The course is two laps of a figure eight 15.7 mile configuration involving marsh trails, sand dunes, and beach on beautiful Cape Cod Bay. Do one loop for 25 K or finish the 50 k for an inscribed commemorative quahog shell. Potential difficulty factors include: soft sand, ice cold salt water that you might have to run through, snow, and bitterly cold winds with full exposure on the open beach. Last year was rather cold (about 12 deg F.), but the beach was fairly firm (frozen), the wind was light, and there was no snow and only a little water to run through. Conditions could be a lot tougher.<br><br>
Directions: The entrance to Sandy Neck is on Sandy Neck Rd. off rte. 6A right at the Sandwich/Barnstable town line. For a map Google: "map of sandy neck beach" Google Earth gives a great view of the course area. Start time is at 7A.M. sharp in the parking lot. The time limit is 9 hours. No fee. Some food & drinks provided, plus donations to the aid station are welcomed. There is no race web site. For more information you can ask here, or call the race director Bob Jensen at 508-420-0561.<br><br><br>
Hope to see you there.<br><br>
Jeff List

 

[JamieoftheNorth]

I will be there. Look forward to it.<br><br>
-Jamie

 

[Sherpa John]

Ok Jeff.... count me in so long as I get the OK from the Mrs.<img alt="roll_eyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/roll_eyes.gif">

 

[CT Marathoner]

Rockhopper -- are plans for the 50K moving ahead ? thinking of coming up, based on whether a few friends drive up and the weekend schedule ....how many will be on this course? I envision getting lost among the sand dunes on a frozen beach...what is the weather looking like for Saturday? seems like it might be a bit milder than last year. Do you have a 'big' group running?? Can you recommend a motel near the start? am happy to call race director...many thx <img alt="confused.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/confused.gif">...

 

[Rockhopper]

The race is definitely on. To answer your questions in order:<br><br>
1. How many? Since there's no sign up, no one knows. I'm guessing around 20.<br><br>
2. Getting lost. You can get off course, but it would be tough to really get very lost on a barrier island.<br><br>
3. Weather. The weather forecast has it being a whole lot warmer than last year, but I don't trust forecasts 4 days out. We did get a foot of snow Sunday night, but I expect that to be mostly gone, especially near the beach except in isolated deep drifts. However, there's definitely reason for concern about the tide, which will be high at the start of the race. We may have to run through a lot of water, or maybe the director will alter the route of the first lap. But there WILL be a fat ass 50k at the beach unless the waves are so high on the beach that there isn't any beach.<br><br>
4. Motel. Sorry, I don't know about that. Maybe the race director does.<br><br>
Look forward to seeing you there!

 

[Sherpa John]

I'm out... fiance's grandfathers 90th B-day party.<img alt="sad2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad2.gif">

 

[CT Marathoner]

Rockhopper ---sounds like a 'polar plunge!!! Should we wear wetsuits? Brrrr. But it does sound like a beautiful course and one that develops mental toughness <img alt="sad2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad2.gif">...Thanks for the info!!! The R.D. should know motels, so will call him Thursday if decide to go--my training friend now has the flu<img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"><br>
SJ has a happy excuse...

 

[Rockhopper]

Wetsuits are too constricting for running. If the water's high, I'll be going with the Hydro-Bronc:<br><a href="http://www.shapeupshop.com/aqua/hydro_bronc.htm" target="_blank">http://www.shapeupshop.com/aqua/hydro_bronc.htm</a><br>
Good enough for DK, good enough for me.<br><br>
SJ--sorry you can't make it. I guess a birthday party for a 90 year old happens kind of early in the day, otherwise I'd say you could run fast and be home home by 2:00.

 

[Sherpa John]

The party is at 3pm in NH... hmmm

 

[Rockhopper]

It was a tough 50k this year, with a fair bit of soft sand and a 20 mph headwind on the beach sections. The last 4.5 stretch on the beach into the headwind was (for me anyway) a head-down, grinding schlog. Looking up only reminded you how far you had to go because you could see for miles down the beach, but still you had to look up periodically to chart your course down the beach on the least gravely, most firmly-packed route you could find.<br><br>
But it was a beautiful day--not very cold with temps in the 40's, and the scenery is old-time Cape Cod drop-dead gorgeous. I think everyone had a great time (in the ultra sort of way). There was a little RV everyone could sit in after the race, have some hot soup, and talk about ultras. What could be better?<br><br>
Finishers of the 50k:<br><br>
1. Greg Stone 4:42 (new course record, old record 5:06)<br>
2. Jeff List 5:12<br>
3.Wayne Nichols 5:29<br>
4.Scott Deslongchamps 5:40<br>
5.Howard Tansy 5:50<br>
6.Ken Lemerise 5:59<br>
7.Jamie Anderson 6:06<br>
8.Bob Eckerson 6:13<br>
9.Yural Ramon 6:28<br>
10.Blaze Aguirre 6:39<br>
11.Rich White 6:48<br>
12.Fred Murelo 6:51<br>
13.Bob Jensen 6:55<br>
14.Rich Luc iano 7:07<br>
15.Joe Spidlak 7:12

 

[JamieoftheNorth]

Nice meeting you and the others there. Had a great time. I thought the combination of soft sand and winds were very challenging, but a lot of fun though. It's the tougher ones like that you remember the most fondly.

 

[CT Marathoner]

Rockhopper -glad the race was a success!! Congratulations!!! and nice report ....Sorry to miss the event. As you said, the beach running with the headwinds and the rest of the course was fun and challenging in an 'ultra sort of a way'. I was going to drive up with a friend ,as knew the weather would be as good as feb. gets, but he had the flu all week (temps of 102 aqnd severe chills) and I am nursing a calf strain. So between the two of us we decided to wait til next year! I am coming up for the Martha's Vineyard 20 miler w/another friend --I know, it's 'only' 20 miles but will expect lots of wind<img alt="roll_eyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/roll_eyes.gif">

 

[Rockhopper]

CT Marathoner--sorry you couldn't make it. My calfs are really sore today from pushing through all that sand, so it's probably best that you held off.<br><br>
MV20 is a great event. Good luck. I was thinking about it, but I have the Hyannis Marathon the week after.

 

[phredmur]

Hey Jeff: Another beautiful day to run through the sand. I had two thoughts on the 2nd annual cape cod fatass: (1) i feel like i lived that nightmare where something is chasing you and you're trying to run, and your feet are stuck, and you can hardly move forward, and you're staggering, and your feet are sinking, sinking in the soft sand; (2) the conditions were great except for the wind at the beginning, the wind in the middle and the wind at the end.<br><br>
All that said, i really like this race. It definitely tests your legs and your resolve. It is not easy to finish the first figure 8 and be at your car in the parking lot, stocking up and thinking, "everything i just did, the wind, the sand, the dunes, the rocks, i'm about to do again. This is what i do for fun."<br><br>
Your time was great for these conditions. i felt like i might still be there at sunset.

 

[Rockhopper]

Phred--very funny, but so true.<br>
Maybe next year we'll luck out and have high winds AND bitter cold. Wait, then the sand might be hard and frozen. Oh well, you can't have everything.