Posted on 10 August 2011. Tags: 2011 Vol State, Abi Meadows, Carl Laniak, diane taylor, Don Winkley, Donald Brown, Erika Matheny, Fred Davis III, Fred Murolo, Gary Cantrell, Joe Judd, Joe Ninke, John Price, joshua holmes, Lazarus Lake, Lynnor Matheny, Marvin Skagerberg, Mike Matteson, naresh kumar, race report, running, Sal Coll, Shannon Burke, Sherry Meador, Stu Gleman, The Last Annual Vol State 500K, ultra marathon, Vol State 500K, Vol State Race Report
Along the course of this year’s Last Annual Vol State 500K I documented the 314+ mile journey on my Twitter and my Facebook ‘Running Page‘ (view here).
Below is my race report along with a few of those Facebook updates and photos I took throughout the race (and others). The race report is very long and was done for me, to help me remember the race as time goes by and memories begin to fade. If others happen to enjoy it or benefit from it then that is even better.
The Vol State 500K is one of the toughest races in the world. The race starts in Missouri then touches part of Kentucky before making it to the July oven on earth that is Tennessee for the next 290+ miles. The race concludes by leaving Tennessee and dipping down into Alabama briefly before runners finish at ‘The Rock’ atop a mountain in Castle Rock, Georgia some 314 miles after starting. Read the full story
Posted in Photos, Race Reports, Running, Ultra Marathon, Vol State
Posted on 09 July 2011. Tags: 2011 Vol State 500K, 314 miles, 500K, Abi Meadows, DeWayne Satterfield, diane taylor, Don Winkley, Erika Matheney, Fred Davis, Fred Murolo, Gary Cantrell, Joe Judd, Joe Ninke, John Price, joshua holmes, Lazarus Lake, Lynnor Matheney, marathon, Marvin Skagerberg, Michael Montgomery, Mike Matteson, Mike O'Melia, naresh kumar, Ray Baum, running, Sal Coll, Shannon Burke, Sherry Meador, Stu Gleman, The Last Annual Vol State, Trixie Smith, ultra marathon, Vol State 500K
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
Posted in Running, Ultra Marathon
