Subject: Red Rock Fat Ass 50K Report From: "Ian Torrence" Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 19:26:16 -0700 Dear Ultra Friends, Below are the results and a brief report on last Saturday's Red Rock Fat Ass 50K. This has also been sent to UltraRunning magazine, and to David Blaikie at the Ultramarathon World web site. To those of you who were here, thanks for making it another successful run. We plan to do it again on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003. Please plan to attend. Ed ------------- Red Rock Fat Ass 50Km Run Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002 Red Rock National Conservation Area, near Las Vegas, NV Trails Results 1. Ian Torrence, 29, UT 4:14 2. Karl Meltzer, 34, UT 4:37 3. Chris Martinez, 30, UT 6:07 4. Bob McCarthy, 36 6:08 5. Rich Fisher, 52 6:19 6. Dan Whittemore, 49, NH 6:27 7. Jeff Heasley, 34, CO 6:27 8. Ed Furtaw, 53 6:28 9. Juan Martinez, 47, AZ 6:32 10. James Rapp, 44 6:43 11. Ernie Rambo (F), 44 6:49 12. Erin West (F), 39 7:11 13. Tim Kjenstad, 44 7:38 14. Jurgen Ankenbrand, 60, CA 7:49 15. Trudy Lawrence (F), 49 8:04 16. Burgess Harmer, 59 8:18 17. Betsy Kapiloff (F), 41 8:39 Phil Hesser, 50, MD 8:39 19. Paul Piplani, 52, AZ 7:46* *Started late, ran different course 20 Starters Notes by Ed Furtaw, RD Some things change and some things remain the same. Of the things that stayed the same, we had excellent running weather, great scenery, a tough trail course, enjoyable camaraderie, and Ian Torrence running the fastest. Of the things that changed, we had a larger than usual number of runners, and more out-of-towners than usual. The day was picture perfect with mostly sunny skies, and temperatures in the 30s at the start and in the low 50s during the afternoon. Of the seven consecutive annual Red Rock Fat Ass Runs, we have never failed to have good running weather. We also had the usual spectacular scenery of the colored sandstones of the Calico Hills and White Rock Hills. There was also the constant elevation change on this very hilly course with its 5,400 feet of gain. In the competition aspect of the run, we had an invasion of speedy young ultrarunners from our neighboring state to the north, Utah. Ian Torrence, formerly a local resident, traveled from his current Utah home to defend his title. Ian had won this event in every one of its previous years. Karl Meltzer, the Wasatch record-holder, came in part to find a place to run on "dirt", since his home in the Salt Lake area was covered in snow. Karl and Ian ran virtually neck-and-neck for the first 23 miles or so, after which Ian pulled away for another win, only 25 seconds slower than his course record set in 1999. The gap between the times of these first two runners and the rest of the pack shows what great talent they each have. Rich Fisher joined Ian as the only runners to have finished all seven RRFAs. Rich successfully defended his title among the over-50 runners. Jurgen Ankenbrand became the first over-60 finisher in the history of the event. Thanks go out to Gail, Ann, and Sara for providing aid at the only checkpoint on the course, which the runners visited three times. Their willingness to help made the run possible and enjoyable for the runners.