Run It Fast®

Two more finishers reached The Rock during the night as John Fegyveresi finished in third place with a time of 4 days 19 hours 28 minutes 54 seconds. Almost catching John was Run It Fast’s Steven Smith who came from 32 miles back of John to finish just 35 minutes behind him in 4 days 20 hours 3 minutes 48 seconds.

Congrats to both John and Steven for both finishing in less than 5 days which is truly an amazing feat.

120 Hour Vol State 500K Standings 7:30am Tuesday, July 14th (4 Finisher, 57 Runners, 19 DNFs)

1. Greg Armstrong – 3 days 22 hours 5 minutes 23 seconds (King of the Road)
2. Johan Steene – 3 days 23 hours 15 minutes 52 seconds (uncrewed course record)
3. John Fegyveresi – 4 days 19 hours 28 minutes 54 seconds (uncrewed)
4. Steven Smith – 4 days 20 hours 3 minutes 48 seconds
5. Lisa Van Wolde – 288 miles (F)
6. Marylou Corino – 288 miles (F)
7. Jay Dobrowalski – 267 miles
8. Jeremy Ebel – 263 miles
9. James Adams – 262 miles
10. Andrea Stewart – 251 miles (F)
11. Michael Callans – 245 miles
12. Bo Millwood – 237 miles
13. Karen Jackson – 237 miles
14. Sal Coll – 234 miles
15. David Lettieri – 232 miles
16. Richard Westbrook – 227 miles
17. Lisa Hazlett – 226 miles
18. Rick Gray – 226 miles
19. Jeffrey Stephens – 226 miles
20. Tim Purol – 226 miles
21. Ben Herron – 225 miles
22. Thomas Skinner – 225 miles
23. Thomas Alm – 225 miles
24. Sherry Meador – 223 miles
25. Timothy Daily – 223 miles
26. Edward Masuoka – 222 miles
27. Scott Krouse – 214 miles
28. Joshua Swink – 212 miles
29. Shane Tucker – 211 miles
30. Caleb Nolen – 207 miles
31. Tom Dekornfield – 207 miles
32. Allen Wrinkle – 205 miles
33. Gina Chupka – 205 miles
34. John Sharp – 205 miles
35. Christian McMahon – 205 miles
36. Christopher Knight – 202 miles
37. Gregg Ellis – 202 miles
38. Richard McKnight – 202 miles
39. Shelly Mack – 200 miles
40. Fred Davis III – 197 miles
41. Ally Gregory – 195 miles
42. Joseph Kowalski – 189 miles
43. Gilbert Gray – 188 miles
44. Remy Brandefalk – 188 miles
45. Dallas Smith – 187 miles
46. Jameelah Abdul-Rahim – 185 miles
47. Don Winkley – 181 miles
48. Lynda Webber – 180 miles
49. Sergio Bianchini – 180 miles
50. John Price – 179 miles
51. Johnny Adams – 179 miles
52. Timothy Loudermilk – 179 miles
53. Garry Price – 175 miles
54. Troy Johnson – 175 miles
55. Cathie Johnson – 175 miles
56. Bill Haecker – 173 miles
57. Paul Heckert – 168 miles
58. Jay Hamilton – 163 miles
59. Terrie Wurzbacher – 163 miles
60. Diane Taylor – 161 miles
61. Ben Pennington – 161 miles

DID NOT FINISH (19): Sandy Geisel 189 miles, Francesca Muccini 188 miles, Jeff McGonnell 165 miles, Nathan Dewall 145 miles, Johnny Adams 145 miles, Joe Ninke 145 miles, Mike Delang mile 135, Curt Chambers mile 130, Dale Rucker mile 125, Marcia Rasmussen mile 125, Ronald Trignano 109 miles, Sue Scholl mile 107, John Rasmussen mile 92, Ann Kerkman 83 miles, Troy Varney 83 miles, Brian Pickett mile 78, Betty Holder 56 miles, Michael Melton mile 54, Amanda McMahon mile 45, Larry Phillips mile 39

Day 6 News & Notes

The Canadian women leading pack of Corino and Van Wolde are not past mile 295.

The great Dallas Smith of KISS continues to Rock n Roll All Night and party every day as he has reached the Bench of Despair. Beware ladies of this god of thunder!

Mary Lou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde are at mile 300, 2 miles of crossing the bridge in South Pittsburgh, where they will call Laz to let him know they will be at The Rock soonish. See, Laz needs a few hours head start to meet them out there.

“215 miles done. That means only 99 to go! Compared to my previous Vol-States, I feel great. Now if I could get my legs to move, that’d be great, too. In the meantime, killing some chocolate milk and wondering how people drink this stuff! It’s gross! But protein and nearly 500 calories. Hoping to make the last few miles to the hotel before afternoon rain storms wash me out. – Scott Krouse

“I’m ok everybody. I’m just trying to regroup. Things turned south on me last night around 2am. Struggled getting into the next town, it was a death march. I’m at 202 miles. Next town is 22 miles away, Shelbyville. I’ll get there sometime today, somehow someway. Thks for the tremendous support. I’m gonna finish this bad boy. It’s not gonna be pretty and it may be slow, but I’m on a mission. Just gotta get my legs n feet cooperating #‎GetToTheRock‬” – Gregg Ellis

“I am passed 200 miles.i have around 100 left
Had to stop to wait for a store to open , I was bonking bad.
Back, feet and stomache issues.
Feeling rough, next stop Shelbyville in around 9 miles.” – Sherry Meador

“Vol State Day 6: 35 miles. 223 miles total. 91 miles remaining. However, there are some chinks and rust starting to show in my 43 year old “armor”. So far everything is being patched with band-aids, corn pads, KT Tape, body glide and prayers. I am taking some extended downtime today while the storms roll through. Tomorrow will probably be a short day of 30 or less to prepare for the climb to Monteagle on Thursday and (hopefully) a finish on Friday afternoon. A lot will also depend on the weather. Thanks again for the comments and likes. I will respond to all of them after this journey is over…..” – Shane Tucker

Karen Jackson and Bo Millwood are in Manchester, TN with 64 miles to go!

Lazarus Lake’s Mid-Race Report

what about us?

the halfway mark has come and gone.

the canadiennes are about a “marathon” from the finish.

the front of the “pack” is another 20 miles behind them.

the crew at race headquarters is already wearing thin.

enabling this insane adventure

is an adventure in and of itself

between call-ins, meat wagon runs, various crises,

and now finishes,

it has been several days since we were able

to steal more than an hour or two at once, for sleep.

and those have come at progressively more and more odd times.

figuring out what day it actually is,

now requires calculating the hours of the race.

hell,

we are maintaining an ever more tenuous contact

with whether it is morning or afternoon.

we have a relative calm today.

time to get caught up on napping,

and maybe store up some fat…

because, starting sometime tomorrow morning,

runners will be hitting the rock about one every two hours.

each will have to have their finish recorded.

and we will have to find ways to ferry them off the rock to rest

and back for their vehicles,

once they are safe to put behind the wheel.

just like everything else that has happened since last Friday morning,

there is no way to plan it ahead.

the bus rides to the ferry are choreographed,

the first day of the race is predictable.

after that….

it is all reaction.

actually, we do have one thing we can rely on.

runners will plan their finishes to deprive us of any chance to sleep or eat.

two more finishers came in last night.

a fading john fegyveresi gave away almost all of a 10 mile lead

over the last 20 miles,

but had enough to beat steven smith to the rock by 35 minutes;

a veritable photo finish in a 500k.

the canadiennes continued to smile their way across the state,

now safely ensconced in 5th and 6th.

jay dobrowalski kept on keeping on.

jay has been hurting since around culleoka,

but he shows no signs of being discouraged.

he just walks slowly down the road with a look of grim determination.

being the vol state,

he will, like as not,

have a comeback at some point.

he needs to have it soon,

as Jeremy ebel has returned from his 20 mile off course expedition

and has now almost recaught jay.

Jeremy started the race strong,

then went thru his own spell of difficulty

before getting into a groove that has seen him moving well

the past few days.

it looked like he might catch the canadiennes,

before he got caught in the Lewisburg triangle.

Michael callans was another runner who was coming on strong,

before falling into a common trap.

he went right by the turn between war trace and Manchester,

not realizing his error until he came into Normandy,

8 miles off course.

there can be no more discouraging moment,

than when a vol stater comes to a city,

and realizes that it is not on the course…

unless it is the moment that they find it on the map,

and see just how far they have to backtrack.

well.

I need to grab an hour or two of sleep,

before the canadiennes cross the blue bridge,

and we are called back to the rock.

there will not be many more opportunities.

laz

“I’ve wanted to quit several times , but I’ve wanted to finish MORE” – a determined Gregg Ellis

“Vol State 500k update. Grinding on and on. I’d love to say the first 208 miles were easy but that would be stretching the truth. Soon I will have less than a 100 miles to go. I’m gonna touch the Rock.” – Rich McKnight

Marylou Corino camped out in Alabama about 4 miles from the finish getting it done with Lisa Van Wolde.

“Things sometimes go wrong in ultrarunning, you gotta bounce back though.Rich McKnight and I missed a turn costing us an extra 6 miles of running in this hot sun today. Oh well, things happen. Not gonna let it steal my joy. Vol State baby, not for the weak minded” – Greg Ellis

“We started on our way to Columbia last night and arrived around 9 am Today. It was a long night of running and walking.” – Troy and Cathie Johnson

Team Canada leading women of Marylou and Lisa are 3 miles from The Rock.

1 mile to go for Marylou and Lisa who will be the first women to reach The Rock this year. I’m curious as to who will cut who right before the ROCK for the win.

Run It Fast members Marylou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde (tied) are the first women to finish the 2015 Vol State 500K. Congrats to both of them on an amazingly strong race and finish. They came down together from Canada and ran every step of the entire 314 mile journey together. Congrats to them both! 5 days 8 hours 6 minutes 52 seconds.

Order your Last Annual Vol State 500K Trucker Hats HERE

And the Vol State thunderstorms have found Gregg Ellis and the rest of the remaining field.

“So…the hotel I intended to stay at the 222 mile mark was under renovation. Rather than go a mile off course round trip, I went 10 more miles. Makes sense right?

Did the last 6 miles in 1:15 with a stray dog traveling with me. Poor guy just wanted a home. Locked him out when I went in to the convenience store and he jumped in a lady’s car. Wasn’t there when I came back. Good deed for the day?

Now if I could get in this damn hotel instead of sitting outside watching the storm with my pizza. Ugh. No luck. Again.

_____________

Day-by-Day Vol State 5ooK Recaps

• Day 8: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• King of the Road, Greg Armstrong’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2015)
• Day 7: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 6: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Greg Armstrong Repeats as 2015 Vol State 500K King of the Road
• Day 5: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 4: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 3: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 2: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 1: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)

Vintage Vol State 500K Race Reports

• One Mutant’s Last Annual Vol State 500K Race Report (2012)
• Charlie Taylor’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2012)
• Naresh Kumar’s Last Annual Vol State 500K Race Report (2011)
• Joshua Holmes Vol State 500K Photo Journal + Race Report (2011)
• ‘King of the Road’ Don Winkley’s Winning Vol State 500K Race Report (2011)

Historical Vol State 500K Results

• 2014 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2012 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2011 Last Annual Vol State 5o0K Results

– Run It Fast®

Lebanon, Tennessee native Greg Armstrong is the winner of the 2015 Last Annual Vol State 500K and keeps his crown as King of the Road until next July. He finished a tough race, overcoming extreme heat and a broken rib, to finish in 3 days 22 hours 5 minutes 23 seconds. Greg is the first back-to-back winner of the race and joins DeWayne Satterfield as the only 2-time winner of the race.

Sweden’s Johan Steene finished very closely behind in 3 days 23 hours 15 minutes 52 seconds for second place. Steene was uncrewed (screwed) and broke his uncrewed record from last year by about 3 hours. Simply amazing and even more so when you consider how hot and humid it was this year.

“I know I am relatively new to the sport but this performance by Johan Steene may be one of best/gutsiest efforts of all time. How can I make such a lofty comment? Well, I went through the exact same conditions usually just hours before Johan each day. Unless you have done this race one can’t fully appreciate the difference between being “crewed” and “screwed”. As far as I’m concerned Johan is the true “King of the Road”. I appreciate the well wishes and congrats but I’m not in the same league as this amazing man!!” – Greg Armstrong after Johan’s finish.

96 Hour Vol State 500K Standings 7:30am Monday, July 13th (61 Runners, 19 DNFs)

1. Greg Armstrong – 3 days 22 hours 5 minutes 23 seconds (King of the Road)
2. Johan Steene – 3 days 23 hours 15 minutes 52 seconds (uncrewed course record)
3. John Fegyveresi – 262 miles
4. Steven Smith – 253 miles
5. Lisa Van Wolde – 234 miles (F)
6. Marylou Corino – 234 miles (F)
7. Jeremy Ebel – 220 miles
8. Jay Dobrowalski – 214 miles
9. James Adams – 214 miles
10. Michael Callans – 202 miles
11. Andrea Stewart – 199 miles
12. David Lettieri – 199 miles
13. Richard Westbrook – 193 miles
14. Timothy Daily – 188 miles
15. Sal Coll – 188 miles
16. Jeffrey Stephens – 188 miles
17. Tim Purol – 188 miles
18. Ben Herron – 184 miles
19. Bo Millwood – 183 miles
20. Karen Jackson – 183 miles
21. Thomas Skinner – 183 miles
22. Edward Masuoka – 182 miles
23. Lisa Hazlett – 180 miles
24. Rick Gray – 180 miles
25. Scott Krouse – 179 miles
26. Sherry Meador – 179 miles
27. Caleb Nolen – 178 miles
28. Tom Dekornfield – 178 miles
29. Thomas Alm – 177 miles
30. Joshua Swink – 177 miles
31. Christopher Knight – 176 miles
32. Shane Tucker – 174 miles
33. Gregg Ellis – 173 miles
34. Allen Wrinkle – 173 miles
35. Gina Chupka – 173 miles
36. John Sharp – 173 miles
37. Christian McMahon – 167 miles
38. Bill Haecker – 167 miles
39. Sandy Geisel – 165 miles
40. Shelly Mack – 164 miles
41. Richard McKnight – 164 miles
42. Fred Davis III – 163 miles
43. Joseph Kowalski – 162 miles
44. Ally Gregory – 159 miles
45. Dallas Smith – 157 miles
46. Lynda Webber – 152 miles
47. Sergio Bianchini – 152 miles
48. Gilbert Gray – 152 miles
49. Jameelah Abul-Rahim – 152 miles
50. Remy Brandefalk – 152 miles
51. Don Winkley – 150 miles
52. Timothy Loudermilk – 146 miles
53. John Price – 145 miles
54. Cathie Johnson – 141 miles
55. Troy Johnson – 141 miles
56. Garry Price – 140 miles
57. Paul Heckert – 135 miles
58. Jay Hamilton – 133 miles
59. Terrie Wurzbacher – 130 miles
60. Diane Taylor – 126 miles
61. Ben Pennington – 126 miles

DID NOT FINISH (19): Francesca Muccini 188 miles, Jeff McGonnell 165 miles, Nathan Dewall 145 miles, Johnny Adams 145 miles, Joe Ninke 145 miles, Mike Delang mile 135, Curt Chambers mile 130, Dale Rucker mile 125, Marcia Rasmussen mile 125, Ronald Trignano 109 miles, Sue Scholl mile 107, John Rasmussen mile 92, Ann Kerkman 83 miles, Troy Varney 83 miles, Brian Pickett mile 78, Betty Holder 56 miles, Michael Melton mile 54, Amanda McMahon mile 45, Larry Phillips mile 39

Last night saw Jeremy Ebel go off course for 10 hours, being uncrewed, that meant an extra 20 miles of shuffling by the time he got back on course. Just a brutal mistake that has dropped him down in the standings. Steven Smith is the strongest runner in the field currently after the finishes of Armstrong and Johan.

The 2-headed Canadian monster of Lisa Van Wolde and Marylou Corino are relentless and steady as they have now pushed past 240 miles since the morning update.

Johnny Adams and Nathan Dewall joined the list of DNF’s last night. Francesca Muccini is still off course and supposedly done but attempts to get her back to finish her strong race have commenced.

The Canadian women are currently at mile 247 and have a dominating lead on the women’s side (11:57am).

Poor uncrewed runners around mile 188.

Shane Tucker reaches the Bench of Despair!

“I feed the boy got him a chair under huge pecan tree was telling him the story of my life and he fell asleep…whats up with that?” – Bill Baker, crewing Steven Smith (SS Top)

King Greg Armstrong’s view from ‘The Rock’ early this morning! It must be good to be king!

Leading women combo of Marylou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde have hit mile 250 in Manchester, TN. They were happy once upon a time.

Canadian women are now around mile 255.

“Vol State Day 5. 36 miles. 188 total. This was the 5th day in a row it has been hotter than the previous day.” – Shane Tucker

“Best rest I’ve had this whole race. 6 hrs of solid sleep just now. I needed it. Hoping to make a big push tonight. This race is crazy lol. There’s nothing like it, that’s for sure.” – Gregg Ellis

“Mentally…let’s just say I may have spent an hour confused and sleepy at a car wash…” – Scott Krouse

“We started out at 1:00am today and went 19 miles.We decided to get out of the heat, and start back around 8 pm for a long night of knocking out miles from Hohenweld.” – Troy and Cathie Johnson

Dallas Smith is having a burrito somewhere. Diane Taylor is probably laying under a tree somewhere. Ben Pennington is wishing he was anywhere but here.

Gregg Ellis and Shane Tucker…wannabe VS Creatures of the Night!!

108 Hour Vol State 500K Standings 7:30pm Monday, July 13th (2 Finisher, 59 Runners, 19 DNFs)

1. Greg Armstrong – 3 days 22 hours 5 minutes 23 seconds (King of the Road)
2. Johan Steene – 3 days 23 hours 15 minutes 52 seconds (uncrewed course record)
3. John Fegyveresi – 294 miles
4. Steven Smith – 284 miles
5. Lisa Van Wolde – 258 miles (F)
6. Marylou Corino – 258 miles (F)
7. Jay Dobrowalski – 239 miles
8. Andrea Stewart – 233 miles (F)
9. James Adams – 224 miles
10. Jeremy Ebel – 223 miles
11. Bo Millwood – 214 miles
12. Karen Jackson – 214 miles
13. Lisa Hazlett – 214 miles
14. Rick Gray – 214 miles
15. Richard Westbrook – 212 miles
16. Michael Callans – 210 miles
17. David Lettieri – 208 miles
18. Ben Herron – 207 miles
19. Edward Masuoka – 207 miles
20. Sal Coll – 202 miles
21. Jeffrey Stephens – 202 miles
22. Tim Purol – 202 miles
23. Christopher Knight – 201 miles
24. Thomas Alm – 201 miles
25. Sherry Meador – 201 miles
26. Caleb Nolen – 198 miles
27. Joshua Swink – 195 miles
28. Tom Dekornfield – 194 miles
29. Scott Krouse – 189 miles
30. Shane Tucker – 188 miles
31. Francesca Muccini – 188 miles
32. Timothy Daily – 188 miles
33. Shelly Mack – 186 miles
34. Allen Wrinkle – 181 miles
35. Gina Chupka – 181 miles
36. John Sharp – 181 miles
37. Gregg Ellis – 180 miles
38. Richard McKnight – 179 miles
39. Joseph Kowalski – 179 miles
40. Dallas Smith – 179 miles
41. Fred Davis III – 177 miles
42. Lynda Webber – 177 miles
43. Gilbert Gray – 175 miles
44. Jameelah Abul-Rahim – 175 miles
45. Remy Brandefalk – 175 miles
46. Christian McMahon – 174 miles
47. Sergio Bianchini – 174 miles
48. Ally Gregory – 174miles
49. Sandy Geisel – 172 miles
50. Don Winkley – 171 miles
51. John Price – 167 miles
52. Johnny Adams – 164 miles
53. Timothy Loudermilk – 164 miles
54. Jay Hamilton – 157 miles
55. Paul Heckert – 150 miles
56. Garry Price – 149 miles
57. Troy Johnson – 146 miles
58. Cathie Johnson – 146 miles
59. Terrie Wurzbacher – 145 miles
60. Diane Taylor – 145 miles
61. Ben Pennington – 145 miles

DID NOT FINISH (19): Francesca Muccini 188 miles, Jeff McGonnell 165 miles, Nathan Dewall 145 miles, Johnny Adams 145 miles, Joe Ninke 145 miles, Mike Delang mile 135, Curt Chambers mile 130, Dale Rucker mile 125, Marcia Rasmussen mile 125, Ronald Trignano 109 miles, Sue Scholl mile 107, John Rasmussen mile 92, Ann Kerkman 83 miles, Troy Varney 83 miles, Brian Pickett mile 78, Betty Holder 56 miles, Michael Melton mile 54, Amanda McMahon mile 45, Larry Phillips mile 39

“Day 5, Monday, Columbia, MM 179

Left Hohenwald at 0300. By 0730, the end of 4 days. I had 157 miles, precisely halfway.

Who cares whether what I do is what anyone would call running? I won’t worry with it. My aching feet have got to get my chaffing butt on down the road any way they can. I need this finish bad.

_____________

Day-by-Day Vol State 5ooK Recaps

• Day 8: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• King of the Road, Greg Armstrong’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2015)
• Day 7: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 6: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Greg Armstrong Repeats as 2015 Vol State 500K King of the Road
• Day 5: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 4: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 3: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 2: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 1: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)

Vintage Vol State 500K Race Reports

• One Mutant’s Last Annual Vol State 500K Race Report (2012)
• Charlie Taylor’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2012)
• Naresh Kumar’s Last Annual Vol State 500K Race Report (2011)
• Joshua Holmes Vol State 500K Photo Journal + Race Report (2011)
• ‘King of the Road’ Don Winkley’s Winning Vol State 500K Race Report (2011)

Historical Vol State 500K Results

• 2014 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2012 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2011 Last Annual Vol State 5o0K Results

– Run It Fast®

Day 4: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015): Carnage Road

72 Hour Vol State 500K Standings 7:30am Sunday, July 12th (68 Runners, 12 DNFs)

1. Greg Armstrong – 244 miles 
2. Johan Steene – 234 miles
3. John Fegyveresi – 204 miles
4. Jeremy Ebel – 188 miles
5. Steven Smith – 188 miles
6. Lisa Van Wolde – 185 miles (F)
7. Marylou Corino – 185 miles (F)
8. Michael Callans – 179 miles
9. Jay Dobrowalski – 178 miles
10. Francesca Muccini – 175 miles (F)
11. James Adams – 169 miles
12. Timothy Daily – 157 miles
13. Andrea Stewart – 156 miles
14. Jeff McGonnell – 156 miles
15. Bo Millwood 147 miles
16. Karen Jackson – 147 miles
17. Ben Herron – 146 miles
18. Thomas Skinner – 145 miles
19. Jeffrey Stephens – 145 miles
20. Tim Purol – 145 miles
21. Sherry Meador  – 145 miles
22. Nathan Dewall – 145 miles
23. Sal Coll – 144 miles
24. Richard Westbrook – 144 miles
25. Edward Masuoka – 144 miles
26. Scott Krouse – 144 miles
27. Shane Tucker – 143 miles
28. David Lettieri – 143 miles
29. Allen Wrinkle – 141 miles
30. Gina Chupka – 141 miles
31. John Sharp – 141 miles
32. Thomas Alm – 141 miles
33. Caleb Nolen – 140 miles
34. Lisa Hazlett – 138 miles
35. Rick Gray – 138 miles
36. Joshua Swink – 138 miles
37. Christopher Knight – 136 miles
38. Tom Dekornfield – 136 miles
39. Gregg Ellis – 136 miles
40. Fred Davis III – 130 miles
41. Mike Delang – 129 miles
42. Sangy Geisel – 129 miles
43. Joseph Kowalski – 129 miles
44. Bill Haecker – 128 miles
45. Johnny Adams – 125 miles
46. Richard McKnight – 125 miles
47. Ally Gregory – 124 miles
48. Shelly Mack – 123 miles
49. Christian McMahon – 122 miles
50. Curt Chambers – 122 miles
51. Gilbert Gray – 121 miles
52. Remy Brandefalk – 121 miles
53. Dale Rucker – 121 miles
54. Tim Loudermilk – 120 miles
55. Lynda Webber – 118 miles
56. Sergio Bianchini – 118 miles
57. Dallas Smith – 117 miles
58. Don Winkley – 116 miles
59. Jameelah Abdul-Rahim – 115 miles
60. John Price – 111 miles
61. Jay Hamilton – 108 miles
62. Paul Heckert – 107 miles
63. Garry Price – 106 miles
64. Troy Johnson – 105 miles
65. Cathie Johnson – 105 miles
66. Ben Pennington – 102 miles
67. Diane Taylor – 98 miles
68. Terrie Wurzbacher – 98 miles

DID NOT FINISH (12): Joe Ninke 145 miles, Marcia Rasmussen mile 125, Ronald Trignano 109 miles, Sue Scholl mile 107, John Rasmussen mile 92, Ann Kerkman 83 miles, Troy Varney 83 miles, Brian Pickett mile 78, Betty Holder 56 miles, Michael Melton mile 54, Amanda McMahon mile 45, Larry Phillips mile 39

Run It Fast members Sal Coll and Shane Tucker taking names around mile 146.

Laz’s 72 Hour Pep Talk

the long thin line grows thinner:

the 4th morning is here.
once again the sun beats down
the chirring july flies sing…

Steven Smith hits mile 200 of The Vol State. Only 114 miles to go.

The Canadian women of Marylou Corino and Lisa Van Wolde are at mile 200 in Lewisburg.

Greg Armstrong is strong once again and banging out 10-11 minute miles as he starts to feel the pull of The Rock a bit as he moves towards Monteagle Mountain.

Shane Tucker is to mile 152 where he is now going down for sleep and will get back at it once the sun is down.

Race leader Greg Armstrong has turned the volume up to sub 10 min miles and is now at mile 265 with less than 50 miles to go. He is 10 miles away from the base of Monteagle mtn.

“Thanks for all the encouragement and positive energy! This race has been brutal. Three straight days of a heat index at 100 degrees. Never have I been so humbled.  Am at the base of Mounteagle about to make the ascent! Less than 50 to go. The Rock is near!” – Greg Armstrong

Ben Herron is all thumb on his trek towards Columbia, TN.

“Having a blast! (really lol) the camaderie is admirable. We all are in pain, we see it in each other’s eyes. Yes it hurts, it’s extremely hard, this course is unforgiving and relentless. Goals and plans have changed too many times to count but the goal of reaching the Rock hasn’t. I’ve ran out of food n supplies in between just about every town, I’ve begged strangers for water, I’ve been dehydrated, gotten cramps, hobbled thru 144 miles but I’m still marching toward the Rock. This course will make the most fluid runners hobble. It will turn 10 min miles into 30 min miles. If it was easy then everyone would do it. The Vol Staters we don’t want easy, we want to earn our seat in the camp chair “throne” on the Rock. We just want to finish this beast and prove to ourselves that we have what it takes inside. It is about survival now. ‪#‎GetToTheRock‬” – Gregg Ellis

“Yikes, I just took a look at Mike’s (Delang) feet. No wonder his painful grimaces and slow pace, the skin has completely come off 3 toes. Let’s see how well I can treat and tape them with what tools I have and if it will help him move forward. We are desperately trying to avoid a call to the ‘meat wagon’ that would end our race. Our goal is to walk the 9 miles to the next town and see how he does.” – Sandy Geisel

84 Hour Update Shortly. Runners are still reporting their positions….several more DNF’s. Armstrong is at 281. Steene 273.

84 Hour Vol State 500K Standings 7:30am Sunday, July 12th (63 Runners, 17 DNFs)

1. Greg Armstrong – 281 miles 
2. Johan Steene – 273 miles
3. John Fegyveresi – 234 miles
4. Steven Smith – 224 miles
5. Lisa Van Wolde – 211 miles (F)
6. Marylou Corino – 211 miles (F)
7. Jay Dobrowalski – 202 miles
8. Jeremy Ebel – 202 miles
9. Michael Callans – 200 miles
10. Andrea Stewart – 179 miles
11. James Adams – 178 miles
12. Thomas Alm – 176 miles
13. Lisa Hazlett – 174 miles
14. Rick Gray – 174 miles
15. Bo Millwood 173 miles
16. Karen Jackson – 173 miles
17. David Lettieri – 172 miles
18. Sal Coll – 171 miles
19. Edward Masuoka – 170 miles
20. Richard Westbrook – 170 miles
21. Jeffrey Stephens – 169 miles
22. Tim Purol – 169 miles
23. Scott Krouse – 165 miles
24. Sherry Meador – 165 miles
25. Caleb Nolen – 164 miles
26. Ben Herron – 163 miles
27. Joshua Swink – 163 miles
28. Timothy Daily – 163 miles
29. Thomas Skinner – 162 miles
30. Shane Tucker – 152 miles
31. Shelly Mack – 150 miles
32. Bill Haecker – 147 miles
33. Allen Wrinkle – 146 miles
34. Gina Chupka – 146 miles
35. John Sharp – 146 miles
36. Christopher Knight – 145 miles
37. Dallas Smith – 145 miles
38. Fred Davis III – 145 miles
39. Gregg Ellis – 145 miles
40. Lynda Webber – 145 miles
41. Sergio Bianchini – 145 miles
42. Tom Dekornfield – 145 miles
43. Joseph Kowalski – 145 miles
44. Gilbert Gray – 142 miles
45. Jameelah Abul-Rahim – 142 miles
46. Remy Brandefalk – 142 miles
47. Don Winkley – 140 miles
48. Johnny Adams – 139 miles
49. Richard McKnight 139 miles
50. Ally Gregory – 137 miles
51. Sandy Geisel – 136 miles
52. Tim Loudermilk – 135 miles
53. John Price – 131 miles
54. Christian McMahon – 131 miles
55. Curt Chambers – 131 miles
56. Cathie Johnson – 125 miles
57. Troy Johnson – 125 miles
58. Jay Hamilton – 125 miles
59. Garry Price – 114 miles
60. Paul Heckert – 113 miles
61. Ben Pennington – 111 miles
62. Diane Taylor – 108 miles
63. Terrie Wurzbacher – 108 miles

DID NOT FINISH (17): Francesca Muccini 188 miles, Jeff McGonnell 165 miles, Joe Ninke 145 miles, Mike Delang mile 135, Dale Rucker mile 125, Marcia Rasmussen mile 125, Ronald Trignano 109 miles, Sue Scholl mile 107, John Rasmussen mile 92, Ann Kerkman 83 miles, Troy Varney 83 miles, Brian Pickett mile 78, Betty Holder 56 miles, Michael Melton mile 54, Amanda McMahon mile 45, Larry Phillips mile 39

After the updated standings were posted, Francesca Muccini who was the third female, dropped from the race per her Facebook update. Congrats to RIF’s Francesca who had an amazing run. Great job, Francesca!

The eloquent Dallas Smith checks in with these words:

Day 4, Sunday, Hohenwald, MM 145

The Vol State 500k has added a new term to the running lexicon, “2 mph.” A speed ordinary runners don’t consider, but every Vol Stater knows. When you have no play left except an enfeebled walk then you make that play.

You can endure even that and emerge running the next day. I did. The fever on my quads broke during a deep sleep untroubled by dreams or trips to the bathroom. This morning, I hit US 412 at 4:14 in Parsons. I stopped at 6:30 pm at Hohenwald.

The moon is a stingy mistress withholding her light, hanging in the eastern morning sky, offering only a thin smile and each day falling a little closer to the rising sun.

When I left Parsons a whip-o-will was calling, second consecutive morning to hear that sound. A chorus of frogs, several kinds, were making their calls, including one that sounded like barking. And a bullfrog was grunting. These hopeful sounds launched me into another burning day.

I have a hip hop vibe going, running with my shorts pulled down low, so they can rub a new spot and let the old spot rest. May improve my style category, trotting down the road with drooping britches.

I remember a guy two years ago had same problem, but different body part. He wrapped his scrotum with duct tape. Which seemed an imperfect solution. That’s the fate of the uncrewed runner – making do with what he has or he can find.

Rich McKnight’s shadow gives the Vol State course a subtle message!

Gregg Ellis just hit the half way point (m157). Congrats Gregg! Only 157mi to go!

Steven Smith is back on the road after a short rest. He has just 89 miles to go and is currently in 4th place.

Couple great photos above from Shane Tucker while cruising through the Natchez Trace Parkway.

“We got up at midnight and started our journey at 0030. We wanted to get a lot of miles in before the heat. Yesterday we went 39 miles,today we went 34 miles, and stopped in Linden,TN. It was very hot today! We have knocked out 125 miles.” – Troy Johnson

Armstrong has got to be getting close to The Rock!

“Halfway at 1:58 AM on day 4. Unofficial Vol State clock time of 3 days, 17 hours and 58 minutes.” – Shane Tucker

Laz’s Nightly News Report from the Road

blood on the highway

one word keeps surfacing at the vol state…

 

 

brutal.

 

today was a truly brutal day.

another escalation in the heat index

battered the weary footwarriors,

 

and more than a few were pushed beyond their capacity to endure.

 

one by one they capitulated.

all day long.

65 of the original 80 remain,

and many of them are hanging by a thread….

 

tomorrow promises to be the hottest day yet.

 

and we knew it would happen.

the relentless oprah has overtaken a runner.

sentimental favorites terrie wurzbacher and diane taylor

find their backs to the wall tonight.

 

they must run down oprah in the darkness

to keep their dreams of reaching the rock alive.

 

of course they are only trying to buy a day.

oprah never lets up.

 

at the front,

greg armstrong has begun his push to the finish

and is running very strong.

johan steene still refuses to go away

having, unbelievably, cut the lead to 8 miles

over a 30 mile stretch of road almost devoid of aid possibilities.

I cannot find the words to describe the improbability of this feat.

 

fegy is now totally alone in third.

 

and steven smith has returned from the void to grab a solid hold on 4th.

 

the canadiennes are smiling and dancing along in 5th/6th.

 

Jeremy ebel and jay dobrawalski have taken very different routes

to fall out of contention.

 

Jeremy ran 10 miles off course

(meaning a 20 mile error by the time he gets back)

jay has simply crashed and burned…

 

his corpse stumbles on,

refusing to quit.

 

the first half of day 4 has been a nightmare.

now we will see what the night itself will bring.

 

laz

_____________

Day-by-Day Vol State 5ooK Recaps

• Day 8: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• King of the Road, Greg Armstrong’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2015)
• Day 7: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 6: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Greg Armstrong Repeats as 2015 Vol State 500K King of the Road
• Day 5: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 4: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 3: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 2: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 1: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)

Vintage Vol State 500K Race Reports

• One Mutant’s Last Annual Vol State 500K Race Report (2012)
• Charlie Taylor’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2012)
• Naresh Kumar’s Last Annual Vol State 500K Race Report (2011)
• Joshua Holmes Vol State 500K Photo Journal + Race Report (2011)
• ‘King of the Road’ Don Winkley’s Winning Vol State 500K Race Report (2011)

Historical Vol State 500K Results

• 2014 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2012 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2011 Last Annual Vol State 5o0K Results

– Run It Fast®

Day 3: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)

The heat is starting to knock out or severely effect everyone as King Greg Armstrong slowed considerably during the night along with the rest of his pack leading court. Armstrong had 179 miles after the first 48 hours as Day 3 started. Johan Steene had closed the gap to 5 miles back with 174 and John Fegyveresi had moved up to third with 146 miles. Jeremy Ebel is close behind Fegy with 143 miles.

The top women remained Lisa Van Wolde and Marylou Corino with 139 miles. Marcia Rasmussen had an amazing night as she moved up to third woman with 125 miles.  Francesca Muccini is a bit back at 118 miles.

48 Hour Vol State 500K Standings 7:30am Saturday, July 11th (74 Runners, 6 DNFs)

1. Greg Armstrong – 179 miles (17 miles behind of course record pace)
2. Johan Steene – 174 miles
3. John Fegyveresi – 146 miles
4. Jeremy Ebel – 143 miles
5. Lisa Van Wolde – 139 miles (F)
6. Marylou Corino – 139 miles (F)
7. Jay Dobrowalski – 138 miles
8. Marcia Rasmussen – 125 miles (F)
9. Michael Callans – 123 miles
10. Francesca Muccini – 118 miles (F)
11. James Adams – 116 miles
12. Steven Smith – 114 miles
13. Andrea Stewart – 112 miles
14. Jeff McGonnell – 112 miles
15. Bo Millwood – 111 miles
16. Karen Jackson – 111 miles
17. Jeffrey Stephens – 110 miles
18. Tim Purol – 110 miles
19. David Lettieri – 110 miles
20. Thomas Alm – 110 miles
21. Nathan Dewall- 108 miles
22. Sherry Meador – 106 miles
23. Sal Coll – 106 miles
24. Edward Masuoka – 106 miles
25. Scott Krouse – 106 miles
26. Caleb Nolen – 105 miles
27. Timothy Dailey – 105 miles
28. Lisa Hazlett – 104 miles
29. Rick Gray – 104 miles
30. Allen Wrinkle – 102 miles
31. Thomas Skinner – 102 miles
32. Gina Chupka – 102 miles
33. John Sharp – 102 miles
34. Shane Tucker – 101 miles
35. Sandy Geisel – 100 miles
36. Mike Delang – 100 miles
37. Christopher Knight – 98 miles
38. Gregg Ellis – 98 miles
39. Fred Davis III – 95 miles
40. Richard Westbrook – 94 miles
41. Joshua Swink – 93 miles
42. Tom Dekornfield – 93 miles
43. Joe Ninke – 92 miles
44. Christian McMahon – 92 miles
45. Ben Herron – 92 miles
46. Bill Haecker – 92 miles
47. Curt Chambers – 92 miles
48. Dale Rucker – 92 miles
49. Ronald Trignano – 91 miles
50. Jseph Kowalski – 91 miles
51. Johnny Adams – 91 miles
52. Shelly Mack – 90 miles
53. Lynda Webber – 89 miles
54. Sergio Bianchini – 89 miles
55. Don Winkley – 89 miles
56. Ally Gregory – 88 miles
57. John Price – 84 miles
58. Gilbert Gray – 83 miles
59. Remy Brandefalk – 83 miles
60. Jameelah Abdul-Rahim – 82 miles
61. Dallas Smith – 82 miles
62. John Rasmussen – 82 miles
63. Richard McKnight – 82 miles
64. Paul Heckert – 82 miles
65. Troy Johnson – 81 miles
66. Cathie Johnson – 81 miles
67. Jay Hamilton – 77 miles
68. Tim Loudermilk – 75 miles
69. Tony Varney – 71 miles
70. Ann Kerkman – 71 miles
71. Garry Price – 70 miles
72. Diane Taylor – 69 miles
73. Terrie Wurzbacher – 69 miles
74. Ben Pennington – 68 miles

DID NOT FINISH (6): Sue Scholl mile 107, Brian Pickett mile 78, Betty Holder 56 miles, Michael Melton mile 54, Amanda McMahon mile 45, Larry Phillips mile 39

Shane Tucker hits mile 100 of The Vol State 500K.

The fuel of uncrewed runner Gregg Ellis getting back on the road.

“These words don’t even come close to describing what lies ahead… We took a left at despair yesterday and are headed straight into purgatory!” – Shelley Armstrong (Greg’s wife)

2013 finisher Diane Bolton caught up with Steven Smith (who looks barely awake/alive) and his crewman Bill Baker.

Gregg Ellis hits mile 100 of the Vol State 500K. 214 more miles to go!

The locals in Lexington, TN welcome Troy and Cathie Johnson to town!

Race leader Greg Armstrong, sporting the Run It Fast colors, during a very hot and exposed part of the Vol State 500K as he approaches Lewisburg, TN.

Laz’s Day 3 Mid-Day Report:

nothing is decided, yet

so greg did not have the night he had hoped for,

neither did johan.

but, the gap between them closed by half.

5 miles apart,

they fight on into the heat of day 3.

fegys took the lead in the chasing pack.

but ebel, corino, van wolde, and dobrawalski are all within 8 miles.

nothing has been decided amongst them.

 

day 3 stretches out in front of us.

undefined, as yet.

a story as yet unwritten.

laz

_____________

Day-by-Day Vol State 5ooK Recaps

• Day 8: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• King of the Road, Greg Armstrong’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2015)
• Day 7: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 6: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Greg Armstrong Repeats as 2015 Vol State 500K King of the Road
• Day 5: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 4: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 3: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 2: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)
• Day 1: The Vol State 500K Live Blog/Standings (2015)

Vintage Vol State 500K Race Reports

• One Mutant’s Last Annual Vol State 500K Race Report (2012)
• Charlie Taylor’s Vol State 500K Race Report (2012)
• Naresh Kumar’s Last Annual Vol State 500K Race Report (2011)
• Joshua Holmes Vol State 500K Photo Journal + Race Report (2011)
• ‘King of the Road’ Don Winkley’s Winning Vol State 500K Race Report (2011)

Historical Vol State 500K Results

• 2014 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2012 Last Annual Vol State 500K Results
• 2011 Last Annual Vol State 5o0K Results

– Run It Fast®