By: Victor Ho
Event Name: Fat Ass Trail Run 2024 – 50km Ultramarathon
Date: November 17, 2024
Location: Batawa Ski Hill, Ski Club Lane, Batawa, ON, Canada
Synopsis: How calming it was to run in the trails; the scenery and sense of purity of the race! Its impressive to see the amount of people that were willing to do a 50K mid November in the cold!
What was provided at the aid stations? There were three aid stations. One on the south loop, one on the north loop and one in between. First aid and water, Tailwind (electrolyte mix), and some snacks.
How was the weather? The weather was cold to start the day! There was a good layer of frost on my car windshield in the morning that I had to work through before I got going from my hotel. The low was -3 degrees Celsius with a high of 13 degrees Celsius! The extra layers provided lots of comfort to start the race, but a good idea to have easy to remove layers for later in the day.
My Race Experience: This was not part of the original plan…
After riding the high of joining RunK2J in July 2024 and feeling good about my training (at that time for a half and a full marathon), I was asked if I was interested in doing a “fun, 50K” ultramarathon. Out of sheer curiosity and with the support of friends and fellow runners, I decided to give not only my first ever trail run event, but also my first ever ultramarathon a shot…and I am glad I took up the challenge!
Coming into the event, although I didn’t have the experience; I did manage to do a few practice trail runs while also gaining confidence from reading the many race reports and talking to other runners who have tackled Fat Ass before (thanks everyone!). However, despite this, I was a bit nervous given the scope and unknowns heading into the race. From years past, I heard the weather could be a real “roll of the dice”, but luckily for me—other than a last minute surprise from having to clear my car windshield the morning of the race—-the weather for my event was decent albeit crisp and chilly!
Morning of; Loaded up and ready to go, I made sure to get in a decent breakfast and morning routine to start the day—with extra time to spare before the race start. After arriving on site, I managed to meet up with Wilson and May who were also there for the 50K challenge—wishing each other luck and motivation for the day ahead! Walking to the start area, there was a certain buzz and excitement to get the race started, but not before setting up our ‘race supply stop’ (ie. the good ol’ patch on the grass where we could grab-and- go our food, drinks, and gels in between the 5x 10K loops of the 50K trail race).
After doing one last check, I started Strava and got going! Once the race got underway, I was able settle in and get into a groove—by just focusing on my footing and taking in the sights and sounds of nature along the way. I will admit, there were a few lucky side steps and near misses in terms of dodging branches and rocks especially as we got started in the tight coral of runners….Once there was some separation, I got a chance to realize what a truly calming experience just running outside with some good fresh air and the soft sound of footsteps crunching through branches and leaves rustling in the wind was. The occasional banter with my racing buddy for the day (Wilson) and other fellow runners also made for a pleasant shared experience!
With every kilometer completed, I felt more and more confident that I could actually complete the race —and despite the increasing soreness and achiness —all in one piece! My main goal was to finish Fat Ass and with the race starting at 7:30am, all I had to do was make sure to start the last loop by 3:34pm and the event itself by 5pm….so the main thing was to keep safe and injury free…Being the cautious person that I am, I had overpacked and dressed for the occasion. So after finishing each of the 10K loops, I found myself leaving more and more items behind at my race supply spot….which is easier than not having enough to begin with!
Fast forward a few long hours, I managed to get through all 50kms despite there being moments of pure exhaustion especially at the start of the last loop where I took a wrong turn and added a good 500m to my run (and yes, even after doing 4x10km, I still didn’t memorize the course…) With a sense of pure joy and relief, I crossed the finish line, checked the clock, and had finished with a time of 6:44:13 …a new PB which I gladly took;) What a way to end the 2024 running season!
Would you do this event again?
Yes, I would do this race again! It was my first trail running event and ultramarathon as well. Despite the challenge, the event itself was well organized and really provided a sense of belonging in nature. It was not an easy, average Sunday long run—but well worth the experience!
Would you recommend this event?
I would recommend this event for anyone that wants to have a wholesome running experience in the wilderness. The timing of this event is great as it lets you tackle another challenge late in the run calendar (while still hopefully being in decent in shape after a full year of training)! With a bit of something for everyone, there’s a reason why the Fat Ass Trail Run “has grown to be one of the biggest trail races in Ontario!”
Closing thoughts: Any hints for others planning to do this race?
- Bring a chair to sit on at the race start/finish line—helps with the recovery and comfort “in between loops!”
- Batawa ON isn’t as remote as you would think! The race itself is really close to Trenton/Quinte West ON, so lots of options for accommodations (for those who want to stay overnight closer to the site).
- I would bring a variety of running attire and gear — the weather can be random so it’s best to be prepared for anything!
- Don’t forget the car windshield snow scraper for the chilly race morning!
- Bring a well marked box and/or cooler for your food and other goodies for your race day re-fueling needs:)
- Bring a nice, warm change of clothes for after!
- If you can, buy the race shirt for the memories!
- Remember to smile and thank the volunteers!
- Try and run the race with a few good friends! It makes the experience that much more enjoyable 🙂
Run K2J 