We are getting down to the wire and there are still 2 runners on the course! Diane is looking good to make the 10 day cutoff but Marvin…well, he hasn’t given up! And I think that is so awesome. Please join me in sending them all the positive Run It Fast vibes you have as they make their way through these last few miles!
I’ll try to stay post as many updates as we get for Diane and Marvin so check back to see how they are doing. If you didn’t get a chance to read the live blog for any of the previous 9 days, you can check them out here:
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9
And don’t forget, you can always:
-See what Joshua (@bayou) is up to on twitter or search the tag #VS500 on twitter.
-Check out The Last Annual Vol State Road Race page on Facebook.
-Check out the Vol State 2012 Map to see where the runners are (updated 2x per day w/ last location).
-Carl Laniak is adding photos to his album if you’d like to check those out as well: Vol State 2012 Album
-Naresh is at the Vol State now and taking photos! Check it out: Naresh’s Vol State 2012 Album
So far today:
Message from Lisa: Ok, Vol State is done but I’m going to keep posting Marvin updates to this last blog. I don’t know about you but I am so inspired by him and his journey this year. I will be following him all the way to the rock!
Ultrarunningmom is also posting Marvin’s journey (with pictures) here: Ultrarunningmom.blogspot.com
Message from Lisa: I’ve never met Marvin but he has inspired me no end during the past week and a half! What incredible determination in the face of so many obstacles! I am so happy for him! Congratulations Marvin from all of us here at Run It Fast!
Email from Carl at 2:12 pm
11days 6 hrs 46 min 53 sec
12 marathon distances in 11 days….in july in Tennessee.
(pic from mrs laz)
Email from Naresh at 2:06 pm
And he has finished
Email from Naresh at 1:35 pm
He is in the corn fields right now!!!
Email from Carl at 1:05 pm
Marv and stu on castle rock road
Update on Marvin from Laz at 8:38 am
vol-state update 20.2- a place for old men
marvin is across the tennessee river bridge; approx 304 miles done.
10 to go.
what a journey.
he came heat trained,
instead got days of rain…
his feet were destroyed
(if you havent seen the picture, someone should post a link)
i thought he should quit.
but marv & stu consulted with each other,
and decided to go on.
during their struggles to reach hohenwald (only 144 miles in)
i was sure he should quit.
but a visit to a clinic in hohenwald gave the old man team new life.
that was the first time stu (stupid to wise-ass telephones) told me;
“marv really wants to finish this. he wants to do ‘one more big thing.’ and i really want to see him do it.”
i stood in awe as they fought back against the time limit,
whittling away their deficit.
and just when it looked like they had it….
the rains returned.
and marvin’s feet bore the brunt.
as i “watched” their terrible struggle from shelbyville (225) to manchester (250)
once again, i thought they should quit.
my “pep talks” centered around not endangering anyone’s health.
but the old men never took their eyes off the prize.
and mile by painful mile they fought on.
it wasnt until they reached the top of monteagle
that i knew they were really going to do it.
incredible.
against all odds.
in the face of unimaginable adversity.
two old men were going to combine their determination.
as a team they were going to do ‘one more big thing.’
but the vol-state is brutally unforgiving.
even when you know you can make it, it still has to be done the hard way.
there were still 42 miles of long, slow, painful effort to take care of.
workmanlike, unflinching, the old man team set about doing it.
this morning stu called to tell me they were “over the bridge.”
vol staters instantly know what that means.
the only sweeter words are “on the rock.”
as stu told me;
“you dont have to rush. we arent making a young man’s final push.”
he was talking 6 hours for those last 10 miles…
including the climb up sand mountain,
and (of course) the corn maze.
i dont care how long it takes,
i just want to be there.
it ought to be quite a sight.
usually we have carl, or naresh (young men)
to make sure the wobbly finishers dont topple off the cliff.
today i guess there will only be me and stu and marv.
i think we will get it done.
there was a movie a few years back.
some depressing thing about over the hillers.
it was called “no place for old men.”
there wont probably ever be a movie about marv and stu’s epic adventure.
but if there was, it would have to be called;
“a place for old men.”
laz
Email from Stewart at 4:52 am
update
we are here in s. pittsburg, waiting for marvin.
abi and lillie are sleeping in their car, and i am outside watching for the maestro
he may need to sleep here, but i hope he can push to across the bridge first, because the traffic here is fierce and merciless a nd there aint no easy way to get to the bridge. the destructions say basically, good luck you are on your own.
i will call gary when he gets across the bridge, with an estimate of six to eight hours for him to reach the rock.
its about five am cdst now….best estimate two pm finish time.
what a journey!!
Email from Stewart at 6:22 pm
status
marvin is on the road again, with a 50k left at this time. he slept in the shade through the heat of the day. i predict and hope for a good night, headed for jasper.
its a wonderful experiment….lets see what happens
Email from Stewart at 1:55 pm
Re: vol-state update 20- ten daze in tenn… see?
yessir!
we are havin fun now counting down the miles….
34 to go!
Update of runner status by Laz at 7:40 am
vol-state update 20- ten daze in tenn… see?
so now we are down to marvin and stu.
the passage of day 10 finds them just past monteagle,
at mile 277.they have broken oprah,
and taken the vol-state into overtime.talked with marvin a while,
he is in good spirits & remains focused on the rock.
hopefully getting his feet re-dressed will be enough to get him one more good day.as he is on top of the mountain,
the proper cheer is;
“onward, and downward!”laz
Email from Stewart at 6:08 am
update
marvin at top of monteagle mtn.
49 hrs to make 40 miles
Email from Stewart at 2:54 am (even though he won’t hit the 10 day mark, Marvin is still going! How cool is that!)
marvin update
marvin is clear of pelham
he is going through a good spell
looking forward to climbing the mountain to monteagle,
not so much to the downhill, which scrunches your toes.abi, after some sleep, will head this way, and we will dry and dress his feet.
he is a little behind the monday am finish schedule, but ahead of a tuesday finish.
he has a real bad foot, and is very very tired, but he is trudging along.
Posted by Naresh at 11:56 pm
Email from Ultrarunningmom at 11:20 pm
#14 – Diane Taylor
9 days, 16 hours, 2 minutes, 1 second
Email from Naresh at 11:08 pm
Re: vol-state update 19- 9.5 days
Diane is lost in the corn field. Laz gave her directions and hope she makes it. Good thing, we have Big with us if we need to sniff her out of the woods.
Email from Naresh at 8:38 pm
Re: vol-state update 19- 9.5 days
Diane is about to make the climb. 10k to the finish.
Naresh added more photos to his album!
Update of runner status by Laz at 7:24 pm
vol-state update 19- 9.5 days
the vol state is winding down.
diane tortured race officials with an extended break in kimball,
but should be on or over the tennessee river bridge at this moment.
10 miles remaining.marv has made it out of manchester, at 253 miles,
but things are going very slowly.
his able crew, stu, is monitoring him closely.
the motto of team skagerberg has become;
“health is the first priority.”unconfirmed reports have oprah retiring at 241.
laz (very, very tired)
Posted by Naresh at 12:39 pm
Email from Naresh at 12:17 pm
Psyche just finished
Psyche finished 09:04:57:01
Email From Stewart at 10:37 am
marv report
we are getting underway from manchester at about ten thirty am. he slept over twelve hours.
off to the penultimate assault… i hope
Email from Charles at 8:16 am
Re: vol state update 18-9 days
Psyche headed out @ 5:55 this morning and is halfway to the rock, going through new hope right now
Update of runner status by Laz at 8:04 am
vol state update 18-9 days
psyche-no report, must assume still at 297
diane 283- looks like night finish
marvin-242- the 10 day finish escaped during yet another thunderstormi need to go home & take care of some things.
psyche hasnt reported in 24 hours, altho i got a report from a bystander last night.
hopefully we will hear something in time to meet her at the rock.marvin’s 10 day finish, already a longshot, evaporated in the latest round of thunderstorms.
he & his magnificent crew, stu, are focused on finishing with health intact…an approach i thoroughly endorse.
it is not noble to endanger your life in an ultra.
it is foolish at best.
perhaps selfish.my emotions about marv’s attempt need time to settle in.
there are so many.but once again he is my hero.
laz
