Run It Fast®

The Strolling Jim 40 Miler was the very first ultra I ran back in 2010. At the time I didn’t know another human on the planet that had run beyond the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles. I also didn’t know, in selecting The Jim, that I had selected one of the oldest and most historical ultras in the United States to attempt as my very first one.

This year was my 5th consecutive year running the SJ40. It’s held annually in the small town of Wartrace, Tennessee and consists of 41.2 miles on some of the most beautiful, scenic and rolling, green hills in the United States.

The race director’s for this year’s race were Steve Durbin (also RD for RUTS, Land Between the Lakes, Tunnel Hill 100) and Lazarus Lake (creator of the Strolling Jim 40, Barkley Marathon, and The Last Annual Vol State 500K).

The weather for this race is usually warm to very hot on the thermometer. This year, however, it was about 50 degrees at the start and only got up towards 80 degrees at the hottest part of the day. Most of the runners had already finished with temps in the mid 70’s.

I met many good friends before the start of the race including over 20 members of Run It Fast, posed for a few photos, used the facilities, and checked my two drop bags before the race quietly started at 7am.

I went in wanting to run well but also wanting to run smart knowing I had to run a 81 mile team race two days later at the Badwater: Salton Sea 81 Miler and do a double crossing at the Grand Canyon (R2R2R) two days after that. My plan was to go out at a strong pace and keep to it as long as all systems were in check.

Five miles into the race and then ten miles into the race I found myself in a large pack of very good runners consisting of Joe Fejes, DeWayne Satterfield, Dink Taylor, David Jones, Tom Possert, Jobie Williams and several others that was just a short distance behind the overall race leaders. 13-15 miles in to the race I was still in this pack and normally it would have been a sign that I had gone out too fast, but for the most part I had been running within myself and enjoyed the company and opportunity to catch up with several of the guys along the way.

Strolling Jim consists of rolling hills after rolling hill with four major climbs coming at mile 9, 19, 23, and 29.

Around mile 23 I was passed by the first female at the time, Natalie Pickett, just a few moments later I look behind me and realize I’m in the middle of a ‘chick’d sandwich’ as Aleisha Chaffin was on my tail. I was only in this spot briefly as the lower bun quickly passed and both pieces of bread left me in a carb free zone in their wake.

I struggled from miles 17 to 32. My stomach was a bit off, and I just felt a bit funny in general. I couldn’t really put my finger on what it was exactly. My ankles started to hurt in the new Hoka One One Conquests I had started the race wearing. My goal became to make it to mile 28 and switch into the Hoka Bondi Speeds.  This was unrelated to my stomach but did cure my ankles. A couple of miles after this I was able to use the restroom and things started to look and feel better while I was running in ‘The Walls.’

Most runners dread ‘The Walls’ at SJ40 that start at mile 29 and go on for several miles. I like the shade coverage the trees provide and the solace that those miles give as the field is usually extremely spread out at that point. I came alive around mile 33 and started to catch a handful of runners that had passed me 15-20 miles ago. My mile splits kept getting faster as I caught Possert and Michael Lepley around mile 38.

As fast as I was moving, it wasn’t fast enough to hold off Brooke McClanahan who passed me around mile 39 as the third female. She was moving extremely well and ended up finishing 4 minutes ahead of me.

When things were bad I had given up on a PR here or even breaking 6:30. My goal was to do what I could to hold onto a sub-7 hour finish that would get me my second consecutive red shirt. But as I felt better and better over those last miles my pace increased and I started to realize a 6:20 was possible, and if I pushed even harder and shaved more time over the last 3 miles I could potentially have a new PR.

I dug deep and finished in 6:12:35 with a new PR. I was pleased yet still curious what I could have done without that long rough stretch. Maybe if everything lines up perfectly next year a sub-6 might be possible.

Here is a look at my finishes over the past 5 years:

• 2014: 6:12:35
• 2013: 6:15:50
• 2012: 7:34:43
• 2011: 7:04:32
• 2010: 7:38:00

One of the best parts of SJ40 is the post race feast. It always consists of bar-b-qued chicken, baked beans, and potato salad. It’s a place where war stories are told from years past and that took place over the previous 41.2 miles.

The Strolling Jim 40 Miler remains one of my favorite races. I hope to continue to go back year after year as long as it’s possible.

– joshua holmes

#runitfast

Huntsville’s Blake Thompson won the 34th Strolling Jim 40 Miler on May 6, 2012 with a winning time of 5:17:29 for the 41.2 mile course.

Thompson’s time was the slowest winning time in race history according to Race Director Mike Melton.  This was due in large part to the high temperatures and humidity that took a toll on all of the runners throughout the grueling hills of Wartrace, Tennessee.

Second place went to Strolling Jim veteran Dink Taylor (5:29:01) who has run 24+ Jims.  Third place went to ‘Bruce’ Sung Ho Choi (5:33:21) of Jacksonville, Florida.

Top overall female went to Huntsville native Kathy Youngren with a time of 6:04:35.

Second place female was Beth McCurdy (6:33:01) with third place female going to Kim Nosenchuk-Brooks (6:46:57).

Top 34th Strolling Jim Finishers

1. Blake Thompson – 5:17:29
2. Dink Taylor – 5:29:01
3. ‘Bruce’ Sung Ho Choi – 5:33:21
4. David Jones – 5:36:22
5. Tom Dolan – 5:48:59
6. Andy Bruner – 5:56:33
7. Kathy Youngren – 6:04:35 (F)
8. Christopher Cadotte – 6:10:11
9. Timothy Pitts – 6:11:19
10. Dwayne Satterfield – 6:14:00
11. Robert Youngren – 6:14:50
12. Carl Laniak – 6:25:40
13. Robby Callahan – 6:27:17
14. Evan Dare – 6:31:34
15. Beth McCurdy – 6:33:01 (F)
16. Gary Dawkins – 6:35:39
17. Hal McClure – 6:38:23
18. Orlando Baez – 6:45:20
19. Kim Nosenchuk-Brooks – 6:46:57 (F)
20. George Menyhert – 6:46:58
21. William Arnold – 6:51:34
22. Dana MacCorquodale – 6:58:37

One of the scarier and heroic moments of the race happened during the last mile when Chris Estes, who was on a 6:30ish finishing pace, jumped over a guardrail to help save a fellow runner who had fallen over the guardrail (full story).

[photo via Dink: Kathy Youngren, Blake Thompson, Dink Taylor]

My First 50K – Dirk’s Fat Ass 50K (Murfreesboro, TN)

To start… I’ll just say this was quite the event! I really had no clue what was in store when deciding to run 33 miles on New Years Day. I REALLY didn’t expect to have to swim part of the event!

Upon arrival, two things went wrong right off the bat. First, I forgot my water bottles. Second, My Garmin would not turn on (although I know I charged it).

Lisa and I were the first to arrive, and rain was coming down hard! I became worried that we were the only two who were going to brave the storm, but much to my relief we were soon joined by about 20 other runners! I should have known better than to think a little monsoon would keep the “die-hards” away!

In fact… several well known Ultra Runners showed up as well. Among them were Naresh Kumar (who had just finished the Bartram Forrest 100 Miler a few weeks back) and David Jones (winner of the Badwater 135 in 97). Chris Estes who had completed a 50k the day before!

My friend Jay, who had not run longer than 12 miles since he ran a half marathon in October was keeping a great pace ahead of us. I thought he might be running too fast for an ultra. Heck… I thought WE were going too fast! Jay had planned on doing 20 miles (the run was made up of three 10 mile loops) but he found he had the legs to do 27 (21.1 in 3:37, which included time to change into dry clothes and then 6 miles of walking for a total time of 5:41). He is an amazing person who has helped me increase my speed!

The first 10 miles went great, but in some parts of the trail the water was several inches deep, covering our shoes. Joseph was still recovering from a bronchial virus infection, but soldiered on through grim determination. Lisa kept the conversation going. It amazes me that she can talk non-stop and still keep a great pace! Her tales are a great distraction and keeps the miles interesting.

On the second 10 loop, the rains had stopped… but the water from the river (that this trail borders) was rising, and at some points was over our knees! Our legs would freeze and our feet became numb! Now… this may have actually benefited us, as it was like taking an ice plunge to keep the swelling down of stiff legs.

On our third pass, Naresh warned us that the waters were still rising. I thought “No problem!” I was wrong. The water was waist high, and began moving rapidly. At one point the path dipped into a tunnel, and there the water was chest high!

We decided to climb the muddy hill that bordered the trail, which Joseph and Lisa made up with no problem. If you know me, however… my climbing skills aren’t the best. It was quite rocky and slick with mud. I kept envisioning what wonderful new scars I could bring home to show my family if I slid back down! Joseph dramatically reached down to grab my outstretched hand and hoisted me to the top, where I about landed on top of Lisa!

We completed 7 more miles for a total of 33 miles in honor of Joseph having turned 33 at Christmas! At the aid station, Dirk the race director told me and Lisa that we were the first women to complete this event!

And with the completion, my fears of the Strolling Jim 40 Miler that I have planned for May have been assuaged a bit, and I know that with continued training and good running partners… anything can be accomplished!