The word "paradox" is defined as
a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true.
A good example is the paradox that standing
is more tiring than walking. After engaging in the 12-hour category of the 2014
Fat Ass, we would like to testify to
the paradox that walking is more tiring
than running.
First, what is a Fat Ass? It is
pretty much summed up in: NO FEES, NO
AWARDS, NO AID, NO WIMPS, NO WHINING, NO PRESSURE, NO HASSLE. Allow me to quote from Matt Frazier who wrote in an article (http://trueslant.com/runningshorts/2010/01/05/fat-ass-ultramarathons/)
an engaging opus on this running phenomenon.
""Fat Ass" is the name given to a race of this
style, usually an ultra marathon and almost always on trails, with minimal
on-course support or other such luxuries.
The Fat Ass phenomenon started back in 1978, when a guy named Joe Oakes
had so much trouble finding a 50-miler to qualify for the Western States 100
that he had to enter a 50-mile relay, designed for teams of seven, all by
himself. According to the story, he had
to make up seven different names to sneak in as an individual. After Joe started his own "Fat Ass 50" the
following year, the idea of free, no-frills ultra races spread, and Fat Ass
swelled to what it is today.
If the Fat Ass idea isn’t most
people’s cup of tea, that’s partly by design. The stripped-down format of the races undoubtedly serves to sift out
less committed runners, especially those who have jumped on the fast-growing
marathon bandwagon and who take little else from the accomplishment of running
26.2 miles than a t-shirt and a medal to show off to their friends. To enjoy this style of race, one must truly
relish the pain of running so far, so alone, and with so little to show for it.
(Other than, perhaps, a skinny ass.)"
Here in the Philippines, the Fat
Ass was started by Atty. Jon Lacanlale (http://jon-ultra.blogspot.com/) and his
ultra running friend, Don Ubaldo in 2010.
Now, in its 5th edition, Fat Ass Philippines has attracted hundreds of
passionate runners who have grown to love the 2.2 km-oval at the Clark Parade
Grounds (Pampanga) which has served as the venue for 5 years straight.
The 83neans with Jon and kid |
The guidelines are simple. You
simply run around the 2.2-km oval for as many loops you can manage in a
specified number of hours. There are 3
time categories: 24 hours, 12 hours and
6 hours. The start time for this year
are as follow:
24
hours:
6AM of January 4
12
hours:
6AM or 6PM of January 4
6
hours:
6AM, 12 noon and 6PM of January 4
or 12 midnight of January 5
There are no registration fees. The participants simply have to sign a waiver before they start the run. Fat Ass runners are required to provide their
own unique bib with their nickname (not bib number). There will be only 1 checkpoint. Runners'
loops will be recorded on log sheets. Log sheets will be the official records.
All runners will log in their time/loop every time they reach the
checkpoint. Runners are also encouraged to donate foods and fluids. There is a table at the checkpoint that will accept
the donations.
Signing in the log sheet |
Simple. So it seems.
From our running group of the
Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983, we had Bob Castilla, Ernie Badong, Ed Balcueva,
Ruben "Fards" Fajardo, Noel "Ghibz" Guevara and me (Bicolano Penguin)
registered for the 12-hour category of the 2014 Fat Ass. The "runnin8 m3n for others" choose the 6PM
(January 4) start. Due to the death of a
close relative, Ghibz was not able to join us. I came in late, actually
arriving 7PM but my running buddies were kind enough to wait for me. It is the first time for Fards and me to run
the Fat Ass while for Bob, Ernie and Ed, it is their second.
After dropping the box of Summit
bottled drinking water (courtesy of my favorite bank officer at PNB) at the
donation table, all 5 of us went on our
Fat Ass adventure together and we kind of decided to walk first to help us warm
up. Guys our age, we run on diesel fuel
(more like diesel fumes). The walk
allowed us to observe the atmosphere of the Fat Ass venue. It was like a jamboree of the Boys Scout of
the Philippines. Dozens of tents were
set up in clusters near the checkpoint. Around these tents were members of various running clubs and running
barkadas, some of them grilling some meat,
others engaging in some drinking and many cheering on the
runners/walkers as they ambled on. The organizers guaranteed CAMARADERIE and
FUN and the Fat Ass participants endeavored to prove them right.
This festive atmosphere lured us
to set up our own chairs and coolers by the side of the running path so that we
could also engage in the good time after every loop that we finished. Thus, the pattern was set that for every loop
that we walked, we would sit down and grab a bite of the fruits (melons and
oranges) and snacks (Chippys and
chocolates) and guzzle up the Gatorade, Mountain Dew and the red wine. The MGM running group camped in front of us
was neighborly to share some shots of Bacardi with us.
Cheers as we neared midnight |
A fun way indeed to
celebrate. But the progress of the
loops suffered. By 12 midnight, I
counted my tally and I just managed to finish 10 loops in 6 hours.
My fellow 83neans had the same meager total. That is roughly half a
marathon distance. Pretty slow and
disappointing for our taste. Hell, the
BP has been known to do a marathon in less than 6 hours. And in those 6 hours,
we barely ran. Given the food and drinks we were ingesting in our stop-overs,
we had to resort to walking. And you know what, my feet, despite being clad in
Hokas, were hurting from all that walking.
Walking felt
even more tiring than running. Walking was harder on my knees than
running and the physiological basis could be that the time it takes to transfer
your weight from one foot to the other while walking is longer (than while running) and so the
descending pressures last longer and apply more strain on body parts. Walking
requires you to spend more time with the weight of gravity on your hips and
legs, which can be painful, especially if
you are overweight or out of shape (for more on this, check out the work of
Shiatsu therapist Grace Graham in http://www.get-fit-not-injured.com/walking-and-running.html).
With all this hurting and tiring
from the walking, my folding chair at our stop-over was more and more acting
like the mermaids of old, enticing me to
sit longer and perhaps sleep till dawn,
thus resulting in the doom of my Fat Ass running. This seemed to be an appetizing
option given that quite a throng of runners were also retiring to their tents.
The temptation of the folding chairs |
No way Jose. I had to dig down and get some motivation to
continue with the Fat Ass. I got to be
not happy with just 10 loops. Another paradox in this Fat Ass is that you might
think it is easy as you can always have the option to rest or walk but trying
to finish more loops require more mental discipline to continue. Motivation,
for me, came in the form of setting a
target for the second half of my 12 hours. I needed a guide post. And that target was to go for a negative split
in the next 6 hours. The 2nd half
target was set for 11 loops. This
time I mixed in the running with the
walking. At first glance, the 2.2 km
loop looked flat but actually there were
descending and ascending portions and you get to discern it as you went around the loop several times. I
concentrated my running on the descent and walked on the ascent.
By 3AM in the morning, I have
covered 6 loops of the second half (16th overall) but I was already a bit
sleepy. My eyes were closing as I
trotted thru the Clark parade grounds together with Ernie and Bob who were
still at it. I decided to take a
30-minute nap, joining Fards and Ed who had earlier succumbed to the sirens of
snoozeland. Waking up at the prescribed
time, I felt rejuvenated and went on my way to finish a handful more of loops
to hit my objective. I did more runs
than walk this time.
Nailing the GOAT |
With 1 more hour to go before the
end of the Fat Ass, I already got my 21st loop thereby nailing my objective of
a negative split. But this further
spurred me on to go for another target.
How about going for the GOAT or 23 loops? 23 being the number of Michael Jordan, the
greatest of all time. With a new goal, I declined to sit down in our stop over
where I saw Fards and Ed already awake, and went for two more loops which I did
accomplish with 15 more minutes to spare.
Could I go for another loop? This time the 24th loop as tribute to
Kobe. I decided not to go for it as
mathematics told me I would be short by 4 minutes as the fastest time for me to
finish the 2.2 km route is 19 minutes. I focused instead to take photos of the
activities around the checkpoint.
Speaking of GOAT, Rocky Taylan is
starting to build up a rep as one of the
formidable "Fat Assers" in the country
as he broke the course record of 71 loops for the 24 hours which he set last
year. This 2014 Fat Ass, he finished 73
loops for a total of 160.6 kms. He is
one mean stoic running machine and he is the Rock. The only time I saw him
smile was at the end of the 24 hours.
Jon starting the countdown for the conclusion of the 2014 Fat Ass |
2014 Fat Ass souvenir shirts for sale |
The log sheets, many of them water-logged by the fog
|
A peek at the 83neans’ log sheet |
Ernie exulting at the finish |
The 24-hour category frontrunner – Rocky Taylan |
The Kings and Queens of the 2014
Fat Ass that went up at the "podium" at the recognition ceremonies are the
following:
24 hours:
KING: Rocky Taylan - 73 loops =
160.6kms (new record)
QUEEN: Tess Miranda - 46 loops =
101.2kms
12 hours:
KING: Dhannie Tan - 36 loops -
79.2 kms
QUEENS: TIED Annaly Alojado and
Rosselyn ____ - 28 loops - 61.6kms
Rosselyn ____ - 28 loops - 61.6kms
6 hours:
KING: Wilnar Iglesia - 30 loops - 66kms
QUEEN: Tricia Serios - 17 loops -
37.4kms
Jon with the Kings and Queen of the 2014 Fat Ass |
Rocky with the 83neans |
BP with Jon |
My take-aways from the Fat Ass experience are two-fold.
One, I got to meet kindred runners and talk to a few passionate ones
while doing the loops at the Clark Parade Grounds. In the solitude of the Fat
Ass, one tries to contribute to the solidarity of runners as what Jon was
trying to lead by example. There was the
husband and wife team of Jun and Ana whose support vehicle was parked beside
ours. Ana is a batchmate with the TBR
Dream Marathon (2010). Good news for a Hoka fanatic like me as I learned that
there is now a Hoka One One Club Philippines (https://www.facebook.com/Hokaclubphilippines). The facebook admin is a runner with the call
sign "Dagul" and he was very pleasant in sharing the good attributes of the
Hoka as we power walked together at midnight. A
hardworking runner that caught
our eyes was a 6-hour category participant by the name of Enrique. From the onset, he was running full blast and
was still strong after 4 hours. I guess he was trying to put up a challenge to
Iglesia the frontrunner in the category. Imagine that - Enrique and Iglesia duelling under a
lovely "crooner’s" moon. Julio would have been proud. I also had the
pleasure of talking while trotting with
Johann who is one of the leaders of Team EKEK. Originally from the northern Ilocos region,
he does most of his runs south of Metro Manila and he explained that the word "EK" is derived from Enchanted Kingdom where his running club first got to
congregate. There were more than a handful of Team EKEK members who endured in the 2014 Fat Ass and one of them was a
lady runner who exhibited fine form and steely determination in gobbling up the
loops. Turns out that "Rodell" (the nickname on her bib) is a nurse in Asian
Hospital who comes from Calabanga, Camarines Sur and graduated college at the
Universidad de Sta. Isabel. Oragon ining Bicolana.
83neans with Team EKEK’s ‘Rodell’ |
Two, the importance of having an
objective in tackling a running endeavor such as the Fat Ass. It is no fun to be running or walking
aimlessly. Nakakapagod ang palabuy-labuy. Having a goal in mind was what
powered me to run a few more loops despite the sleepiness and the tiring
muscles in those early morning hours. Truism indeed in the words of David Wiley, the Editor-in-Chief
of the world’s leading running magazine - - - "We generate our own progress
according to our definition of success."
See you again at 2015 Fat
Ass.
4 comments:
I enjoyed reading this post in one sitting. One of your longer posts I reckon!
Yes, I agree it takes mental determination to be running in loops for several hours and perhaps, that is the lesson to be learned from running Fat Ass. Most ultrarunners use this event as a training venue for longer ultras minus the registration fee and pressure.
What makes runners keep coming back is, I think, because of the camaraderie and fun. Those are the unique qualities that set Fat Ass from other running events. Not all grunting, huffing and puffing like in real races. Our motivation when we initially organized this was two-fold - get in some huge mileage while having some fun (i.e. bearable). Paradoxical indeed! There is no running event in the Philippines equaled to this. Another keys are the location and lay-out of the place, the basic amenitites and of course, the weather (except noon time), appeal and timeliness of the event (who does not want to lose weight after holidays? :)
Yes, it is not easy to organize one but I'm getting the hang of it. The key is taking a nap during the ungodly hours so I have enough energy left to smile during the recognition ceremony and to restore the place to its original location. As to costs, there are some obvious necessary expenses and I always have the fear that I might have to fork my own juice to tide it over.
Overall, I agree with your points of observation. Again, thank you and your group for swinging by. We'd love to have your around next year! Congratulations for the negative split!
Cheers,
Jon (attending to his own personal races now)
Thank you Atty Jon! It was fun running the Fat Ass. Love the run, love the place, love the people and love the music! We will be back next year. Congratulations and more power!
Congrats and thank you Atty Jon for the successful Fat Ass run. Agree with you that runners came back yearly for this run due to camaraderie & fun. Truly, no other running event here in the Country can match this one. Thanks again and more power to you and your team!
Fat Ass, like our beloved Mayon 360, is a running event we will continue to join on a yearly basis. It is great bonding and great training. Atty. Jon, may you and your team never tire in organizing the Fat Ass.
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