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. Also, remember you signed up for it. Don’t complain.
RACE REGISTRATION
Race registration fee see below chart (plus Ultra Signup fees).
The cost has gone up from $25 to alleviate the rising costs of vendors and supplies. These increases throughout the year are below.
50K
Dec 10, 2022-Aug 31, 2023
Registration $30
Sep 1st, 2023 – Oct 31st, 2023
Registration – $32
Nov 1, 2023 – Dec 9, 2023
Registration – $35
Marathon
Dec 10, 2022 – Aug 31, 2023
Registration $30
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Registration – $32
Nov 1, 2023 – Dec 9, 2023
Registration – $35
1/2 Marathon
Dec 10, 2022 – Aug 31, 2023
Registration $35
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2023
Registration – $37
Nov 1, 2023 – Dec 9, 2023
Registration – $40
HALF MARATHON ENTRANTS – We sold out early in 2022; don’t miss out on this fun race. Sign up early!!.
UPDATE 10/12/23 – With a little less than two months to race day we are almost capped on the half marathon distance, as with other years new slots will open up if the other two distances do not near their cap of participants. Additionally in November we will hold a lottery selecting 10 people from the waitlist to participate. Your card will be automatically charged at this time so if you change your mind on attending/participating, it is important you remove your registration.
No refunds, no day of race registration and no deferrals! If you cannot attend this race after registering I always offer a 25% discount to the following year if you let me know before Thanksgiving.
Be sure to watch the Facebook group – half way through the year, a 50% off coupon is posted for limited participants.
Register Now
https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=100461
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 should you want to donate that will go straight to local food banks in Kent, Maple Valley, and Seattle.
SCHEDULE AND CUTOFF TIMES
RACE DAY: Saturday 12/09/2023
Early Start for 50K & Marathon:
Check In:6:10am
Briefing: 6:20am
Start: 6:30am
Regular Start for Marathon and 50K:
Check In:7:00am
Briefing: 7:20am
Start: 7:30am
Start for Half Marathon:
Check In:8:00am
Briefing: 8:20am
Start: 8:30am
NO EARLY START FOR HALF MARATHONERS
CUT OFF FOR THE 50K and Marathon IS 2:30 PM. Please remember your volunteers that worked hard in the cold all day; they do want to go home too. 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.
TIMING
We will be trying electronic timing on this event for the first time. What this means is that it is important for the runner to have their bib showing to ensure ease of recording your time.
RACE DAY – COURSE –
THIS COURSE IS USATF SANCTIONED
START LOCATION 47.361321237519114, -122.02370750867075
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 the trail on Kent Kangley between these two addresses.
You will 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 trailhead. 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. Remember this is a FAT ASS.
Love your fellow runner and be safe out there.
RACE COURSE –
Half Marathon 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 6.7 MILES WATCH FOR IT.
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. Because this is a Fat Ass there will be no additional signage for this 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, etc ….
*many food items will be individually packaged; pack it in, pack it out. Runners intentionally littering have the possibility of disqualification.
CARRY YOUR TRASH TO THE AID STATIONS GARBAGE BINS.
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. This last year the additional port o’ potty was a waste so we will return to one at the start/finish. 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, etc.
Hammer Nutrition
Thank you to Hammer Nutrition for consistently being an awesome sponsor for this race. They will be providing ENDUROLYTES FIZZ® and more for the manned stations.
EXCITING NEW SUPPORT
This year I received an email from Ka’Chava. I was intrigued about them reaching out to me and offering full bag samples ($70 value) for each runner. I actually sat on the email a week because I didn’t think it was real. I finally responded asking what the catch was. Actually there was no catch at all! They sent over 700 lbs of product to me to give a bag to every runner and volunteer at the race, I had a pallet delivered to my door, I was blown away! I built a fort and it’s been fun with all the boxes. Now, I thought “Don’t you owe it to the runners to make sure this product is good?” So I got a bag out and blended up a drink and I had one sip, then another, it was craveable and at the 5th sip I was sold. I felt awake, I felt refreshed, it tasted like vanilla bean. I hope you enjoy it as well and it will be available at packet pickup for you. Check them out at the website linked above.
Thank you to Ka’Chava for making this race even more amazing!
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.
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
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 Pigtails race medal, a Pigtails patch, and a choice between a vinyl Pigtails car sticker or a Pigtails key fob*.
(If we run out of one of the options the alternate option will be given.)
NO MAILING OF SWAG NOT PICKED UP ON RACE DAY!
The medals are still in the production stage. The original thought was to have them 3D Resin printed but that is not what this race is about. It’s about low-key fun. So I’m pouring each medal to find the perfect fit this year. Gold, Silver, and Bronze will be for the winners of each identified sex and distance race.
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VOLUNTEERS
Remember to be thankful to all the volunteers for their hard work.
Volunteers are needed for the 2023 Race!
Volunteers, please use the race registration link above to register as a volunteer.
All 2023 Volunteers will be given free entry to the 2024 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 special piggy medal celebrating that win.
No piggy banks this year just super cool gold, silver and bronze pig face medals.
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.
50K:
Female – Gina Slaby 3:40:58 (2017)
Male: Ben Brown 3:12:13 (2019)
Marathon:
Female: Marlene Farrell 3:02:10 (2012)
Male: Uli Steidl 2:31:26 (2012)
Half Marathon:
Ryan McIrvin 1:30:06 (2020)
Alison Fraser 1:38:07 (2019)
DROPS
Should you be asked to drop due to time constraints or just feel your body wanting to stop, you can drop to a lower race finish.
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.
NEW CO-RACE DIRECTOR
Meet Madison –
She is working tirelessly behind the scenes to help her mom respond to all your emails and ensure everyone has a great race day.
She’s learning the ropes of being an RD and she may respond to your emails to assist us get through them all. Just remember she has little legs so her typing speed is not that fast, but she’ll get back to you soon.
Madison is always asked where I got her awesome light up harness. I got it at noxgear and I urge anyone who take their pup out either to go for a walk or a run anytime from dusk and beyond to get one of these harnesses. Your pet will be seen and noticed and safe. Click the button below to be taken to their site.
PIGTAILS RUN 