FATSO

Fellow Ultrarunners,
Well, we've just heard the WS lottery results. So now it's our favorite time of year - it's time to get fat! Yeah, baby...bring on the chubb!

The inevitable rolls in your belly will start looking at you on Jan. 1 and say "hey, this is kinda cool - can we stick around?" Well, if you don't want those rolls to last all the way to swim (birthday) suit season at Where's Waldo, then have I got a series for you.

Last January, I noticed that there were 4 fatasses in Oregon in January, and conveniently, one each weekend. So, for 2008, the 4 fatass organizers decided to get ever-so-slightly organized and create: FATSO. This little acronym was actually the brain-child of MadAss Maura. Naturally, FATSO stands for FatAss Trail Series of Oregon.

Here's the schedule:

BadAss, Jan. 5, 8 a.m. In the Badlands Recreation Area east of Bend. For info, Sean at smeissner@lycos.com or 541-549-1298 http://www.footzonebend.com/rumble/badass/

MLK, Jan. 12, usually 9 a.m. Ridgeline Trail in Eugene. For info, Stephan Willow at ultrawillow@uswest.net

SOFA (Southern Oregon FatAss), Jan. 19, 9 a.m. Grave Creek Trailhead on the Rogue River near Galice. For info, Tim Turk at ultrarunning@gmail.com or 541-264-0262

MadAss, Jan. 26, usually 9 a.m. MUT headquarters in Madras. For info, Maura and Stan at monstan@hotmail.com or 541-475-0348

Although not normal for fatasses, there will be an overall award for the FATSO. The runner with the highest total time will win something; we don't know what yet, but it will be kinda cool. So if you think you're too fat and too slow and will never win anything, this is your chance! Remember, the more FATSO events you run, the better chance you have to win!

We look forward to seeing all of your fatasses on our local trails next month. Until then, eat up!

-The FATSO Committee