It's ON!

And here it is, folks: The Rocky 50K Fatass Run is officially on the books, so I guess it’s time to start training. As per an announcement today, the non-competitive, untimed run will take place on December 7th. The course will follow 30.61-mile run Rocky Balboa supposedly completed in Rocky II (as meticulously traced here), starting at (or near) his South Philly home at Wolf Street and South Lambert Street.

Organizer Rebecca Schaefer shares details on the race’s just-launched blog:

When: December 7, 2013 at 7 AM

Where: Map will be finalized soon, but we will start at Wolf St. and S. Lambert St. (near Rocky’s house, but I don’t want to disturb the neighbors).

What: A fatass 50k run. This means no fees, no bibs, no medals, no refreshments, no BS. Rocky didn’t need a medal and provided GUs to run this distance, so we won’t, either! The map will note where to acquire refreshments along the route (there are plenty!). Want to come in your best gray sweatsuit and Chucks? We’ll be counting on it.

Who: Anyone who wants to! The route will be a full 50k and anyone is free to come and go as they please. While completing the whole 50k is in the spirit of the movie and run, if one chooses to participate for only part of the course, that’s possible due to the fatass-nature of the run.

Why: Well, why not? If Rocky “ran” that long, why can’t we? There are so many amazing parts of Philadelphia that aren’t viewed by most of us who live here. We will get to run the streets of neighborhoods north and south, experiencing the city like never before.

Have questions? Comments? They can be left here at the blog or at the Facebook group.