Magnus Gluteus Maximus 50K

Magnus Gluteus Maximus is the VHTRC’s annual “fat ass 50.” In prior years, to be different (who us?), we used various languages–French, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Latin, Swedish, Jamaican Patios, New Guinea Pidgin, Chinese, Hawaiian an anagram from “Fat Ass Fifty K” that came out as “Fat Taffy Kiss,” Thai, Ukrainian, and Japanese. A couple of years ago, we decided to pick one name and stick with it. So we choose Latin. If it’s good enough for the Catholic church, it’s good enough for us.

The run will start at 8:00 am at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park. (This is the same starting point as Bull Run Run.)

Parking is always an issue at Hemlock. Again this year, we hope to use the close-in parking that is used for carpoolers at BRR. So just drive on in. But when that inside parking fills up, you may need to go back out and park in the regular BRR parking lot. That means a long walk. The exercise will do you good! Take everything with you from your car that you will want after the run. Do not park in the winery parking lot!

This is an official Fat Ass run so there is no entry fee (but see below), no awards, and no wimps. There is some aid and some post event refreshments. It’s an out and back course so you can do any distance you want. The official route is downstream from Hemlock to Fountainhead. Then you take the blue-blazed horse trail to the Do Loop, do the Do Loop, and back. We don’t do the White Loop, and we don’t go on the mountain bike trail.

Bring a Bottle: The aid stations will be untended and located at miles 6, 12, 19, and 25. The aid stations will have water, soda, cookies, and chips. In an effort to cut down on trash there will be no cups at the aid stations. You should run with a water bottle or reusable cup.

Important: The course follows the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail downstream to Fountainhead Regional Park. There, the course does the Do Loop. The BROT is blazed blue. Ribbons will help you get to and through the Do Loop. You do not go upstream from Hemlock. NEVER cross a stream on concrete cylinders!

Register/RSVP: We are using the RSVP system we have used the last six years. Here is the problem that system is designed to address. In 2010, 200 people RSVPed. We prepared for 150. About 100 showed up (in good weather). This is a huge waste of pizza and makes it very hard to plan the aid stations. Here is what we are doing again.

You will pay $10 to RSVP. If you show up to the run, we will give you a $10 bill. If you don’t show (and didn’t withdraw by December 1) we will keep the $10. The event is still free for runners who show up, but it won’t be free for no shows who don’t rescind their RSVPs by December 1. You must show up by 10 minutes before the start to get your money back. You may not run if you don’t RSVP.

The point of all of this is not to raise revenue. The club has money to pay for this event. The point is to encourage runners to think about whether they are really coming and to give them an incentive to tell us if they are not coming.