My Day At The Frozen Fatass 50K

This morning I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd Annual Frozen Fatass 50K at beautiful Sandy Neck Beach on Cape Cod Bay, sponsored by the Cape Cod Ultrarunning Society. Actually, Sandy Neck is a beautiful place in the summer. On a cold, windy January day, it is a nasty place for running event. I had received an invitation from my friend, Pete Stringer, the founder of the Cape Cod Ultra group, and I didn't want to let Pete down, so off I went.

This was my first brush with these "ultra athletes", and they are a special breed. I knew that already, but you really need to be there to experience it first hand. The course is a lopsided figure 8, one loop is 5 miles, and the second loop is 10.5 miles, so one lap is 25K. The figure 8 crosses at the bath house/parking lot, and serves as the starting line, finishing line, and aid station. They had a heated camper, hot soup, food and refreshments.

Needless to say, the weather was cold and very windy - just brutal. But there were about 25 entries, including a few females, some dressed warmer than others. Most of the runners called it a day at the 25K mark, had some soup, and either went to their cars or into the warm camper. There was a Park Ranger on duty, and he provided an electrical connection.

Amazingly, there were some competitors who stopped at the 25K point only long enough to check in, get something to eat and drink, and off they went for another lap. It was impressive and mind-boggling at the same time.

As I left, I promised Pete that I would be back next year as a volunteer at the aid station. I'm looking forward to it.

OFFICIAL College Basketball Rankings

Men's Division I
1. Connecticut - Nice wins vs 'Nova & ND, Providence next.
2. Oklahoma - Blake Griffin is playing like a #1 NBA pick.
3. Wake Forest - Bad loss to Va Tech, great win vs Duke.
4. Michigan State - Bad loss to N'Western, at Iowa tonight.
5. Louisville - Playing as well as any team in the country.
6. North Carolina - They are on a roll - I think.
7. Pittsburgh - Panthers didn't look good in Villanova loss.
8. Marquette - They are probably ranked too low.
9. Xavier - The X men host UMass on Saturday.
10. Texas - Beat A&M and Baylor, K State next.
11. Arizona State - 16-3, hosts Wash. and Wash State next.
12. Clemson - Tough schedule, at Va. Tech tonight.
13. Purdue - Beat Minn & Wisconson, Michigan next.
14. Butler - 18-1, Bulldogs host Valpo Friday.
15. UCLA - Bad loss to Wash, tough game vs Cal tonight.
16. Memphis - Great win vs in-state rival Tennessee.
17. Villanova - They will be a great tourney team.
18. Illinois - Illini have a big game tonight at Minnesota.
19. Gonzaga - Hosts Saint Mary's late tonight.
20. Va. Commonwealth - Loss to N'Eastern snapped 7 game streak.
21. Syracuse - What happened? 3 straight losses
22. Georgetown - What happened? 3 straight losses.
23. Boston College - 10 wins, then 4 losses, then 3 wins.
24. Providence - Friars upset Syracuse, at UConn Saturday.
25. Massachusetts - Lost 5 of last 6, at Xavier Sat. - ouch!

Men's Division II
1. Findlay - 16-0, host Lake Superior Lakers tonight.
2. CW Post -15-0, Pioneers host Queens Saturday.
3. Catawba - Where is Bucky Pope, the "Catawba Claw"?
4. Saint Anselm - Rained down 3's on poor Bridgeport.
5. Bridgeport - Athletic team, but couldn't handle St. A.

Men's Division III
1. St. Thomas - 18-0, the last of the undefeated teams.
2. Washington U., St. Louis - Bears will be judged at Brandies Friday.
3. Elms - 15-1 Blazers are at Daniel Webster Saturday.
4. Amherst - Have won 2 after loss to Brandies.
5. Framingham State - 10-9 Rams host Fitchburg Saturday.

Women's Division I
1. Connecticut - Women and men are both #1.
2. Oklahoma - Lady Sooners are a distant #2.
3. Baylor - Lost to #2 Oklahoma, play Texas on Super Sunday.
4. California - 8 straight wins. host UCLA tonight.
5. Boston College - 3 straight wins, at NC State tonight.

Thought For The Day

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.
- Thomas Jefferson -

Thought For The Day

One man's floor is another man's ceiling.
- Paul Simon -