PB&J Fat Ass 50K
The PB&J Fat Ass 50k
6th Annual!
Saturday -- 5 October 2019
8 AM Start
Entry to the 2019 race opened on Monday September 2nd, and it is now closed (the cap of 110 was reached on Monday September 9th). For 2019 the PB&J 50k runners will see a slighlty altered course and a NEW start/finish location within Prince William Forest Park. There will not be a wait list for the race. If you would like to participate, volunteers are still being accepted! Scroll down for details and contact information.
For those wondering how quckly the race may hit its limit of 110, the sign up for the 2018 race opened on August 31st and it closed at that 110 runner cap on September 11th.
Results - 2019
Results - 2018
Results - 2017
Results - 2016
Results - 2015
Results - 2014
The 6th annual running of the PB&J 50K Fat Ass race will be held on the trails in Prince William Forest Park on Saturday October 5, 2019. The start/finish area is at the Telegraph Road Pavilion, located a short distance past the park's visitor center, within a half mile of the entrance to the park off of Joplin Road near I-95.
See the updated course map for 2019 (course is highlighted in bright green), as well as the old Turn Sheet and Course Sketch Map. See also the Prince William Forest Park trail map.
For those of you who have raced at previous iterations of this 50k, virtually all of the loop portion of the course on the far side of the suspension bridge from the start/finish area is the same in 2019 as it was in previous editions of the PB&J. What has changed is the approach to that bridge from the start and then the return from the bridge to the finish of each loop. What should be different on the loop portion of the course is the location of the Mawavi Road aid station, which is tentatively slated to be set up at the point where the South Valley Trail crosses that gravel road. This would eliminate the out-n-back climb to the aid station on each loop.
Why the "PB&J 50K"? The name of the race is an homage to the late, great training run series hosted on local NoVa trails by Toni Aurilio and Jo Leigh Lockner. The intent of this event is not only to provide an organized 50km race on a relatively easy course in the DC area, but also to provide a great training run opportunity on some rolling, non-technical trails. We anticipate that many runners prepping for one or more of the Mid-Atlantic area's November 50 milers may find the PB&J to be excellent prep.
PB&J Details
The start time will be at 8 AM.
Pre-race briefing will start at around 7:50 AM, so arrive and prepare early.
The briefing will be held at the start line (on the pavement adjacent to the large shelter at Telegraph Road).
The race will consist of two 16-mile loops.
There is a 4 hour and 30 minute time limit for loop one.
The time limit for the full distance will be 9 hours.
The course will be marked.
There will be two aid stations located out on the course.
There will be an additional mid-way aid station set up at the start/finish.
Rest rooms at the start/finish, and at the second aid station.
How Do I Play?
Enter using the VHTRC's online signup -- keep reading and scrolling for the link, once it is posted!
There is no formal entry fee - this is a "Fat Ass" event.
That said, you will be assigned a "tribute" item to bring for common aid.
You will need to pay the park entrance fee ($15 per vehicle) at the Visitor's Center at Pine Grove. If you have a National Park pass, you can display that in lieu of making day visitor payment.
Nitty Gritty?
Both loops are the same; you should print out and bring with you the marked map, and the simple turn directions listed below. Bear in mind, even though the course will be marked with blue ribbons, you should do your homework, and make yourself aware of the general nature of the course and the trails used for the PB&J 50k.
The approximate length of each section of the course is noted in the turn directions below.
Updated Turn Directions for 2019 – PB&J 50K Race
Start in the Telegraph Picnic area parking lot.
Head out on the Laurel Loop Trail to suspension bridge over Quantico Creek (1.4 mile)
Left after bridge crossing on Orenda Road (0.2 mile)
Left onto South Valley Trail (6.2 miles – crossing paved Scenic Drive in this section)
Aid Station #1 located at the South Valley Trail and Mawavi Road intersection
Right on South Valley Trail (2.3 miles)
Right on Oak Ridge Trail (1.6 miles – crossing paved Scenic Drive in this section)
Right on Old Black Top Road to TREC (1.4 miles)
Aid Station #2 at Turkey Run Education Center (TREC)
Left out of TREC parking lot (0.1 mile)
Left on Turkey Run Ridge Trail (1.4 miles – crossing Scenic Drive in this section)
Left on South Valley Trail (0.8 mile)
Right on Orenda Road (0.2 mile)
Right across bridge and back up Laurel Trail (1.4 mile)
Return to the Start/Finish area at Telegraph Picnic area - total distance roughly 16 miles Lather, Rinse, Repeat – total distance now 50K
Missed out on the opportunity to sign up for the race, but you want to come out for PB&J Day? Good - volunteer slots are available! Please e-mail the race director (here) if you are interested in coming out to help on race day.
Volunteers - 2019:
RD Sarah Curtis
(Runner Check-in - Saturday morning) Kathleen Montgomery
(Runner Check-in - Saturday morning) Eric Thornton
(Mawavi - Captain) Sarah Smith
(Mawavi I &II) Tim Rohlfs
(Mawavi I & II) Ella Berkowitz
(Mawavi I & II) Eric Thornton
(TREC - Captain) Levi Mason
(TREC I & II) Carolyn Foley
(TREC I & II) Marwa Elsayed
(TREC I & II) Josh Howe
(Telegraph Picnic Area - Start/Finish - Captain) Christopher Moore
(Telegraph Picnic Area - Start/Finish) Kathleen Montgomery
(Telegraph Picnic Area - Start/Finish) Shelia Vibert
(Telegraph Picnic Area - Start/Finish) Brett Martin
(Course Markings - Friday) Sarah Curtis
(Course Markings - Friday) Elaina Stanton
(Course Markings - Friday) Homer Komthirath
(Sweep - Start to Finish) Christopher Moore
(Sweep - Start to Finish) David Robertson
(Sweep - Start to Finish) Alexandra Stone
(Looking Pretty From Afar) Scott Allender
As you can see above, it takes a LOT of help to make a good PB&J! If you can help, please e-mail the RD so that your name can be added to the distinguished list of PB&J'ers above.
Club Event Participant Medical Policy
This is an event with very real risks to your well being. The VHTRC does not provide medical care for runners at this event. Runners are responsible for their own health, safety, and well being at this event. No doctors, nurses, or emergency medical technicians, or anyone with any medical training are available along the course, at any aid station, or at the finish. The club does not supply any medical goods or services, including bandages, splints, antiseptic, or Ibuprofen or any other drugs to maintain the health of runners. Physical, medical, and emergency care is the runners' responsibility. In case of an emergency, we will endeavor to get local emergency personnel to an injured runner as soon as possible. Since most of our events are in remote areas, medical care may be far away in distance or time. Each year, runners finish — or are forced to drop out — with scrapes, deep cuts, hematomas, dislocations, and sprains. Runners have experienced cuts, bruises, bee stings, and asthma attacks. This is an event with very real risks.
