A Fat Ass or fatass is a type of informal

ultramarathon An ultramarathon is a footrace longer than the traditional marathon distance of . The sport of running ultramarathons is called ultra running or ultra distance running. Various distances, surfaces, and formats are raced competitively, from the ...

running event which started in the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...

in late 1970s. Typically organized as a low-key grassroots race that is or longer, the Fat Ass is usually free to enter.

Description

Fat Ass runs are usually community events and training races with no reward. These events have the unofficial slogan of "No Fees, No Awards, No Aid, No Wimps", meaning entry is usually free but amenities are limited. Some events require the donation of aid items to a communal station. Many people participate to see if they enjoy running ultramarathons before spending money on registering for an official event. The idea of the Fat Ass came from Joe Oakes, a runner from the

. In 1979, he started the "Recover from the Holidays Fat Ass 50" event. The name of the event is derived from participants wanting to reduce weight after the

holiday season The Christmas season or the festive season, also known as the holiday season or the holidays, is an annual period generally spanning from November or December to early January. Incorporating Christmas Day and New Year's Day, the various celebrat ...

. Fat Ass runs are typically held in late autumn or early winter.

Popularity

According to ''

Runner's World ''Runner's World'' is a global magazine and website for runners of all abilities. It has additionally developed experiential formats, including a digital membership program, called Runner's World+. It is published by Hearst in Easton, Pennsylva ...

'', as of 2010, the "Fat Ass" concept was becoming increasingly popular due to their affordability compared to mainstream races and their less cut-throat vibe.

Description

Popularity

References

Further reading