Mega Fat Ass update 1/12/11

Are you ready for a mudfest, or what? This Saturday will definitely be a fun time in the mud, and most likely snow on the Peak. I can't tell you for sure what the trail conditions are like yet. But I will know more comes Friday after we mark the course. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for this weekends Mega Fat Ass Run.

Thank you for registering for the Capitol Peak Mega Fat Ass on Saturday January 15, 2011. Reminder that the start is at 8:00 am at the Margaret McKenny Campground on the Southeast end of Capitol State Forest. PLEASE ARRIVE BY 7:30 a.m. to allow enough time to park and register. Driving directions can be found at:
https://capitolpeakultras.com/MFA_Driving_Directions.html (those from Olympia might know the back roads to get to the start, but this is the directions closest to I-5)
Carpool if possible, parking is limited at the start!!

Please take note of the following:
1) Even though you have registered online, we will still need you to sign a waiver for the Washington St Dept of Natural Resources (DNR). This is a new requirement from DNR that everyone must sign, that is separate waiver from what you already checked online (see your email confirmation or click here for the waiver). For those under 18 please click this waiver for minors for parents or legal guardian to sign. There will also be a DNR waiver for you if you forget to bring it. Thank you for your patience when registering Saturday morning!

2) Please bring a minimum $5 and a roll of toilet paper. The $5 helps cover our insurance for the run that is required for our DNR permit. The roll of TP is to support DNR's needs during these hard budget times for restocking our use of TP for the event at Margaret McKenny and around Capitol State Forest. Please also make sure the registration volunteers know you are running. There is also a chance to donate at registration to Friends of Capitol Forest for all their continued trail work support in Capitol Forest.

3) The course is an out and back mostly on the Green line #6 trail with a small section on the Wadell Loop trail near the start. It will be marked with candy cane (red and white) flagging and some signs on trail at all trail junctions. Please take a look at the map and print if you want to have it on race day. We will NOT have any copies at the start:
https://capitolpeakultras.com/uploads/CPFatAssmap2011new.pdf
However, please be ready for a course change comes race day. There is a 4 mile loop up on Capitol Peak this year (that includes the infamous grunt trail), but we are not sure if this will be runnable yet. I will announce if there are any course changes before the start on Saturday, based on our course marking on Friday.

4) Bring your own food and water bottles!!! There will be a drop bags that you can stash food and other gear in a bag (clearly labeled with your first and last name) which will be taken to the Falls Ck station (at 8.5 miles turnaround). If you're only doing the 17 miler, we encourage you to NOT put any valuable gear in this bag. The drop bags may not get back to the finish until AFTER 3:00 pm!! For 34 milers, the drop bag will also be there on your return so you could have some warmer cloths stashed and maybe some hand warmers for later up on the Peak. If we end up running the planned route, the return to Falls is about 25 mile, so in other words carry enough food to go 16 miles! And remember there is NO FOOD provided at Falls. There will be water at Falls and up on the Capitol Peak but don't expect a cup...bring your own bottle! And PLEASE pickup any trash you might accidentally drop or find along the trail.

5) Please bring food to share at the finish! There will be a bonfire and a stove to heat up soup or whatever else you want hot at the finish. We will provide Ramon noodles and hot coco but bring other goodies to share.

6) Camping is allowed at the Margaret McKinney campground. However, please park in designed camping areas and don't block the main road. There will be several of us camping there Friday night, but if you get there later on, the gate might be closed but won't be locked (dumby locked). Just please close the gate behind you after passing through the gate.

7) To make it worth your while to go the distance, there will be specific colored rubberband to pickup that show what distance you ran, either the 17 mile turnaround at Falls Creek or up at the Capitol Peak Towers (after the steep grunt climb 2nd climb up Capitol Peak). You can then show off to everyone at the post-run party your rubberband. Since this is a fat ass, timing is based on the honor system, so you will be responsible in writing down your time at the finish.

Reminder: If you are interested in also running the Capitol Peak 50 mile and 55Km on
April 30, 2011, save $10 and signup by 12:00 Midnight Sunday January 16, 2011. Here is the website: https://capitolpeakultras.com/cp50mile.html

This is our 10th year annual Mega Fat Ass and we thank everyone for your generosity in donating to Friends of Capitol Forest and coming to run in Capitol Forest. We also appreciate all the support from the Washington St Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) and all the volunteers, especially South Puget Sound Mobile Search and Rescue and Friends of Capitol Forest. We could NOT put this fun run on without all their support!

See you on the trails this Saturday!

John Pearch -RD Capitol Peak Ultras
www.capitolpeakultras.com