West Seattle Fat Ass 50K
Posted by z on February 23, 2010
Ok, don’t get too excited. I haven’t yet gone off the deep end trying to run 50k. I volunteered to man an aid station for a friend who puts on the West Seattle Fat Ass 50K. The run started at 0′dark thirty but it was a 10 minute bike ride from my house. I arrived and there were two or three other people there including the race director. Nic, the race director, went to his car to bring fire wood to the shelter at Lincoln Park. Slowly, people began to arrive. Did I mention that it was early? Mostly I stood around until Susan and Morrie arrived with coffee and pastries. I wandered around and took some photos waiting for the start.
The weather wasn’t looking so good; the ground was wet and the sky was cloudy. Nic and Morrie got the fire burning so we could stay warm. Before we knew it the race was set to begin. Everyone gathered at the start and Nic delivered the course info. Then, off they went. 
After the race had started Susan headed out for the turnaround point to set up an aid station. The run was to consist of two out and backs. Nic went to show Susan where the turnaround was. He had spray chalked the turnaround but the rain the night before had washed most of it away. There was supposed to be another person with her but he had set up his own aid station a little further up the road so she called me and I rode out to hang out with her.
The turnaround was a little over 7 miles from the start and this was the first time on my bike since the fall. My butt was a bit sore. Susan had brought camping chairs so we sat along the trail and took photos of the runners as they approached and clapped when they turned around. I don’t know how long we sat out there…something like 5 hours or so. When the last people hit the turnaround we got to head back to the start. There was a fire there so we got to warm up a little. My back hurt from standing and sitting in the camping chairs but the event was fun. Maybe next year I’ll run it. 
