Monday, February 18, 2008

Orcas Island Fat Ass 50K 2008

Last year I started my Orcas Island post by saying that James Varner the RD for the race was a sick and twisted man. When you run a Varner course you expect a tough challenge. With a course change due to snow I anticipated an easier course, wrong! Two loops with about 7000 feet of climbing did a good job of kicking my tail! Steve, Bob (Steve's Dad), Michelle, and Margaret all car-pooled to the event. Steve and I ran the 50K and the others ran the 25K. Getting to Orcas Island involves an hour long ferry ride from Anacortes Washington. We stayed in a condo near the Rosario Resort which was just down the hill from the race start in Moran State Park.Here's a few of the pictures I took on the trip and during the run.

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In Washington State we live for sunny clear days. This weekend was incredible! Steve and I finished in 6:54:40. The course consisted of two loops. We went along Cascade Lake and then made a climb up. We didn't have any problems with Mt. Goats because the slope was too steep for them. At the top of the 45min chin scraper we turned and burned down a quad burner steep section back down to Cascade Lake. I think about 90% of the course was climbing, or so it seemed. We were joined this year with the 25K runners at the start. Steve and I got caught up with the faster 25K runners for the first few miles and then things thinned out a bit. You may have noticed the picture of my bloody knee. I fell at about mile 9 on a flat wide section of the trail along Mountain Lake. I got a little too conversational while looking back at a runner and nearly landed on my face. I'll keep it short and sweet. If you have never run this race you need to have a look at it. It's a great event. James rents the entire Camp Moran with bunkhouses and a main log cabin for food and entertainment. We had a three piece bluegrass group playing in the cabin post race.

20 comments:

Laura H said...

Damn that was a great weekend - even the incident at Lulu's made for an entertaining story! And that course - whoa! The views were well worth the climbs! BTW, a guy in our bunk who was a trail virgin said it was the hardest thing he'd ever done (did the 25K) and he's been to boot camp! I don't know whether to feel like a stud or worry about the training our soldiers are getting....good to see you and FINALLY meet Michelle!

Unknown said...

I'll have to put it on my must do for next year. Sounds and looks like a great run.

Anonymous said...

sounds like fun - even with the knee plant!

Scott McMurtrey said...

the water looks warm and inviting.

i like the easier runs that turn out to be harder. i see you do too.

i'm all set for a trip to the land of the midnight sun. michelle says it's on your list. maybe i'll run into one of your cousins.

Olga said...

You're getting shorter and shorter on your report...longer on running part? Run more talk less? Living the life?
Goot time, I will join you guys one day...it's a heck of a drive for me for a 50k, but sounds awesome! Congrats to all of you, Steve's dad is Da Man!

Jenny, Maniac #401 said...

Great photos! looks like the perfect time. Cool shirt too!
Jenny

Sarah said...

Awesome pics! Looks (and sounds) like a fun-filled weekend. Pretty too! : )

Steve S said...

Thanks to you and Michelle for organizing the B&B. And thanks for taking the fall for me, my ribs needed a break (pun intended). Rest fast this week, it's on the the Fund Run this weekend.

Jon said...

I had thought about doing Orcas this year, but due to the whole job switch chaos I've gone through - a ferry trip wouldn't have been a smart idea this time. However, I will try and make it next year and bring the family along for the campout and all!

runningtwig said...

I'll also give you some points for your fall - at least you didn't fall on your face! Better to mess up a knee than a face!!

Sounds like you guys have a fun weekend like we did!

Anonymous said...

The pictures were great. It looks like it was a perfect day for a run. Gotta love those rare days of winter sunshine! I have to admit, I'm a little jealous of your run. . . minus the bloody knee and extreme mountain climbing, of course. :)

Darrell said...

So darned beautiful.

wendy said...

great pics! I actually thought the last one was a real person for a second. ;-)

looks like a lot of climbing, you guys are gluttons for punishment for sure!

BTW, nice job on Valentine's Day, that was lovely.

Meghan said...

Eric,

I'm with Olga, I want the gory details. And, with all that crazy climbing and descending, how did you manage to take the digger on the only flat spot? Heh. :)

runliarun said...

Oh, I remember that reading about this course in your blog last year was scary - the distance, the climb, everything.

Hmmm... I don't feel much better now.

Leslie said...

Hi Eric! What a great weekend: great people, incredible weather and scenery and a fantastic little race course. You Washington folks always know how to make a girl feel welcome! Thanks!

Leslie of Banff

Sarah Elaine said...

All good training for the Death Race. :-)

seagull junker said...

looks like a great day and run out there. thanks for sharing the pictures.

Gotta Run..... said...

I love the races that have "FAT ASS" in the title. Too funny!!!

Over and over you prove to be a machine out there. I still am not sure how you do it all. I want whatever your having... :)

shawn said...

Those are great pictures. What a bloody good sport you are, hope your knee is ok.

Did James show any movies the night before? Two years ago we watched Touching the Void which sparked a sort of death wish in me :)

Good luck at the Fund Run...watch for Rattlers.