Due to Trevor's failure to recognize a low camera battery before arriving at the race start, this happens to be the only photo I took the entire day to help document what a mudfest the race was and even this doesn't even come close to portraying just how sloppy, slimy, drippy, drizzly, and shoe-sucking the mud actually was. This is what a certain someone's shoes looked like after 25 miles.
The following is an e-mail written by the Capitol Peak Mega Fat Ass race director on January 23rd, a few days after the event:
Greetings:
Only a week before the 7th annual Capitol Peak Mega Fat Ass, about 3 feet of snow blanketed Capitol Peak. After close review of the course, we decided to change the course to include trails lower in elevation that didn't have as much snow, excluding the climb up to the top of Capitol Peak. There were also major trail and bridge washouts as a result of the December storm event on the upper portion of the course.
The new 17 mile loop course was the shape of a figure eight that featured an 8-mile loop in some deep shoe-sucking mud and a 9-mile loop that climbed up into about eight inches of snow. Even though the course had less elevation gain, all the mud and snow surely put a damper on any fast times. About 130 runners toed the line, in which only 15 brave souls completed 2 full figure eight loops at a total of 34 miles. The 115 other runners opted to finish at the figure eight midpoint (start/finish area) at either 25 miles, 17 miles or 8 miles. Great job to everyone that survived all the mud and snow!
This year the Mega Fat Ass was a fundraiser for the Friends of Capitol Forest, a non-profit group dedicated to maintaining the 100 plus miles of trails throughout Capitol State Forest. FOCF have graciously put in 1000's of hours into working on trails! The Mega Fat Ass is a perfect opportunity for so many great people come together, each year, run on trails, contribute for a good cause and have a really good time. I'm always amazed with all the generous contributions people have given at this event! Thanks to everyone who donated to Friends of Capitol Forest! And thanks to all the volunteers, including the Thurston County Search and Rescue, members of FOCF and the Olympia Trail Runners.
If you left any gear behind at the finish you can pick it up at Pigtails Run http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/race/pigtailsrun.htmor at Orcas Island Fat Ass: http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/orcas50k.htmor email me your address and I'll send it. Also, if you have any photos of your experience on the Mega Fat Ass, please email them and I'll post them to the website.
Remember, the Capitol Peak 50 mile, 55 Km and Relay will be on Saturday April 26, 2008. Mail-in registration and other information about the race is available at:http://www.capitolpeakultras.com/CP50mile.htm
See ya in April!
John Pearch
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