TOPSFIELD, Mass. – In the days prior to the G.A.C. Fat Ass 50K, concerns mounted about the possibility of a massive pileup of snow on the trails, in the parking lot, and on the roads leading to Bradley Palmer State Park.

The concern about such a storm and its impact on the event was valid. Dangerous snow storms forced the 2004 and 2018 runs to be canceled, accounting for two of the three cancellations since the event’s inaugural running in 1998. The other – 2021 – was due to the COVID-19 pandemic when vaccines were not yet available.

As it turned out, the snow held off until the evening. More than six inches of snow covered the trails a day later, but the 24th running of the Fat Ass 50K went off without a hitch on Saturday, Jan. 6. In fact, the only piles to be found at Bradley Palmer State Park were on a picnic table at the aid station a few feet from the starting line where runners placed hundreds of items of new clothing they brought to donate to local charities. The Fat Ass 50K is always free to participate, but for the third year in a row the race organizers from Gil’s Athletic Club asked runners to bring new items of clothing to donate if possible. This year’s clothing haul was by far the most they’ve amassed and continued G.A.C.’s long history of making a positive impact on the community.

With donations overflowing from the picnic table just a few feet from him, Race Director Roger Martell gathered a record crowd of around 250 runners at the starting line. For the many veterans who’ve been coming to the Fat Ass 50K for years, it would be a familiar scene. Other than an earlier start time of 8 a.m., nothing else changed. The same simple format was once again followed with a 10K loop course that participants could run or walk once or as many as five times.

“When you need to turn, you’ll be told,” Martell instructed the runners, holding up a sign with an arrow as an example of the course marking. “There’s some mud, there’s some ice, some of everything. It’s that time of year.”

Also as usual, results were on the honor system.

“If you want to do a marathon, after your fourth loop, just ask one of the aid people and they’ll tell you what to do,” Martell said. “If you want to run a 50K, that’s five loops. We’ll take your name at that time. Otherwise, have a great day. Have fun. Thank you for coming.”

With that, Martell gave a five-second countdown and sent runners on their way.

It was 30 degrees when the run began. It warmed to just 35 degrees at the high point, and overcast skies and a light breeze made it chilly when standing around but comfortable in motion. Save for a few very brief muddy or icy spots, footing was good throughout and the course was in prime condition. In fact, conditions were so good that a common theme for the day was that many runners who planned to run two or three loops ended up going much farther. Both Pete Despres and Laura Ricci were among them, with Despres ultimately deciding to run a marathon and Ricci completing a 50K.

In total, 50 runners earned official finishes, with 35 running five full loops for a 50K and another 15 logging marathons.

Among the 50K runners, the most notable performance was turned in by Lila Gaudrault. The 21-year-old from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, has been a force on the New England ultra scene for the past two years. In her Fat Ass 50K debut, she smashed the women’s course record and finished third overall in a sizzling 3:51. The previous women’s record of 4:31:50 was set by Issy Nelson in 2012.

While Gaudrault broke the women’s course record, Brian Barrett’s bid for the men’s top mark came up a few minutes short, but the 24-year-old from Boxford, Mass., still won comfortably in his Fat Ass 50K debut in 3:28. He was five minutes off of Patrick Caron’s men’s record of 3:23 from 2019. Another newcomer, Josh Finger of New York, N.Y., was the runner-up in 3:49. Todd Callaghan of Beverly, Mass., was the final sub-4-hour finisher, crossing the line in 3:57 for his third Fat Ass 50K finish. Max Fitch of Salem, Mass., followed in 4:01, and three-time Fat Ass 50K finisher Will Swenson of Andover, Mass., was next in 4:07.

Joining Gaudrault among the top female finishers were two-time finisher Jennifer Boshco of Billerica, Mass., in 4:55, and first-time finisher Addison Sember of Brookline, Mass., in 5:22.

The Fat Ass 50K attracted several long-timers, many who completed one or two loops. Among the most notable veterans among the 50K finishers were nine-time finisher Dag Holmboe of Hamilton, Mass. (5:39); six-time finisher Brian Tjersland of Dartmouth, Mass. (5:51); and eight-time finisher Roy Van Buren of Woburn, Mass. (8:22).

Of the 15 marathon finishers, Greg Esbitt of Ipswich, Mass., led the way in 3:49. Esbit finished his second marathon at the event to go with his five 50K finishes. Newcomer Mikael Ringe followed in 4:02. Michael McKie of Peabody, Mass., was third in 4:09. Event regular Gregory Lowe of Newbury, Mass. – an eight-time finisher of the 50K – was fourth in 4:09, and three-time 50K finisher Joe Loureiro of Andover, Mass., was fifth in 4:12. Abby McKie of Boxford, Mass., was the first female marathon finisher in 4:18 and Rebecca Hill of Ipswich, Mass., was second in 5:18.