Tag Archive | "DeWayne Satterfield"

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Strolling Jim Was A Walking Horse – The 2015 Race Report

First, this is a running race named after a walking horse.

The 2015 edition of the Strolling Jim 40 miler, a race that is actually 41.2 miles, was the 37th version. But then again if the distance isn’t accurate maybe this wasn’t the 37th. I guess we can believe it, I mean it’s not like the creator uses a fake name. If you haven’t run this one, you are missing out – missing out on an incredible experience and equally incredible pain. But its a good pain.

The early pack Photo Credit: Joshua Holmes

The early pack Photo Credit: Joshua Holmes

A Strolling Jim experience begins with camaraderie with ultra legends and ends with the same. The in between is where runners find out what they are made of. The course is brutal – and all road, this is as old school as races come.

DeWayne Satterfield, Dink Taylor and Brett Wilks Photo Credit: Yong Kim

DeWayne Satterfield, Dink Taylor and Brett Wilks Photo Credit: Yong Kim

My personal experience with this race includes multiple hours of running with ultra-personalities and hearing about their experiences in iconic races and other adventurous runs. I have been lucky to spend three plus hours each of the last two years running with Huntsville’s DeWayne Satterfield and Dink Taylor. Seeing that these guys have done great things in the ultra world for years, you can imagine the great yarns they can tell. As we ran the country roads in the early miles this year, Satterfield obviously had the Vol State 500K on his brain. When we would come to a viewpoint that held a long section of rolling terrain in front of us, DeWayne would spread his arms out to hold the scene and say with that perpetual smile of his, ‘this is exactly what Vol State is about.’ It’s great to see these guys get excited about these big events.

Around 15 or so miles into the race we passed a country church, I looked back. I did not turn into sand, but I did see the sign out front had the following verse/message on it: O Death, where is your sting (I Cor. 15:55). I pointed this out; DeWayne started singing O Brother Where Art Thou songs. Later on, in our own ways, we found out just where the sting was located.

In order to pass the time, because the early miles (1-26) are about passing the time until the racing or flailing begins, I asked Satterfield why Huntsville, AL has so many ultra runners. In fact, I asked a more pointed question – was there a person that got you guys into ultra running when everyone else was running 10k races? The answer was a gentleman named Phillip Parker. The cool thing about this sport is that every successful runner seems to have a person that they look up to and who taught them how to be the success they’ve become in the sport. Hearing this always reminds me to listen to those who have been doing this for a while to find out the good secrets and to talk to those who are new to our crazy group. Parker was that spark for Satterfield. To hear the admiration in his voice showed how special this man was. DeWayne has a Barkley Fun Run, a victory at Vol State, in fact victories for years and years at the ultra distances. DeWayne is a genuine, good human and for him to look up to another runner so admirably tells me a lot about Parker without needing to hear the stories. DeWayne told me of Parker running Vol State in the early years of the race, a tale that included Parker’s wife discovering on day two that she had an appointment back at home on the 4th day of the event. Parker did what any gentleman would do for his wife; he manned up and ran like a hundred and ten miles on day three to finish the race in time to make the appointment.

Parker would also answer the local’s question of ‘how far you going today?’ with ‘a couple dozen’. Classic.

Eventually, DeWayne and Brett Wilks took off from me. We were a couple dozen into the race. About a mile later, Dink passed me. Dink always passes me. Someday, maybe when I’m 50, I’ll get him back but it won’t be easy. Once the marathon is in the legs, Dink smells blood in those poor souls in front of him.

Last year at the marathon mark things got real for me. Luckily Joe Fejes (yes, that Joe Fejes) and I hooked up for the second half of the race, aka miles 28-41. Joe’s mental capacity to get through races is unparalleled; after all he is ‘6 Day Joe’. At mile 28 Joe told me exactly what we were going to do for the rest of the race. I did not question him. I just did what he said. Things worked out. This year there was no Joe – he’s in Hungary running for six days straight again. So it was me and my crew. Last year, my wife Sherrie handled the crew duties – that is when she made it to me. She got lost and couldn’t find me until I had made it about 25 miles into the race. I’m pretty easy when it comes to crewing, so I just adapted. This year though I had professional help.

Yong Kim at Lookout 50 Miler Photo credit: Jobie Williams

Yong Kim at Lookout 50 Miler Photo credit: Jobie Williams

When us Southerners say ‘Yong Kim’ it sounds like we are talking about an up and coming female rapper from Atlanta, but in reality Yong is a solid runner from Nolensville, TN. Yong had offered a few weeks back to crew me in this race. Yong has done some great races lately, especially the phenomenal effort he laid down at Savage Gulf marathon, where he was second overall with one of the fastest times ever on the difficult, technical course. Yong and I have also shared plenty of miles together and to say he is the most positive person I’ve run with will not shock anyone that knows him. So when he offered I took him up on it. Another good thing working in my favor was that Yong had witnessed first-hand some of my usual race stupidity. Like the time a few years ago when we ran Stump Jump together. It was the year that would become known by most of the entrants as the ‘Bee Year’. A hot day for sure and me not being one to consume a lot of fluids as I run, I thought the best choice for my water bottle would be one of those 6 oz Salomon soft flasks that fit in your palm. I was fine early, but once we hit Suck Creek Road the second time the light switch went off on me. I spent a few minutes trying to determine why the aid station worker was talking in Swahili. Eventually I came to my senses and realized that she was not the crazy one standing there.

Yong was solid all day, moving between crewing me full-time and a few others part-time. Next year I’m hoping that he jumps into the race as well.

As things deteriorated for me, Joshua Holmes was head hunting. Right as I entered ‘the walls’, Yong told me that Josh was very close and that I should work with him to the finish. We were in two totally different places at this point and Josh ended up running this critical section of the course strongly and got the sub 6 hour result for his effort. Very proud of him. Josh and I have shared some memorable miles, specifically at Badwater last year where I was on his crew. That week produced a lifetime of stories. Like the day after the race. We had stuck around for the finish festivities in Lone Pine and on the drive back to Los Angeles decided that we would celebrate the week with one last event – a soccer game between Manchester United and LA Galaxy. So we drove to Pasadena and looked for a parking spot around the Rose Bowl. Because we are cheap, we didn’t want to pay to park so we ended up in a residential area a few blocks from the stadium. None of us were completely sure if parking in this area was legal. After slow-rolling through the neighborhood like a bunch of combination creepers/terrorists, Josh pulled the big suburban full of runner and crew in front of a house and waffled with his decision to park there for a moment, then stated, “this is a rental, it’s not like anyone is going to know it’s my vehicle. I think we are OK here.” We all sat there a minute reassuring him it was fine. Then I remembered that we had not removed any of the five 3’x2’ race required signs from the vehicle. These signs had ‘Joshua Holmes’, ‘Run It Fast’, his race number – basically everything except his bank account on them. And that is why we are runners. Being a ninja or international spy requires more stealth and intelligence than we can produce. Just for the record we were a band consisting of one medical doctor, two attorneys, an accountant and a college student.

Jobie Williams and Joshua Holmes in the post Strolling Jim swing Photo Credit: Yong Kim

Jobie Williams and Joshua Holmes in the post Strolling Jim swing Photo Credit: Yong Kim

As I struggled through the 50K point that was marked on the road I looked at my watch to see how long it had taken. 4:18. Even though it was rough those last miles leading to the mark, my heat soaked brain was convincing me that a 4:18 50k is not terrible at all. Later that night as I thought about this I had to laugh. As I was feeling good about my 4:18, Scott Breeden had finished the race four minutes earlier. Everything is relative I suppose. Small victories, all that stuff. But Scott is a real talent and was doing this race on Barkley legs. I’d not be surprised if he doesn’t threaten the seemingly untouchable Strolling Jim course record in the coming years.

Jobie Williams "enjoying" the country roads of TN Photo Credit: Yong Kim

Jobie Williams “enjoying” the country roads of TN Photo Credit: Yong Kim

Those last ten miles were cruel and I made a joke of them. Mostly this race came down to me quitting on myself and that doesn’t sit well with me. I’ll have some unfinished business to motivate me next year. As I closed in on the finish and flippantly read Laz’s painted-on-the-road messages to the runners, like ‘only wimps walk here’ – walked, ‘big girls run this’ – walked, ‘only 5k to go, start your kick’ – walked, I was passed by a guy who ran right by me. And he kept running. Actually he had this Badwater shuffle going that was super effective. To stay close I would run a little harder and then settle into a walk. Basically it was the way a 9 year old runs a 5k. At this point I was crushing my ear drums with Rage Against the Machine tunes so that my walk was motivated. Yong had put ice into my water bottle so unbeknownst to me, I sounded like a jack hammer to everyone around me. Once we hit a mile and a half to go I decided I would run with this guy and see what his story is. I turned off my iPod as I caught up to him. His first words were, ‘I was wondering when you were going to catch me. I’ve been hearing your water bottle for a while now.’ Man, I bet that was annoying. Luckily he was a super nice guy and still talked to me. I told him that he must have been a Badwater runner at some point in his life because he had the Jerry West of Badwater shuffles going. He looked at me and said that he had won the first three. Tom Possert, I’m sorry for being a nuisance and an idiot.

Once I finished the race I got to see women’s winner Beth Meadows come in a few minutes later. (This is my way of letting the reader know that I beat all the women.) I had talked this race up to Beth who had just run Boston a couple weeks before. Beth is one of the super solid female runners from Nashville that performs very well in every race she enters. For winning Beth got this awesome trophy that is not dissimilar to the height of Clark Griswold’s Christmas tree. And Beth has Strolling Jim fever now. Something that you can’t get rid of – ask Dink who has done 29 Strolling Jims now.

Beth Meadows and Jobie Williams finish line smiles Photo Credit: Yong Kim

Beth Meadows and Jobie Williams finish line smiles Photo Credit: Yong Kim

Another year finished with the consumption of a big ole chicken leg under the tent in Wartrace. Many more stories were shared and fun had. But before that I sat down under the tent and Laz asked me if it was as easy as I expected. I answered that it was a rough day. He then made a reference to me doing the marathon. I guess I looked more like someone who had wrestled with a 6 hour marathon than a 6 hour 41 miler. I’m not sure what that says about me…

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Greg Armstrong – Vol State Throne – Run It Fast

Greg Armstrong Wins 2014 Last Annual Vol State 500K Road Race

Greg Armstrong, of Lebanon, Tennessee, won the Last Annual Vol State 500K in the early hours on Monday, June 14, 2014.  Armstrong blitzed the course, running in his trademark sandals and shirtless almost the entire way, finishing with a time of 3 days 17 hours 50 minutes and 52 seconds.

He was the first person to reach ‘The Rock’ atop Sand Mountain by hours.

Greg’s time is the third fastest in the race’s history and just 8 minutes behind DeWayne Satterfield’s time of 3 days 17 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds, set in 2009, that was the untouchable course record for years before Georgia native Joe Fejes toppled it last year in 3 days 8 hours 10 minutes and 16 seconds.

Top 9 All-Time Vol State 500K Times

  1. Joe Fejes – 3d 8h 10m 16s (2013- course record)
  2. DeWayne Satterfield – 3d 17h 42m 12s (2009)
  3. Greg Armstrong – 3d 17h 50m 52s (2014)
  4. Johan Steene – 4d 2h 5m 16s (2014 uncrewed course record)
  5. DeWayne Satterfield – 4d 8h 39m 44s (2006)
  6. Alan Abbs – 4d 11h 31m 27s (2013 uncrewed)
  7. Sue Scholl – 4d 12h 48m 4s (2014 uncrewed-female course record)
  8. Sung Ho Choi – 4d 13h 39m 52s (2013)
  9. John Fegyveresi – 4d 16h 19m 1s (2013)

Armstrong has run under the first names of ‘Greg’ and ‘Nelson’ during his running career. He had a strong 2013 winning the inaugural Pistol Ultra 100, winning the Run Around the World 24 Hour with 130 miles, and a second place at the Run the Hard Way 24 Hour with 138.5 miles.

Armstrong’s 2014 Vol State 500K Splits:

  • 12 Hours – 67 miles
  • 24 Hours – 106 miles
  • 36 Hours – 145 miles
  • 48 Hours – 179 miles
  • 60 Hours – 217 miles
  • 72 Hours – 252 miles
  • 84 Hours – 289 miles
  • Finish 314 miles: 3 Days 17 Hours 50 Minutes 52 Seconds (89 Hours 50 Minutes)

Greg started the non-profit Run 4 Water that raises money and awareness to help solve the water crisis around the world in impoverished countries. You can read more about Run 4 Water HERE!

The 2014 ‘King of the Road’ on his throne! (Vol State lore: the chair is called the ‘thrown’ because after every finisher has sat in the chair upon finishing, it has to be ‘thrown’ away due to the intense stench and stains.

All-Time Kings of the Road (Castle Rock 314 Mile Course)
2014 – King Greg Armstrong (TN) – 3d 17h 50m 52s
2013 – King Joe Fejes (GA) – 3d 8h 10m 16s
2012 – King Dan Fox (WA) – 5d 3h 9m 33s
2011 – King Don Winkley (TX) – 5d 14h 21m 32s
2010 – King Juli Aistar (IL) – 5d 22h 1m 33s
2009 – King DeWayne Satterfield (AL) – 3d 17h 42m 12s
2008 – King Kevin Dorsey (TN) – 4d 23h 45m 3s
2007 – King Carl Laniak (GA) – 6d 6h 11m 1s
2006 – King DeWayne Satterfield (AL) – 4d 8h 39m 44s

Kings of the Road (Monteagle 270 Mile Course)
2005 – King Barry Crumrine (AL)
2004 – King Mark Henderson (TX)
2003 – No Finishers
2002 – King DeWayne Satterfield (AL)

Congrats to Greg on his impressive and inspirational Vol State 500K finish! Way to Run It Fast!

2014 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results

Vol State 500K Standings After 120 Hours (Day 5)
Vol State 500K Standings After 96 Hours (Day 4)
Vol State 500K Standings After 72 Hours (Day 3)
Vol State 500K Standings After 48 Hours (Day 2)
Vol State 500K Standings After 24 Hours (Day 1)

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David Wingard and Joshua Holmes after the 2014 Strolling Jim 40 Miler

Strolling Jim 40 Miler Race Report (2014)

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

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Mt Mist 50K Banner

David Riddle Wins 2012 Mountain Mist 50K (Results)

Rocket scientist David Riddle won a very muddy 2012 Mountain Mist 50K on Saturday in Huntsville, Alabama at Monte Sano State Park.  Riddle finished the 31 mile course in 3:45:58. Just three minutes behind his course record of 3:42:59 that he set last year.

He easily won the race in winning by nearly 23 minutes.

Daniel Mueller took second place with a time of 4:08:33.  Third place went to Brad Schroeder in 4:14:15.

Kathy Youngren, of Huntsville, was the female winner with a time of 5:09:20.

2012 Mt. Mist 50K Top 1o Results

  1. David Riddle – 3:42:59
  2. Daniel Mueller – 4:08:33
  3. Brad Schroeder – 4:14:15
  4. David Rindt – 4:16:00
  5. Josh Whitehead – 4:22:51
  6. DeWayne Satterfield – 4:25:41
  7. Blake Thompson – 4:26:42
  8. Tim Vinson – 4:33:10
  9. Clay Warner – 4:33:26
  10. Erik Debolt – 4:37:30

Full 2012 Mt. Mist 50K Results

Congrats to all who survived the 2012 Mt. Mist 50K.

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Recover from the Holidays 50K Dewayne Satterfield – Joshua Holmes

DeWayne Satterfield All Business in Winning 2011 Recover from the Holidays 50K (Results)

Huntsville’s DeWayne Satterfield was all business wear, while being his jovial self, in winning the 2011 Recover the the Holidays 50K yesterday in Huntsville, Alabama.

Satterfield beat out Tim Vinson with a time of 3:50:59. Vinson was less than 6 minutes behind Satterfield in 3:56:35.  Finland’s Kari Salomaa took third place with a time of 4:10:01.

The female winner was Tammy Tribett who finished the course in 4:25:30.

The course consisted of a 1-mile out and back, followed by 10 loops on the Huntsville Cross Country 5k course.

Top 40 Recover from the Holidays 50K Results

  1. DeWayne Satterfield (Huntsville, AL) – 3:50:59
  2. Tim Vinson (Madison, AL) – 3:56:35
  3. Kari Salomaa (Helsinki, Finland) – 4:10:01
  4. Brett Wilks (Huntsville, AL) – 4:12:25
  5. Eric Patterson (Athens, AL) – 4:14:45
  6. Chad Davis (Huntsville, AL) – 4:17:30
  7. Nelson Armstrong (Castalian Springs, TN) – 4:20:30
  8. Erik Debolt (Madison, AL) – 4:21:30
  9. Tammy Tribett (Manassas, VA) – 4:25:30 (F)
  10. Brett Addington (Owens Cross Roads, AL) – 4:27:12
  11. Josh Erhard (Gallatin, TN) – 4:27:22
  12. Daniel Hazelton (Clarksville, TN) – 4:29:11
  13. Andy Davidson (Tuscaloosa, AL) – 4:36:59
  14. Larry Dickerson (Somerville, AL) – 4:37:53
  15. Wayne Heckler (Decatur, AL) – 4:40:04
  16. Mark Freeman (Huntsville, AL) – 4:41:22
  17. Michael Scott (Chattanooga, AL) – 4:43:29
  18. Jon Elmore (Decatur, AL) – 4:52:30
  19. Joshua Holmes (Jackson, TN) – 4:53:22
  20. Wade Dunn (Birmingham, AL) – 4:57:10
  21. Stephen Brown (Decatur, AL) – 4:57:55
  22. Barry Ege (Hanceville, AL) – 4:58:40
  23. Scott Schlapman (Huntsville, AL) – 5:05:38
  24. Sal Coll (Rossville, GA) – 5:10:52
  25. Michael Dehaye (Huntsville, AL) – 5:14:10
  26. Bryan Campbell (Hazel Green, AL) – 5:14:41
  27. Samuel Hong (Alpharetta, GA) – 5:16:57
  28. Martin Schneekloth (Huntsville, AL) – 5:17:43
  29. Eric Broyles (Madison, AL) – 5:18:13
  30. Patti Holmes (Huntsville, AL) – 5:19:47 (F)
  31. Keith Buell (Huntsville, AL) – 5:27:30
  32. Chris Clemens (Belvidere, TN) – 5:30:23
  33. Sarah Tierney (Harvest, AL) – 5:35:30 (F)
  34. George Sanders (Laceys Spring, AL) – 5:36:12
  35. Michael Gravel (Madison, AL) – 5:36:38
  36. Sup Fravel (Madison, AL) – 5:40:18 (F)
  37. Mark Hales (Birmingham, AL) – 5:42:24
  38. Marit Janse (Fenton, MI) – 5:44:28 (F)
  39. Richard Trice (Huntsville, AL) – 5:46:55
  40. Mike Youngblood (Shelbyville, TN) – 5:48:15

Congrats to all who ran yesterday in Huntsville and across the world!  May your 2012 be full of many more miles and successful races.

[photo: Winner DeWayne Satterfield (Angus Young look) with Joshua Holmes]

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2011 Vol State 500KM Foot Race Across Tennessee

2011 Vol State 500K Runners, Maps, Tracking, Etc.

It’s time, once again, for one of the craziest ultra marathons in the United States to take place.  This race takes place in the middle of July, every summer, and covers most of the great state of Tennessee as it toasts most who decide to conquer it.

The description of ‘The Last Annual Vol State 500K Foot Race’ from it’s Facebook page describes the race like this:

This is the original vol-state road race, going back for over 30 years. ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES!! The last supper will be held at Ryans in Union City, TN on Wednesday july 13. The ferry ride from Dorena Landing (MO) to Hickman (KY) will take place on Thursday, July 14… The first ferry leaves MO at @ 7:30 am. Most of us will ride to the start from KY on the 7:00 am ferry. The race distance is 500km (actually a hair longer) and the race will finish at Castle Rock (GA). The last 1/2 mile is on trails! Time limit is 10 days (50km per day) The course record of 3 days 17 hours is held by DeWayne Satterfield of Alabama. Relays are allowed… if we ever get enough relay teams, we will start them on sat morning, and let them run down the solo runners!! Two solo divisions, aided and unaided. Unaided runners can leave their vehicles at the finish, and we will have transportation to the start. (314 Miles)

Read More on the History of The Last Annual Vol State 500K

This is the weather advisory that The National Weather Service issued the following warning for Union City, TN (where the race runs through in the early stages) today:

HEAT INDEX READINGS… 105 TO 111 DEGREES SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

* TIMING… PEAK HEAT INDEX READINGS ARE EXPECTED BETWEEN 11 AM AND 6 PM EACH DAY. LITTLE RELIEF IS EXPECTED AT NIGHT WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S.

* IMPACTS… PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THIS HEAT CAN BE DANGEROUS IF THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE… RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK… THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY… CALL 911.

The only thing more intimidating than the weather is the trash the VS500 veterans talk on the email threads regarding this race.

Here are the maps for the 2011 race via John Price’s ultra running website:

2011 Vol State 500K Road Maps & Turn Sheets

A VS 500K record of 22 runners have signed up so far for the race this year.

List of runners who have committed to the 2011 Vol State 500K: (as of July 8, 2011)

Self Supported Runners
Sal Coll
Fred Davis
Stu Gleman
Lynnor Matheney
Erika Matheney
Sherry Meador
Abi Meadows
Michael Montgomery
Kumar Naresh
Joe Ninke
Mike O’Melia
John Price
Marvin Skagerberg
Diane Taylor

Crewed Runners
Ray Baum
Shannon Burke
Joshua Holmes
Joe Judd
Mike Matteson
Fred Murolo
Don Winkley
Trixie Smith

Ways to Track the 2011 Vol State 500K Race:

You can donate to Joshua and Naresh’s charity:water effort to raise $5,000 to build a water well to provide clean drinking water to a community of 250 people (Click HERE to Donate).

Thanks to all of our friends and family that have donated so far in an effort to reach our goal. It means a lot that you’ve taken the effort to support us in this race and our vision of hopefully being able to build this clean drinking well.

What’s 314 Miles? I’m in for The Last Annual Vol State 500K Race

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