Description
The Not Exactly Western States Fat Ass 50K (NEWS 50K) is a solo run on an out-and-back course on the Arizona Trail north of Flagstaff. It will be run on Saturday, June 27 - the day that the Western States 100 would have been held this year, but for its cancelation.
The entire run is on the Arizona Trail. The course will NOT be marked. The Arizona Trail is very well-signed - just follow it!
We are asking runners to abide by social distancing convention - you shouldn't run with another runner unless you share a household with them. Runners will self-time their run (see Results section, below). As you will be running solo, you may start running whenever you want.
This run is limited to 50 runners. There is no fee for this run.
Course
The course is an out-and-back. We will start at Kelly Tank on FR-514 and run on the Arizona Trail until its intersection with Snow Bowl Road, and then return.
Those of you who have run the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Race will find most of this route familiar. The route has about 3500 feet of elevation change and is at an elevation between 7500-9000 feet above sea level.
The entire route is about 32 miles. (According to our Garmin, anyway. YMMV.) Good news: there will be no additional fee for the extra mileage!
Aid
We will drop water jugs for your use at FR-418 (mile 3.4 and 28.6); at the intersection of the Arizona Trail and Aspen Corner Trail (mile 10.9 and 21.1), and at the turnaround where the Arizona Trail intersects with Snow Bowl Road (mile 16.0). You should carry all the calories you need with you. Given the longish distance between water stops, it's recommended that you wear a Camelbak. This is a run in the Fat Ass tradition - YOU are responsible for your own well-being.
Results
Results (such as they are) will be self-timed. Please send us a Strava link, a screenshot of your Strava upload if your Strava is private, or a photo of your watch for the results.
Directions to the Start
From Run Flagstaff - everybody knows where that is, right? - go west on Historic Route 66 for 0.3 miles, then north on US Highway 180 (N. Humphreys Street). Follow N. Humphreys Street for 0.6 miles to Fort Valley Road. Turn left onto Fort Valley Road (signs will say "Grand Canyon") and follow it for 19.3 more miles to FR-514 on your right. Turn right on FR-514 and follow it for 3.0 miles. The start is here, off to your right. FR-514 is a dirt/gravel road, but is very smooth. No need for 4WD or high clearance, you will be fine driving it in a regular sedan car. The GPS coordinates at the start are 35.419313, -111.703759
Event's current local time: 3:38 AM MT
