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Red Rock Fat Ass 50K Run 2002 Results

Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002
Red Rock National Conservation Area, near Las Vegas, NV
Trails

1. Ian Torrence, 29, UT         4:14
2. Karl Meltzer, 34, UT         4:37
3. Chris Martinez, 30, UT       6:07
4. Bob McCarthy, 36             6:08
5. Rich Fisher, 52              6:19
6. Dan Whittemore, 49, NH       6:27
7. Jeff Heasley, 34, CO         6:27
8. Ed Furtaw, 53                6:28
9. Juan Martinez, 47, AZ        6:32
10. James Rapp, 44              6:43
11. Ernie Rambo (F), 44         6:49
12. Erin West (F), 39           7:11
13. Tim Kjenstad, 44            7:38
14. Jurgen Ankenbrand, 60, CA   7:49
15. Trudy Lawrence (F), 49      8:04
16. Burgess Harmer, 59          8:18
17. Betsy Kapiloff (F), 41      8:39
17.(tie) Phil Hesser, 50, MD    8:39
19. Paul Piplani, 52, AZ        7:46*

*Started late, ran different course
20 Starters

Notes by Ed Furtaw, RD

Some things change and some things remain the same.  Of the things that
stayed the same, we had excellent running weather, great scenery, a
tough trail course, enjoyable camaraderie, and Ian Torrence running the
fastest.  Of the things that changed, we had a larger than usual number
of runners, and more out-of-towners than usual.

The day was picture perfect with mostly sunny skies, and temperatures in
the 30s at the start and in the low 50s during the afternoon.  Of the
seven consecutive annual Red Rock Fat Ass Runs, we have never failed to
have good running weather.  We also had the usual spectacular scenery of
the colored sandstones of the Calico Hills and White Rock Hills.  There
was also the constant elevation change on this very hilly course with
its 5,400 feet of gain.

In the competition aspect of the run, we had an invasion of speedy young
ultrarunners from our neighboring state to the north, Utah.  Ian
Torrence, formerly a local resident, traveled from his current Utah home
to defend his title.  Ian had won this event in every one of its
previous years.  Karl Meltzer, the Wasatch record-holder, came in part
to find a place to run on "dirt", since his home in the Salt Lake area
was covered in snow.  Karl and Ian ran virtually neck-and-neck for the
first 23 miles or so, after which Ian pulled away for another win, only
25 seconds slower than his course record set in 1999.  The gap between
the times of these first two runners and the rest of the pack shows what
great talent they each have.

Rich Fisher joined Ian as the only runners to have finished all seven
RRFAs.  Rich successfully defended his title among the over-50 runners.
Jurgen Ankenbrand became the first over-60 finisher in the history of
the event.

Thanks go out to Gail, Ann, and Sara for providing aid at the only
checkpoint on the course, which the runners visited three times.  Their
willingness to help made the run possible and enjoyable for the runners