Join us on January 9th, 2010 for a run through beautiful Watchung Reservation in north-central NJ. These low-key, minimal-support, informal trail runs will provide an excellent opportunity to test
your mid-winter training.
- Two options: trail marathon or trail 50K.
- Both distances follow the same course - Sierra Trail - 10 miles (2 loops) for the first 20 miles. Marathoners will then complete a 6.2 mile loop while 50K runners will complete a 3rd loop and an extra mile.
- Single-wide and double wide trail over rolling wooded terrain.
When: 8:00 am on January 9th, 2010.
Where: Start and Finish at the Trailside Nature and Science Center parking lot map
Entry fee: $0 (click here for description of a "Fat Ass" run)
To register: please send an e-mail to rmcnulty13@gmail.com
To volunteer you can also send an email to rmcnulty13@gmail.com. Hours volunteered can be used in your service requirement for other ultras.
Added 2/4/2009: There will be a 2nd Annual Fat Ass 50K held next year. Stay tuned for more info and rego.
Added 1/11/2009: I want to start with a heart felt thank you to Herb and Russell for their volunteer efforts all day with the aid and timing. This event would not have happened with out their help.
I had a wonderful time and due to the great feedback from so many of you I will set up another one next year. Hopefully we will have such great weather again. See you next year, January 2010.
Added 1/9/2009: I will have water gallon jugs throughout the course (3 locations). Feel free to fill your own bottle, though some cups should be available. I will have a table at the start / finish area where others can place food and drink to share. There will be no cups at the unmanned aid stations, so you will need to have something (other than your hands or mouth) to put the water into.
From NOAA:
Added 1/7/2009: I have had several question regarding the weather this weekend and if the race will cancel. There is no chance I will cancel. If you don't show please do not expect a refund. I will be there this weekend even if there is 18 inches of snow and it is freezing rain sideways. Everyone is welcome to join me and have fun.
Added 12/18/2008: a couple of photos taken 3 weeks ago in late fall. They are on the Course Details page.
Added 11/16/2008: Ran the loop today as warmup for the Watchung Winter Ultra. The ground was very wet from the rain we have had lately but I am pretty sure there is enough time between now and January for it to dry out. The western half is hillier and has more single track, the eastern part is flatter with wider paths and almost all bridle paths. The horse stables are on the eastern half of the reservation so this makes perfect sense.
The Watchung Winter Ultra 50K will start with the green trail and orange trail as a part of their first loop. It is a measured .2 mile (green) .6 (orange) and then it is .2 miles back to the start finish. Therefore the 50K option will have loops of 11, 10 and 10 for a total of 31 miles.
The Watchung Winter Marathon will do two loops of the Sierra Trail (10 miles) then do the western portion of the trail again. The marathoners on their way east on the northerly portion of the trail will cut across the water at the bridge, pick up the blue trail, then connect with the straight part of orange and run straight up to the parking area.
Both groups will do the first loop counter clockwise then the second loop clockwise. The Marathoners will go back out on their third loop in a clockwise direction. The Ultra 50K runners can choose to go in either direction for their third loop.
Entry fee: $0 (click here for description of a "Fat Ass" run)
To register: please send an e-mail to rmcnulty13@gmail.com
To volunteer you can also send an email to rmcnulty13@gmail.com. Hours volunteered can be used in your service requirement for other ultras.
Added 2/4/2009: There will be a 2nd Annual Fat Ass 50K held next year. Stay tuned for more info and rego.
Added 1/11/2009: I want to start with a heart felt thank you to Herb and Russell for their volunteer efforts all day with the aid and timing. This event would not have happened with out their help.
I had a wonderful time and due to the great feedback from so many of you I will set up another one next year. Hopefully we will have such great weather again. See you next year, January 2010.
Added 1/9/2009: I will have water gallon jugs throughout the course (3 locations). Feel free to fill your own bottle, though some cups should be available. I will have a table at the start / finish area where others can place food and drink to share. There will be no cups at the unmanned aid stations, so you will need to have something (other than your hands or mouth) to put the water into.
From NOAA:
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING....
.SATURDAY...SNOW LIKELY IN THE MORNING...THEN SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 4 INCHES.
HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. EAST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 90 PERCENT.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...SNOW AND SLEET. ADDITIONAL MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATION. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S.
NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 90 PERCENT.
Added 1/7/2009: I have had several question regarding the weather this weekend and if the race will cancel. There is no chance I will cancel. If you don't show please do not expect a refund. I will be there this weekend even if there is 18 inches of snow and it is freezing rain sideways. Everyone is welcome to join me and have fun.
Added 12/18/2008: a couple of photos taken 3 weeks ago in late fall. They are on the Course Details page.
Added 11/16/2008: Ran the loop today as warmup for the Watchung Winter Ultra. The ground was very wet from the rain we have had lately but I am pretty sure there is enough time between now and January for it to dry out. The western half is hillier and has more single track, the eastern part is flatter with wider paths and almost all bridle paths. The horse stables are on the eastern half of the reservation so this makes perfect sense.
The Watchung Winter Ultra 50K will start with the green trail and orange trail as a part of their first loop. It is a measured .2 mile (green) .6 (orange) and then it is .2 miles back to the start finish. Therefore the 50K option will have loops of 11, 10 and 10 for a total of 31 miles.
The Watchung Winter Marathon will do two loops of the Sierra Trail (10 miles) then do the western portion of the trail again. The marathoners on their way east on the northerly portion of the trail will cut across the water at the bridge, pick up the blue trail, then connect with the straight part of orange and run straight up to the parking area.
Both groups will do the first loop counter clockwise then the second loop clockwise. The Marathoners will go back out on their third loop in a clockwise direction. The Ultra 50K runners can choose to go in either direction for their third loop.
What a great start. This was the first time for this run, but I hope it will not be the last. The weather was nearly perfect, the trails were in great shape (hey, you have to have some ice in the middle of January), and the pot-luck aid station was amazing - hot chocolate, soup, bananas, bagels, granola, etc etc. I didn't go as far as I had hoped, but it was a great way to start the year. Big thanks to Rick and all the volunteers.