Catherine's Fat Ass.
Catherine's Fat Ass is a midsummer trail race through the southern Massanutten Mountains of Virginia, named for nearby Catherine Furnace. The loop from the Route 211 parking lot holds two climbs of close to 500 metres each, and the second does not begin until you have more than 30 kilometres in your legs, which is why the heat belongs in your preparation from the start.
Catherine's Fat Ass 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at the Route 211 East Trailhead, a commuter parking lot that also hosts the party afterwards. There is hardly any warm-up: the first climb begins less than a kilometre in. It runs for almost five kilometres at around ten percent and carries on to Bird Knob, the first aid station. A short, steep ramp of 130 metres follows close behind, and then the course drops almost back to starting height by kilometre 17 at Catherine's Furnace.
The middle section passes the Morgan Run water stop, rises to a second, lower high ground just under 700 metres, and comes back down past the Pitt Spring water stop to Catherine's Furnace. Along the way the footing moves between rocky trails, smooth wooded paths, mossy creek beds and dirt roads, with overlooks in between. That mix shapes the day as much as the climbing does: you run where the ground allows it and pick your way through the rest.
From kilometre 34 the opening returns in a harder form. Once more the trail goes steeply uphill for more than four kilometres, this time with two thirds of the race in your legs, and it continues past Bird Knob again to around 850 metres. The end is one long descent, with roughly 500 metres lost over the final kilometres on the way back to the parking lot.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.9 | 4.7 km | 10.5 % | 24.5 % | +496 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 10.6 | 0.8 km | 16.7 % | 23.6 % | +133 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 19.5 | 1 km | 4.5 % | 7.4 % | +46 m | — |
| km 20.7 | 3.4 km | 6.9 % | 20.6 % | +232 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 24.6 | 1.1 km | 3.5 % | 9.3 % | +39 m | — |
| km 32.9 | 0.6 km | 6.3 % | 12.3 % | +39 m | — |
| km 33.8 | 4.6 km | 10.3 % | 24 % | +471 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 39.4 | 1.9 km | 6.8 % | 14.8 % | +128 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Catherine's Fat Ass 2027.
Start under control
The day is close to a mirror image: twice you go from about 350 to about 850 metres, and almost nothing is flat. A kilometre split tells you little here. Plan by effort and walk the steep pitches from the very first one. Take the opening climb the way you would want to take the last big one.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 34 and 41, where around 600 metres of climbing arrive after a hot July day has already left its mark. If you can still climb steadily here, you gain more time than any fast stretch earlier gave you. So use the stop at Catherine's Furnace to cool down and refill rather than to save seconds.
Spend what is left
The trap comes earlier and looks harmless. Between Bird Knob and Catherine's Furnace you lose almost 500 metres, and letting that run costs you in the quads, which have the same drop to handle again at the end. Supply is the other half of it: between your two visits to Catherine's Furnace there is only water for about 16 kilometres. Leave the station the first time with full bottles and food in your pack.
Training plan for Catherine's Fat Ass 2027: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect six to nine hours, depending on your mountain experience and the temperature. It is a long aerobic day but not an even one: steep hiking and punishing downhill running take turns, and there are almost no calm kilometres on the level. Build your endurance in that same form, with plenty of time on your feet on steep ground.
Train race pace
The key session recreates the second half of the race: a long run in which the hardest climb, 400 to 500 metres of it, only comes after three to four hours. Practise brisk uphill hiking at around ten percent, because that is the gear you need from kilometre 34. If you have no hill that long nearby, two long sessions on consecutive days will help.
Rehearse the course
Downhill needs work of its own for legs and feet. Squats, lunges and repeated downhill runs prepare you for a final descent taken on tired quads. Rocky trails and mossy creek beds also demand alert foot placement, which you only learn on that kind of ground, ideally late in long runs as well.
Arrive fresh
In mid-July the heat counts for as much as the climbing. In the weeks before 17 July, put your long runs into the warm hours so your body adapts, and find out how much you can drink and eat per hour. On at least one of those runs, carry everything you will need for the middle section yourself, so the weight is nothing new on race day.
Courses
Download the Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Catherine's Fat Ass dynamically
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Everything about Catherine's Fat Ass.
How long is Catherine's Fat Ass 2027?
Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 is 47.88 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 have?
Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 has around 1,800 m of elevation gain over 47.88 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Catherine's Fat Ass 2027?
Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 is classified as Mountainous, averaging 37 vertical metres per kilometre. 7% of the route is flat, 28% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 19% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 have?
The hardest climb of Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 starts at kilometre 0.9, runs for 4.7 km at an average of 10.5% and gains 496 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 a loop course?
Yes, Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 course?
Yes. The Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Catherine's Fat Ass 2027?
Preparation for Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 should account for 47.88 km, 1,800 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Catherine's Fat Ass 2027?
The pacing strategy for Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 should reflect 47.88 km, 1,800 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 take place?
Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 takes place on July 17, 2027.
Where does Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 take place?
Catherine's Fat Ass 2027 takes place in Page County, United States.
How do I register for Catherine's Fat Ass 2027?
Registration runs through the organiser: new.vhtrc.org. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
