Tag Archive | "Runners"

Diane_rolling_vs500

Day 7: 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Live Blog

RIF #1 Joshua Holmes at the rock!

They are finishing fast and furious now. Well, relatively speaking. 🙂 But 3 runners finished over night and under the 6 day mark! Sadly, it looks like we lost another runner. Dusty Hardman dropped at 210 miles due to an injury. It was a tough day for a lot of people, let’s hope today is a better one for them out on the course.

I hope you’ll keep checking back throughout the day and until the last runner is in!

Links you might find fun/useful:

To catch up on previous days: Day1   Day2   Day3   Day4   Day5   Day6 

Last Annual Volstate 500K Spreadsheet & Map – for runner tracking (updated twice a day).
Carl’s 2013 Last Annual Volstate 500K AlbumDay 2 Drive Thru, and Day 3 Photos

Twitter:
RunItFast: @runitfast
Joshua Holmes: @bayou
Shannon Burke: @s4121burke
Dallas Smith:  @smithbend
VS500: #VS500 or #VS500K

Facebook:
UltraJoshua – Facebook page for Joshua Holmes
Last Annual Vol State Road Race – Facebook page for VS500K

So far today:

Facebook post by Diane Bolton’s crew, Phil Min, earlier today showing life on the road for a VS500K runner:

Tweet from Dallas at 8:44 pm:

Lisa: Here are the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team Standings as of the 156 Hour Update:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 314 miles (Done! 3 days 8 hours 10 min 16 sec)
2. Alan Abbs – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 11 hours 31 min 27 sec
3. Sung Ho Choi – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 13 hours 39 min 52 sec)
4. John Fegyveresi – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 16 hours 19 min 1 sec)
5. Sal Coll – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 5 hours 52 min 42 sec)
6. Brad ComptonJim Ball – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 20 hours and 47 sec)
7. Jim Ball – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 21 hours and 20 sec)
8. Joshua Holmes – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 23 hours 17 min 7 sec)
9. Richard Westbrook – 314 miles (Done! 6 days 4 hours 56 min 16 sec)
10. Joel Gat – 314 miles (Done! 6 days 9 hours 8 min 35 sec)

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 292 miles
2. Diane Bolton – 256 miles
3. Psyche Wimberly – 244 miles

Teams
1. Team Stinky Feet – 314 miles (Done! 2 days 19 hours 14 min 17 sec)
2. Team Country Gentlemen – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 4 hours 5 min 46 sec)
3. Team Two Step – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 12 hours 29 min 12 sec)
4. Team Saturday – 274 miles

Ray Krolewicz also finished today in 6 days 10 hours 38 min 53 sec. We had one more drop too so there are now 24 runners and 1 team that are still on the course:

John Price – 303 miles
Roy Tamez – 303 miles
Tim Purol – 300 miles
Jeff Kasal – 300 miles
Sherry Meador – 292 miles
Joseph Nance – 274 miles
John Adams – 274 miles
Charlie Taylor – 274 miles
Jeff Stephens – 274 miles
Team Saturday – 274 miles
Jeff McGonnell – 262 miles
Diane Bolton – 256 miles
Scott Krouse – 252 miles
Jeff Venable – 252 miles
Dallas Smith – 252 miles
David Wingard – 252 miles
Becky Lockard – 252 miles
Psyche Wimberly – 244 miles
Marcia Rasmussen – 217 miles
Jan Walker – 216 miles
Paul Heckert – 214 miles
Brian Curro – 203 miles
Diane Taylor – 203 miles
Joe Kowalski – 203 miles
TJ Nagies – 191 miles

It looks like there will be a bunch of finishes tonight too! Good luck everyone!

Email from Mike Dobies at 8:09 pm:

Vol State – 156 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e1b9f6074cbd04b9f&msa=0&ll=35.429344,-86.627884&spn=0.250376,0.528374

Lisa: Yikes! I thought they might not run into the crazy TN storms this year!

Email from Carl Laniak at 5:21 pm:

Thunder and lightning

On the rock.
Rayk is on castle rock rd….out in it.

Carl

Lisa: LOL! Looks like Joel won the race to the rock! Congrats to Joel for making the top 10!

Email from Carl Laniak at 4:43 pm:

Joel Gat – 6:09:08:35

He made it, balls in tact….?

Carl

Email from Carl Laniak at 4:08 pm:

Racing at vol state

Joel gat and rayk are both on sand mountain. There are no ties at volstate. The afternoon sun is baking hot.
There is heavy rain and violent thunder in the distance.
We have set up a finish-order-line 30′ back of the rock. In case of a sprint finish, the first one to the line will have the privilege of walking to the rock first.

Carl

Lisa: We hope Jan doesn’t melt and that she finds something appetizing for dinner!

A gem of an email from Jan Walker sent at 2:03 pm:

Erica’s Huddle House Eggs…

Sorry, my brain is muddled at the moment and I can’t remember who Erica’s mom is, but thought I would tell her this…

I wholeheartedly agree that the Lewisburg Huddle House eggs are the best in the world. In fact, if the chicken that laid those eggs had been there, I’d have kissed her squarely on the beak!!’

Of course I was so hungry by the time I made it to the HH, I would have eaten dog poop…and kissed the dog that laid it… Then asked for more…

Jan Walker
Slowly melting into a puddle that some other Vol St runner will sop up and squeeze into their water bottle…

Lisa: Oh yeah! 3 for 3! We at Run It Fast are so proud of Josh. He was in #beastmode out there, fighting food poisoning and a problem shin. He is tough!

Email from Carl Laniak at 11:05 am:

Joshua Holmes – sub 6

Josh is 3 for 3 at volstate

Forgot to copy down finish time before we came back up to the rock.
It was around 5:23:17:xx I think

Carl

Lisa: Here are the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team Standings as of the 144 Hour Update:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 314 miles (Done! 3 days 8 hours 10 min 16 sec)
2. Alan Abbs – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 11 hours 31 min 27 sec
3. Sung Ho Choi – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 13 hours 39 min 52 sec)
4. John Fegyveresi – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 16 hours 19 min 1 sec)
5. Sal Coll – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 5 hours 52 min 42 sec)
6. Brad ComptonJim Ball – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 20 hours and 47 sec)
7. Jim Ball – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 21 hours and 20 sec)
8. Joshua Holmes – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 23 hours 17 min 7 sec)
9. Richard Westbrook – 298 miles
10. Ray Krolewicz and Joel Gat – 290 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 272 miles
2. Psyche Wimberly – 244 miles
3. Diane Bolton – 231 miles

Teams
1. Team Stinky Feet – 314 miles (Done! 2 days 19 hours 14 min 17 sec)
2. Team Country Gentlemen – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 4 hours 5 min 46 sec)
3. Team Two Step – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 12 hours 29 min 12 sec)
4. Team Saturday – 231 miles

The top 10 is almost complete! We should see Richard, Ray, and Joel finish today. Good luck to all the runners still on the course!

Email from Mike Dobies at 8:48 am:

Vol State – 144 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e1b540d7faa685cbd&msa=0&ll=35.773258,-86.687622&spn=2.464453,5.410767

Lisa: There were 3 finishers last night while the rest of us were sleeping! Brad Compton, Jim Ball, and RIF #1 Joshua Holmes all finished sub 6. This is Josh’s 3rd consecutive VS500K finish! Congratulations to all 3!

Instagram post from Joshua:

Email from Carl Laniak at 4:46 am:

Jim ball – 5:21:00:20

Picture with bearded brad…

Carl

Email from Carl Laniak at 4:45 am:

5:20:00:47 – brad Compton

A monster push over the second half of the race.

Carl

Posted in Running, THE CLUB, Ultra Marathon, Vol StateComments (0)

Sal_Coll_vs5002013

Day 6: 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Live Blog

Instagram from RIF #1 Josh

Day 6 of the Last Annual Vol State 500K! 2 runners have now completed the 314 mile trek and others are not far behind. They are doing what they need to do to survive out there, just like in Josh’s Instragram photo above. Whether it’s dealing with an angry shin, chaffing, blisters, or whatever. It’s all about managing the pain and suffering. And maybe blocking it out. Good luck to all the runners today!

Check back throughout the day to see how things are going out there!

Links you might find fun/useful:

To catch up on previous days: Day1   Day2   Day3   Day4   Day5  

Last Annual Volstate 500K Spreadsheet & Map – for runner tracking (updated twice a day).
Carl’s 2013 Last Annual Volstate 500K AlbumDay 2 Drive Thru, and Day 3 Photos

Twitter:
RunItFast: @runitfast
Joshua Holmes: @bayou
Shannon Burke: @s4121burke
Dallas Smith:  @smithbend
VS500: #VS500 or #VS500K

Facebook:
UltraJoshua – Facebook page for Joshua Holmes
Last Annual Vol State Road Race – Facebook page for VS500K

So far today:

Lisa: Here are the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team Standings as of the 132 Hour Update:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 314 miles (Done! 3 days 8 hours 10 min 16 sec)
2. Alan Abbs – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 11 hours 31 min 27 sec
3. Sung Ho Choi – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 13 hours 39 min 52 sec)
4. John Fegyveresi – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 16 hours 19 min 1 sec)
5. Sal Coll – 314 miles (Done! 5 days 5 hours 52 min 42 sec)
6. Jim Ball – 300 miles
7. Brad Compton – 295 miles
8. Joshua Holmes – 290 miles
9. Richard Westbrook – 272 miles
10. Ray Krolewicz and Joel Gat – 263 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 252 miles
2. Psyche Wimberly – 233 miles
3. Diane Bolton – 222 miles

Teams
1. Team Stinky Feet – 314 miles (Done! 2 days 19 hours 14 min 17 sec)
2. Team Country Gentlemen – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 4 hours 5 min 46 sec)
3. Team Two Step – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 12 hours 29 min 12 sec)
4. Team Saturday – 206 miles (No check in at 132 hours)

1 more runner finished today and I’m sure we will see more before the morning check-in. Looks like it was a tough day out there. Let’s hope tomorrow is a little better for them.

Email from Mike Dobies at 9:33 pm:

Vol State – 132 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e1abe2a0aed438945&msa=0&ll=35.773258,-87.407227&spn=2.464453,5.410767

Email from Laz at 5:52 pm:

these people need help (5.5 days)

“i’m ready to quit.”
“you don’t want to quit. you only have 16 miles to go.”
“I am out of water.”
“you are only 200 yards from a store.”
“I don’t think I can make it.”

“someone needs to come and get me”
“are you sure?”
“i just took 2 hours to go 1/2 mile.”

“my feet are covered with blisters and my legs don’t work.”

“i am getting a room and going down.
i don’t know if i will get back up.”

“i am 2 miles from wartrace and there is a fork in the road. i don’t know which way to go.”

“please help me.
i have been sitting in the shade for 2 hours and i don’t remember which way i was going when i got here?”

the only sure way to know that carl has finally dozed off;
his phone rings.
there are some desperate people out there,
and they think carl is the “nice” one….

these people are in trouble.

serious heat showed its ugly face today.
and those who failed to muster superhuman performances are paying the price.
tomorrow should be even hotter.

but relief is on the forecast for Thursday…

severe thunderstorms all day and night.

they call it the vol-state.

laz

Email from Carl Laniak at 1:27 pm:

5:05:52:42 – sal coll

His 2nd finish and a PR.

Carl

Lisa: By the way, John Fegyveresi is one of the few runners to finish the Barkley Marathons. He completed it in 2012 in 59:41:21.

Facebook Post from Diane Bolton’s crew Phil Min (Diane is looking great – Go Diane!):

Lisa: Abi Meadows shared her photos from yesterday. They are very cool: Vol State 2013 7/15/13

Lisa: Here are the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team Standings as of the 120 Hour Update:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 314 miles (Done! 3 days 8 hours 10 min 16 sec)
2. Alan Abbs – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 11 hours 31 min 27 sec
3. Sung Ho Choi – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 13 hours 39 min 52 sec)
4. John Fegyveresi – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 16 hours 19 min 1 sec)
5. Sal Coll – 295 miles
6. Jim Ball – 279 miles
7. Joshua Holmes – 266 miles
8. Brad Compton – 260 miles
9. Richard Westbrook – 240 miles
10. Ray Krolewicz, Sherry Meador, and Joel Gat – 233 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 233 miles
2. Psyche Wimberly – 215 miles
3. Dusty Hardman – 202 miles

Teams
1. Team Stinky Feet – 314 miles (Done! 2 days 19 hours 14 min 17 sec)
2. Team Country Gentlemen – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 4 hours 5 min 46 sec)
3. Team Two Step – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 12 hours 29 min 12 sec)
4. Team Saturday – 206 miles

4 runners and 3 teams are done now! Who will finish today?

Email from Mike Dobies at 11:27 am:

Vol State – 120 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e1a353bfd90c964ef&msa=0&ll=35.514343,-86.377258&spn=1.236278,2.705383

Sorry for the delay, but my vacation is over… and my boss doesn’t have the same enthusiasm for Vol State that I do.

Also, fixed the “Race Time:” in the script to show finishing times, if applicable. (I’ll fix the old maps when I get a chance.)

Email from Laz at 9:58 am:

the great road race (5 days)

the winners are already back at work,
but the racing continues.

sal coll looks to be next in line to finish.
he passed jim ball last night on the mountain
(after a heated 2-day pursuit).
as sal described the dramatic moment;
“he was sitting on a bench in monteagle.”

there is a lot of passing back and forth.
but passes in the last 30 or 40 miles are significant.

individual struggles continue all the way back.
struggles against the race,
struggles against other runners.
struggles against a variety of physical ailments.

on the other hand,
impromptu teams face the demons together.
after days and nights spent on the road
total strangers have become fast friends and staunch allies.

the biggest battles are being fought by those dueling with oprah.

after a valiant fight,
tj watched oprah go past last night.
he has a crew now,
so he can make a last desperate attempt to reel her back in.
(we won’t go and do a manatory pick-up if he is self reliant)
but oprah is relentless, if slow.

her pace never varies.

the teams of walker & taylor,
and kowalski & giant backpack
staved off disaster last night;
linden to Columbia is always a challenge at the back of the pack,
forcing strategy changes to reach the halfway mark
ahead of the cutoff.

jan/diane and joe/GB made it,
but oprah remains just out of sight behind them.
their battles are far from over.
every day will be a challenge from here on out
cutoff by cutoff
to reach that magic mark before oprah,
and buy another day on the road.

the winners are already back at work…

for those battling oprah,
the race is only half over.

laz

Lisa: Ah…life on the road! LOL!

Lisa: The worst part about living on the west coast is I feel like I miss so much! Here’s what happened overnight and this morning so far…

Instagram post from Josh at 8:53 am:

Tweet from Dallas at 7:02 am:

Tweet from Josh at 6:45 am:

Tweet from Dusty Hardman @notfastsoigofar at 6:01 am:

Email from Carl Laniak at 12:06 am:

John fegyveresi – 4:16:19:01

Tread was worn off of his shoes, he ate it in the mud pit at mile 313.5

Carl

Posted in Running, THE CLUB, Ultra Marathon, Vol StateComments (0)

dallas_dogs_vs500

Day 5: 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Live Blog

Bench of Despair

Yesterday saw the crowning of a new King of the Road. Joe Fejes was this year’s winner and he set a course record while he was at it! He shaved over 9 hours off the old record and completed the VS500K in 3 days 8 hours 10 min 16 sec. 9 hours! Only in a race like this could that be conceivable. The old record stood for 8 years and you have to wonder how long this one will stand. The race is gaining in popularity so more and more “fast” people may have a go at it.

Who will finish today? Check back throughout the day to find out!

Links you might find fun/useful:

To catch up on previous days: Day1   Day2   Day3   Day4  

Last Annual Volstate 500K Spreadsheet & Map – for runner tracking (updated twice a day).
Carl’s 2013 Last Annual Volstate 500K AlbumDay 2 Drive Thru, and Day 3 Photos

Twitter:
RunItFast: @runitfast
Joshua Holmes: @bayou
Shannon Burke: @s4121burke
Dallas Smith:  @smithbend
VS500: #VS500 or #VS500K

Facebook:
UltraJoshua – Facebook page for Joshua Holmes
Last Annual Vol State Road Race – Facebook page for VS500K

So far today:

Lisa: Here are the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team Standings as of the 108 Hour Update:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 314 miles (Done! 3 days 8 hours 10 min 16 sec)
2. Alan Abbs – 314 miles (Done! 4 days 11 hours 31 min 27 sec
3. Sung Ho Choi – 308 miles (Now done! 4 days 13 hours 39 min 52 sec)
4. John Fegyveresi – 300 miles
5. Jim Ball – 262 miles
6. Sal Coll – 250 miles
7. Joshua Holmes – 241 miles
8. Brad Compton – 233 miles
9. Ray Krolewicz – 223 miles
10. Richard Westbrook, Roy Tamez, Tim Purol, Jeff Kasal – 222 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 218 miles
2. Psyche Wimberly – 203 miles
3. Dusty Hardman – 186 miles

Teams
1. Team Stinky Feet – 314 miles (Done! 2 days 19 hours 14 min 17 sec)
2. Team Country Gentlemen – 314 miles (Done! No time posted yet though)
3. Team Two Step – 311 miles
4. Team Saturday – 190 miles

A flurry of finishes today! And more should be coming in any minute now. What a day!

Email from Mike Dobies at 10:05 pm:

Vol State – 108 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e19836ad260c6d1b9&msa=0&ll=35.871247,-89.923096&spn=2.270096,5.410767

Lisa: Congrats to Bruce for being 3rd to the rock!

Email from Carl Laniak at 9:21 pm:

4:13:39:52 – Bruce Sung Ho Choi

“Can I get a ride”

Carl

Lisa: Alan Abbs is 2nd at the 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K…and he did it uncrewed and set a new uncrewed course record! Congratulations Alan!

Email from Carl Laniak at 7:15 pm:

Alan Abbs – 4:11:31:27

Sub 4.5 days!

Carl

Lisa: That’s one way to deal with the dogs! That or pepper spray.

Tweet from Dallas at 7:06 pm:

Lisa: Did you see Laz’s reference to Oprah in his email this morning?

but it is the way of the world.
the strong cannot carry the weak forever.
sooner or later the choice is whether one will survive,
or both will fall to oprah.

There have been other references to her throughout the race as well. So you may be wondering what’s going on with Oprah. Well, I mentioned before that there is no money or bling prize for winning or completing the Last Annual Vol State 500K. In fact, there isn’t even an entrance fee. You just show up at the ferry. And while this is a pretty laid back race, you do still have to meet cut-offs because you only have 10 days to finish it. In this screen capture of the 2013 VS500K map, the runners are represented by numbers and then there’s the Grim Reaper. The Grim Reaper is the pace you must stay at to complete the race in 10 Days. If you’re behind him…adios!

Now, I’m not saying the Grim Reaper and Oprah are one in the same but here’s an excerpt from one of Laz’s emails from last year:

16) oprah 224- everyone keeps asking; “who is oprah?”
you know who oprah is.
she is the spectre that trails the pack at the vol state.
she is the “real” world. where celebrity is the most important thing,
and there are no lonely figures alongside the road, chasing dreams.

laz

Spectre…Oprah…Grim Reaper…same difference! Don’t fear the reaper but you better keep moving!

Instagram post from Josh at 2:53 pm:

Lisa: Tweets from Dusty Hardman (@notfastsoigorfar) and Dallas Smith about life on the road in the VS500K:

Sometimes, it’s about enjoying the simple things in life! Also, in the last tweet by Dallas, he mentions the location of hotels being important. That’s because uncrewed runners are not allowed to accept rides to/from hotels. They must get to them using their own two legs and since no one wants to add miles, you either sleep in a hotel when you get to it or find somewhere else to sleep…like a cemetery!

Make sure you follow Dusty and Dallas so you don’t miss all the fun out there!

Lisa: Abi Meadows was kind enough to share her pics of July 13 -14 with the list. Check them out!

Email from Laz at 9:25 am:

Vol State – 96 Hour Update

vol state trivia:

on day one we suggested jim ball consider calling 911,
after he collapsed in a ditch.
he waved off the suggestion.

check out who is in third among the screwed runners.

laz (do not try this at home)

Lisa: Here are the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team Standings

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 314 miles (Done! 3 days 8 hours 10 min 16 sec)
2. Alan Abbs – 282 miles
3. John Fegyveresi – 266 miles
4. Sung Ho Choi – 264 miles
5. Jim Ball – 230 miles
6. Sal Coll – 223 miles
7. Joshua Holmes – 218 miles
8. Ray Krolewicz – 208 miles
9. Brad Compton – 206 miles
10. Charlie Taylor – 196 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 192 miles
2. Psyche Wimberly – 178 miles
3. Dusty Hardman – 161 miles

Teams
1. Team Stinky Feet – 314 miles (Done! 2 days 19 hours 14 min 17 sec)
2. Team Country Gentlemen – 300 miles
3. Team Two Step – 250 miles
4. Team Saturday – 149 miles

Looks like we will be seeing more finishers today! Team Country Gentlemen could be there as I write this and Alan Abbs is right behind them. No drops overnight so that’s a good thing. Let’s hope they all have good days out there!

By the way, did you know there is no prize or medal for this race? And that the only title that matters is King of the Road? The people who run this don’t do it for the glory or the money or the bling. They do it to see if they can and to find out what they are made of!

Email from Laz at 9:20 am:

human dynamics after 4 days on the road

you might not expect it,
but the vol-state is an excellent place to study human behavior.
4 days into this ordeal,
and all the pretenses have been stripped away.

with a world reduced to concerns for food and water,
a safe place to shit,
and maybe, on a good day, shelter for sleeping,
people soon become who they really are.
after 4 days on the road,
everyone is who they really are.

it is refreshing that most rise to the challenge,
rather than sink to the situation.

group dynamics;
runners pair up.
sometimes, maybe most of the time,
they combine their strengths,
each providing an extra facet to the other.
humans can be stronger together,
than the sum of the parts.

sometimes,
their weaknesses play off one another,
and the team dynamic pulls them into a vortex of failure.
the stronger member has to realize that they must abandon their companion
(because forming a weak team does not prevent growing attached)
humans together can be weaker than the sum of the parts.

sometimes, even in a good team,
the strong must abandon the weak.
it is sad,
but it is the way of the world.
the strong cannot carry the weak forever.
sooner or later the choice is whether one will survive,
or both will fall to oprah.

relays, and crew-runner teams plan to be together from the start to the finish.
the crucible of the vol-state either forges unbreakable bonds,
or melts away the bonds that connect the runners.
relay runners are likely to embrace at the rock.
or they may pull me aside when I stop to check on them;
each telling me that the other;
“has lost his mind.”

the crew can watch their runner persevere;
to suffer from severe discomfort, fatigue,
and feel this growing pride inside for what the runner has accomplished.
regardless of place or time
because what you accomplish out here is not measured by where you finish.
no one prolongs the ordeal in order  to “make it easier”
the longer it takes, the harder it is.
what you accomplish is measured by where you get.
every runner who reaches the rock
is, in that moment, greatness.

the runner either sees the crew as saviors,
as angels whose presence makes this hell bearable.
or they can grouse and complain about the crew’s failures.
failures to anticipate their needs,
and have exactly what is wanted,
exactly when it is desired.

of course there is no magic provision
that will take away the reality of 4 days and nights on the road.

but it is the screwed runners who reveal themselves under the brightest lights of all.
the screwed vol-state is an unimaginable test of will and endurance.
no one who drops can be faulted by those who were not there.
there are,
once you get out of the ferry’s shadow,
countless reasons to stop….

all of them are good reasons.
the vol-state is not kind to your body or your mind.

there is but one reason to continue;
you set out to do this thing,
and you refuse to be stopped.

and this is the only thing it takes to finish the race;
the refusal to be stopped.

all the little veteran tricks of the trade,
you will learn.
no one will have to instruct you.
the road is an effective teacher.

all the smiling faces, and happy voices we see and hear
during call-ins, and drive-thrus;
I cannot explain them.
I get why they are so joyous at the rock.
the hell is over.
they DID IT!
but how can they be so cheerful,
when an end to the hell is not even within reach of imagination?

there have not yet been enough vol-states
to get the human dynamic,
which makes them happy in the face of intolerable conditions.

maybe one day I will understand those people.

laz

Email from Mike Dobies at 8:54 am:

Vol State – 96 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e18d1c17c99012e45&msa=0&ll=35.89795,-87.451172&spn=2.269331,5.410767

Posted in Running, THE CLUB, Ultra Marathon, Vol StateComments (0)

dallas_blister_vs500

Day 4: 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Live Blog

Day 4 and the course record is on the line! Will we see it broken today? Will there be a new King of the Road? We already had one team finish over night and we should expect more finishes today. It’s been a pretty funny morning so far and things will only get loopier as the race goes on.

Come back and visit throughout the day so you don’t miss a thing!

Links you might find fun/useful:

To catch up on previous days: Day1   Day2   Day3  

Last Annual Volstate 500K Spreadsheet & Map – for runner tracking (updated twice a day).
Carl’s 2013 Last Annual Volstate 500K Album, Day 2 Drive Thru, and Day 3 Photos

Twitter:
RunItFast: @runitfast
Joshua Holmes: @bayou
Shannon Burke: @s4121burke
Dallas Smith:  @smithbend
VS500: #VS500 or #VS500K

Facebook:
UltraJoshua – Facebook page for Joshua Holmes
Last Annual Vol State Road Race – Facebook page for VS500K

So far today:

Lisa: I added links for Carl’s photos of Day 2 and Day 3 above.

Lisa: Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team standings as of 84 hours:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 314 miles (3 days 8 hours 10 min 16 secs – course record)
2. Alan Abbs – 251 miles
3. John Fegyveresi – 238 miles
4. Sung Ho Choi – 233 miles
5. Sal Coll – 201 miles
6. Jim Ball – 198 miles
7. Joshua Holmes – 197 miles
8. Ray Krolewicz – 187 miles
9. John Price – 182 miles
10. Jeff Kasal, Tim Purol, Joel Gat, Brad Compton, and Richard Westbrook  – 179 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 177 miles
2. Psyche Wimberly – 174 miles
3. Dusty Hardman – 150 miles

Team
1. Team Stinky Feet – 314 miles (2 days 19 hours 14 min 17 sec)
2. Team Country Gentlemen – 258 miles
3. Team Two Step – 250 miles
4. Team Saturday – 134 miles

Team Dancing Bears dropped at 250 miles. 🙁  #2 Alan and #3 John are still on track to break the Uncrewed course record. There is a pack of runners in the 172-179 range, a 12 pack. Hopefully they are keeping each other company out there. The Top 3 Women haven’t changed in a while but it looks like Sherry might catch some of the men and move into the top 10. I wonder what will happen overnight!

Email from Mike Dobies at 8:57 pm:

Vol State – 84 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e180f9d73eba1131a&msa=0&ll=34.972766,-85.601006&spn=0.008967,0.021136

Lisa: Staying on top of blisters is a big key to completing VS500K. It’s one of the main reasons I’ve seen runners drop. So glad Dallas was able to take care of it!

Tweet from Dallas at 8:02 pm:

Lisa: Congratulations to King Joe from everyone at Run It Fast!

Email from Laz at 5:10 pm:

the new king

it is official now.
we have a new king.

the official time (and new record)
3:08:10:16

all hail king joseph!

laz

Lisa: What is the “bench of despair”? Here’s an excerpt from one of Charlie Taylor’s recap of the 2012 VS500K:

“Word is that many runners, having run 185 miles , when taking a break on this bench would call it quits.  We all got our pictures made in front of and sitting on the bench and all declared that they would not quit on that silly bench.  This store owner was smart, she had painted the name on the back of the bench and I’m sure she got plenty of questions from outsider about why that was painted on the back.”

Facebook post by Josh at 3:23 pm:

Email from Laz at 1:57 pm:

fejes across the river

not long now

Tweet from Dallas at 9:38 am:

Lisa: Here is the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team standings as of 72 Hours:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 280 miles
2. Alan Abbs – 218 miles
3. John Fegyveresi – 204 miles
4. Sung Ho Choi – 202 miles
5. Jim Ball – 178 miles
6. Joshua Holmes – 177 miles
7. Sal Coll – 175 miles
8. Jeff Kasal – 170 miles
9. Tim Purol – 169 miles
10. Ray Krolewicz – 166 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 145 miles
2. Psyche Wimberly – 128 miles
3. Dusty Hardman – 124 miles

Teams
1. Team Stinky Feet – 314 miles (done!)
2. Team Dancing Bears – 228 miles
3. Team Country Gentlemen – 225 miles
4. Team Two Step – 201 miles
5. Team Saturday – 91 miles (they started on Saturday)

So one team done and happy to say there were no more drops. 🙂 Joe Fejes put down 50 miles in that last 12 hours despite saying his legs were “trashed” yesterday. He only has to do 34 miles in 17 hours and 42 minutes to beat the course record. I’m thinking that barring a disaster, he’s got it. Good luck Joe!

Also, in case you didn’t know Alan in 2nd and Joe in 3rd are running this Screwed (solo, un-supported)! Pretty amazing, right? They are on track to beat the Unaided Course Record (5 days 3 hours 9 minutes 33 seconds) set by Dan Fox last year.

What a year this is turning out to be!

Email from Mike Dobies at 9:06 am:

Vol State – 72 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e178cfa0dab872a07&msa=0&ll=35.773258,-87.407227&spn=2.464453,5.410767

Lisa: The emails this morning were awesome! Now you can see what being on the road for 3 days does to a person. Much respect to the runners out there!

Email from Wayne McComb at 9:06 am:

Sunday morning, com in’ down

So I fumbled through my backpack to find my
cleanest, dirty shirt.
And I tried to find a way to put my shoes on my feet
that didn’t hurt.
On a Sunday morning sidewalk,
Lord I’m wishin’ I was stoned.
Cause there’s something ’bout the VolState,
That makes a body, feel alone.

Wayne

Email from Laz at 8:48 am:

clear thinking after 3 days on the road

this morning’s check-ins are off to a flying start.
i am groggy when the phone rings,
after having been up most of the night waiting on the stinky feet
to finally choose the correct roads into alabama and georgia.

the connection seems to be no clearer on the opposite end.

shaking out cobwebs, i answer;
“good morning! 3-day check-in”
“this is marcia”
(ah, this one remembered to tell me who was calling!)
“so how was your night?”
“yes, yes it was.”
then she hangs up.
i have all the critical information,
except where she is.

i don’t have long to think about this,
because the phone rings again.
“good morning! 3-day check-in”
“do you have any coffee?”
“no, i don’t have any coffee here.”
“i thought you might bring some coffee.”
“no, i won’t be bringing any coffee.”
“oh well; i am at the church of latter day saints.”
“who is i?”
“diane bolton.”
“i don’t know the distance for that church.”
“between parsons and linden.”
(that would be between 103 and 125)
“which side of the tennessee river are you on?”
“yes.”
“you haven’t reached the tennessee river yet?”
“oh no, we crossed that a long time ago…

but we haven’t got to linden yet.”
i am trying to think of a way to narrow this down some, and she volunteers a clue.
“dallas is right behind us.”
“oh, dallas.”
“dallas smith. poor dallas.”
“poor dallas?”
“i have a crew, and he doesn’t.
(she laughs)
i think i have lost my humanity.
i should feel guilty, up here eating ice chips….

and there is poor dallas.
he doesn’t have a crew.
he doesn’t have anything.”
then she laughs again and hangs up.

so far i know that marcia had a night,
and diane has ice chips, but would like coffee.
(also dallas still has no crew, but that is only hear-say)

the phone rings again.
“good morning! 3-day check-in.”
“this is (garbled) bruce’s crew”
“and how are yall doing this morning?”
“we are doing good. bruce is at 102.”
“102? it seems more likely he is at 202?”
“oh, yes. it is probably 202. not that it makes any difference….

well, it might make a difference to bruce.”
(i am sure it makes a difference to bruce.)
“i have you down, ya’ll have a fun day out there.”
“ok”
she hangs up.

i am not sure the vol-state is good for brain function.
but the important thing is,
everyone seemed to be in very good spirits.

i better get these results to carl,
so we can start figuring out where people are
(within a planet)

laz

Email from Carl Laniak at 8:18 am:

vol state: the un-coolest race around.

72 hours in. a runner checks in.

runner:
“had a good night. mile xxx. it’s raining.”

me:
“well done. see you on the road later.”

runner:
“cool. thanks. i ate out of a garbage can last night.”

Lisa: Fun stuff from overnight…

Instagram post from Josh at 4:40 am:

Lisa: So Team Stinky Feet is the first team to complete the VS500K. They are Sue Scholl and Ben Herron. Congrats Team Stinky Feet!

Email from Laz at 4:18 am:

stinky feet

2:19:14:17

would have been faster without the side-trip into Alabama
when sue missed the turn to new hope.

laz

Tweet from Dallas Smith at 3:41 am (this is what the solo runners have to deal with)

Posted in Running, THE CLUB, Ultra Marathon, Vol StateComments (0)

josh_rain_vs500

Day 3: 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Live Blog

Dallas and Laz 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K

The runners are starting their 3rd day today at the Last Annual Vol State 500K! There was a lot of running going on through the night and Joe Fejes laid down some big miles – 58! Everyone else is moving steadily along. It’s going to be another warm and humid day out there. Wish them luck!

Make sure you check back throughout the day to see how things are going out there!

Links you might find fun/useful:

To catch up on previous days: Day1   Day2  

Last Annual Volstate 500K Spreadsheet & Map – for runner tracking (updated twice a day).
Carl’s 2013 Last Annual Volstate 500K Album.

Twitter:
RunItFast: @runitfast
Joshua Holmes: @bayou
Shannon Burke: @s4121burke
Dallas Smith:  @smithbend
VS500: #VS500 or #VS500K

Facebook:
UltraJoshua – Facebook page for Joshua Holmes
Last Annual Vol State Road Race – Facebook page for VS500K

So far today:

Lisa: Carl’s email is a good way to end this blog so that’s it for day 3’s live blog! I hope you’ll come back tomorrow and follow along on day 4. It should be an interesting day!

Email from Carl Laniak at 11:20 pm:

Re: FW: resilience (2.5 days)

I will just add that the second half of the race is quite remarkable.
There is no despondency in these runners. They are positive to a fault.
Whether they are nearing the half way mark, or still looking for a 100 mile split, they are pushing forward and upbeat.
(at least that is what I see when I stop to say hello…perhaps a friendly face in the middle of a rough afternoon is skewing my perception?!)

This year’s weather is a special occurrence, and the runners are really taking advantage.

-PS RUNNERS-
i believe we’ve confirmed that there’s a slight typo in john’s book, the first gas station in hohenwald is 4-5 miles further than stated. Runner’s headed that way, stock up at the gas station where hwy 100 splits to the left and the course goes right. If I am wrong (i don’t have my book in front of me) it won’t hurt too much to be stocked up there.

well done!
carl

Email from Laz at 11:08 pm:

resilience (2.5 days)

I have been relegated to the same view of much of the field,
as the people at home.
the race has become so strung out that carl and I had to split up.
I got to see the people at the front.
carl is witness to the mayhem in the back.

with fewer people to see,
I got to spend more time talking to them.
one thing stood out,
both in the screwed runners’ comments,
and in the descriptions of the crews.

the successful vol-stater must have remarkable resilience.
everyone has gone thru dark periods;
yet somehow come back. (again and again)

this is one reason for the fruit basket turnover we see
every time the standings are updated.

abbs was, at one point last night,
reduced to scouring a construction zone for partially consumed water bottles,
and drinking what was left.
the old man relay team saw him staggering down the road,
seemingly near his end.
an hour later he was running again.

I missed fegys entirely,
as he was sleeping behind a tree when I passed….

I see in the standings that he not only returned to the road,
but has closed back in on those in front of him.

schick said of fejes;
“he will look like he is absolutely on his last legs,
then he lays down for a short while,
and comes back as strong as he was on the first day.”

I see we had a third drop today.
37 of the original 40 are still on the road
(altho several are locked in a life and death struggle with oprah)

if everyone who had been thru a period of hopelessness had dropped;
no one would be left.

I went and scouted the finish line,
preparing for the first relay to come in some time tonight
(and fejes sometime in the morning)

the big mudhole in the woods has reached record size.
(no one is getting past that sucker dry this year)
the recent monsoons have left the roads on castle rock ranch virtually impassable.
those who survive the first 313 miles have a real treat in store.

laz

Email from Carl Laniak at 11:04 pm:

vol state day 3 photos

from hohenwald back thru the field.

Lisa: Crazy weather. wild dogs, Road Angels…yep, they are getting the full VS500K experience!

Tweet from Josh at 9:34 pm:

Lisa: Here is the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team standings as of the 60 Hour check in:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 230 miles
2. Alan Abbs – 185 miles
3. Sung Ho Choi – 184 miles
4. John Fegyveresi – 178 miles
5. Joshua Holmes – 152 miles
6. Jim Ball – 151 miles
7. Ray Krolewicz – 148 miles
8. Tim Purol – 145 miles
9. Jeff Kasal – 145 miles
10. Sal Coll – 144 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 132 miles
2. Psyche Wimberly – 128 miles
3. Dusty Hardman – 110 miles

Team
1. Team Stinky Feet – 280 miles
2. Team Two Step – 200 miles
3. Team Dancing Bears – 196 miles
4. Team Country Gentlemen – 190 miles
5. Team Saturday – 57 miles (they started today)

There’s been one more drop from the VS500K – Robert Woodall dropped at 82 miles. There are now at 37 runners and 5 teams out on the Tennessee roads.

230 miles! Joe is a beast! Will Joe’s legs hold up? Will he have another big night? Tune in tomorrow morning to find out!

Email from Carl Laniak at 8:57 pm:

Re: Vol State – 60 Hour Update

the folks i marked at 91 miles are all in the Days Inn in lexington by 7:30….just so everyone understands…

I will post all my pics from this afternoon in a little bit (most of them were sent out already)

Email from Mike Dobies at 8:52 pm:

Vol State – 60 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e16ec1644a578219b&msa=0&ll=36.346103,-90.510864&spn=2.446582,5.410767

Instagram post from Josh at 8:05 pm:

Lisa: Great to see Road Angels at work today for the runners out on the course! FYI – A Road Angel is a stranger that offers help to the runners. If a runner is uncrewed (or Screwed), they must carry everything they will need or buy it along the course and cannot except help from anyone they know but they can accept the kindness of strangers. Of the 40 runners that started the race, 7 runners were using crews and 33 runners were Screwed. Can you imagine running 314 miles uncrewed? What an adventure!

Tweet from Dallas at 7:50 pm:

Email from Carl Laniak at 6:32 pm:

Diane B – back on road and lookin good

Email from Stu at 5:48 pm showing more good will towards the VS500K runners:

next to the bench of great joy

this is waiting for you in culleoka!

stu

Instagram post from Josh at 5:11 pm:

Email from Carl Laniak at 4:17 pm:

Holmes and ball nearing hohenwald

Email from Carl Laniak at 4:12 pm:

Rayk at 143.5

Gifted some pizza by generous folks from union city who saw the runners Thursday in union city and “really admire what we’re doing out here!”

Carl

Tweet from @keithdunn at 3:02 pm:

Facebook post from Phil (Diane Bolton’s crew) at 2:43 pm:

Email from Mike Dobies at 11:12 am:

Re: Vol State – 48 Hour Update

Just an fyi:

When two runners are at the same mileage, the pins will have the exact same coordinates and only one will be visible on the map (the other is beneath the first). If you click the name on the left margin, then you will see where the hidden icon is on the map.

Thanks for pointing this out Josh.

I’m adding the Course Record (Unaided) pace information to the Tracking Sheet and map now. This record is also being seriously challenged.

Lisa: Here are the Top 10, Top 3 Women, and Team standings thru 48 hours:

Top 10
1. Joe Fejes – 196 miles
2. Alan Abbs – 154 miles
3. John Fegyveresi – 145 miles
4. Sung Ho Choi – 143 miles
5. Joshua Holmes – 133 miles
6. Ray Krolewicz – 127 miles
7. Jim Ball – 124 miles
8. Joes Gat – 124 miles
9. Joseph Nance – 120 miles
10. Sal Coll – 117 miles

Top 3 Women
1. Sherry Meador – 107 miles
2. Dusty Hardman – 92 miles
3. Psyche Wimberly – 83 miles (didn’t check in at 48 hours though)

Teams
1. Team Stinky Feet – 229 miles
2. Team Dancing Bears – 150 miles
3. Team Country Gentlemen – 145 miles
4. Team Two Step – 144 miles

Just a reminder that the course record is 3 days 17 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds. Joe certainly looks like he’s on target to beat that! I wish I was there to see it too. Like Laz said: “the real fun is just beginning.”! Stay tuned!

Email from Laz at 10:33 am:

fegys v choi update

choi was, indeed, on break at 48 hours.
he was at 143 miles, so fegys had moved into third (145).

choi is back on the road and has retaken third at this time.

more later.

laz

Email from Laz at 10:21 am:

it is a multiday now (vol-staters pass 48 hours)

fejes put on one of those fabulous stretches
that will be spoken of at the last suppers for years to come.

58 miles between 36 and 48 hours.
he barely missed 200 in two days.
I feel privileged to be here to see his race.

carl and I discussed this morning,
the possibility that he might put on a surge
that carries him past 300 miles within 3 days.
however this ends,
it is going to be something to see.

and it isn’t like abbs is not putting on a performance for the ages.
people have discussed for years,
whether it is possible for a screwed (crewless) runner to break 5 days…

at 48 hours, abbs was only 3 miles over 4-day pace.

with choi’s whereabouts unknown at 48 hours
(assumed to be taking a break)
fegys might have moved into third.

holmes had put some distance between himself and the k during the night
(133 to 127)
but holmes was just starting an extended break at 48 hours.

it is a safe bet that k is taking over 5th place as I write this
(if he has not already done so)

gat (124), ball (124), and nance (120) have emerged from the pack
to threaten moving into the top 6.

we are starting the third day.
this thing is now officially a multiday.
the real fun is just beginning.

with 38 runners on the road,
every time someone takes a nap,
they are going to lose multiple places.

laz

Email from Mike Dobies at 9:40 am:

Vol State – 48 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
http://www.tinyurl.com/Volstate2013

Map:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200687420624110668378.0004e1643f6e9e62c4ec3&msa=0&ll=35.652833,-89.324341&spn=2.468179,5.410767

Tweet from @keithdunn at 9:27 am:

Tweet from Josh at 7:24 am:

Lisa: Overnight happenings…

Tweet from Josh at 4:21 am:

Tweet from Josh at 2:40 am:

Facebook post from Dallas last night:

Day’s highlights: A lone pigeon cooed in the dark beams as I passed under a bridge at 5 a.m. At 6 a.m. the sun was barely up. It cast my shadow 50 yards long across the rows of a low soy bean field. That thin wafting shadow measured my puny motion in precise 32-inch intervals. There was the Korner Kafe in Gleason where I had eggs and bacon – and caught four competitors. Finally, the road angel, a high-school-age young woman who drove up and with the help of who I took to be her young brother gave me a snack and a frosty bottle of water just when I needed it.

Main strategy tomorrow: Minimize damage.

Posted in Running, THE CLUB, Ultra Marathon, Vol StateComments (0)

12HR map vs500k

Day 1: 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K Live Blog

Hi all, it’s Lisa. I’ll be updating this post throughout the day with tweets, pictures, emails, maps, and links about the 2013 edition of the Last Annual Vol State 500K.

Check back throughout the day to see how things are going out there!

Links you might find fun:

Last Annual Volstate 500K Spreadsheet & Map – for runner tracking (updated twice a day).
Carl’s 2013 Last Annual Volstate 500K Album.

Twitter:
RunItFast: @runitfast
Joshua Holmes: @bayou
Shannon Burke: @s4121burke
Dallas Smith:  @smithbend
VS500: #VS500  or #VS500K

Facebook:
UltraJoshua – Joshua Holmes
Last Annual Vol State Road Race 

So far today:

Lisa: That’s it for today! I hope you will check back on Run It Fast tomorrow for Day 2’s live blog and see who took “a little bite” out of the Last Annual Vol State 500K!

Email from Laz at 11:06 pm:

inspiration, perspiration, and a sniff of the vol-state

49 runners along with assorted crew and family on the ferry was really something to see.
remembering the years when we might not have but 4 people,
we never thought the vol-state would look like this.

there was so much energy coursing thru the field as we cruised across the river,
unknown adventures hiding amongst the trees on the approaching riverbank.
hope and fear mingled, especially for the multi-day virgins among us.
it was impossible not to feel the inspiration.

after the traditional counting of the runners at the Mississippi river overlook,
there was little for carl and I to do but drive up thru the field,
and wait to take the splits at the 21 mile mark.
there were far too many runners on the road for us to stop and chat with each one.
the best thing for us to do was remove our own vehicle from the congestion on the road.

as we watched everyone pass thru the 21 mile mark,
happily informing nearly the entire field that they were on “course record pace”
we talked about where the runners really stood.

at 21 miles they had broken the wrapper on the vol-state.
they could catch just a sniff,
a hint of the smell of the real thing.
they had not taken a bite of vol-state yet,
not even a nibble.
hell, they hadn’t even peeled the wrapper back.
they had just broken the seal,
and maybe, just maybe, caught a hint of the smell.

the 12 hour results are on the map now.
fejes has taken a lead.
choi is 7 miles back, followed closely by abbs, holmes, and fegys.

none of this, of course, means anything as we head into the first night.
who will rest? who will run on?
who will get stronger? and who will falter?

the one thing certain is,
the 24 hour standings will little resemble the 12 hour’s.
the vol state is a race that takes a while to fall into place.
those who want to fight for the crown
must work hard to secure a spot among the contenders.
for those who get that work done,
in a couple of days the serious racing begins.

among the many newbies to this nasty game,
the passing of the first 24 hours includes another test.
how will they respond to messages from their body that it has had enough?
between tomorrow morning and the rock will come many next steps that seem impossible,
sheer will, and the refusal to surrender will be all that drives them on.

in the movies,
the hard work would be represented by a few minutes of visually stimulating clips,
accompanied by inspiring music.
the ultimate victory would go on forever in slow motion….

real life is very different.
the hard work is goes on forever,
with an end nowhere in sight.
the view changes slowly, and dramatic moments are few.
the closest thing to inspiring music is the slap of your shoes on the pavement,
and the sloshing of water in your bottles.

tomorrow morning we will see who has what it takes to tear open that wrapper,
and take a little bite.

laz

Email from Carl Laniak at 10:42 pm:

the volstate album is updated

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/107684748124952715657/albums/5899552556950832081

this afternoon’s pics are shadowy, but you can’t blame me for sitting in the shade for the 6+ hours we waited for most of the field to pass the traditional “20 mile” split under the bridge….I mean, it’s a little warm out there.

they’re still out there, mostly moving. they’re going to start feeling like they’ve “actually gotten somewhere” soon.

carl

Lisa: So, at the 12 Hour Update, the top 10 solo runners were:
1. Joe Fejes – 60 miles
2. Sung Ho Choi – 53 miles
3. Alan Abbs – 49 miles
4. Joshua Holmes – 47 miles
5. John Fegyveresi – 47 miles
6. Roy Tamez – 45 miles
7. Jeff Kasal – 45 miles
8. Tim Purol – 45 miles
9. Joseph Nance – 44 miles
10. Ray Krolewicz – 44 miles

And here are the standing for the relay teams at the 12 Hour Update:

1. Team Stinky Feet – 70 miles
2. Team Two Step – 57 miles
3. Team Dancing Bears – 55 miles
4. Team Country Gentlement – 54 miles

This is what the map of the runners looks like at the 12 Hour Update:

Cool to see how much they have spread out over just one day! Joe Fejes is still in the lead. There’s been some speculation on the email list that he might not keep it so we will have to see how it plays out!

Email from Mike Dobies at 8:52 pm:

Vol State – 12 Hour Update

Tracking Sheet:
Map:

Instagram post by Josh at 8:31 pm

Tweet from Dallas at 6:51 pm:

Tweet from Dallas at 6:48 pm:

Instagram post from Josh at 5:36 pm:

Lisa: Did you see that Joe Fejes is currently in 1st? He is the pre-race favorite and might even break the course record for the Last Annual Vol State 500K this year! The current record is 3:17:42:12 and Joe set the 72 hour mark by running 329.64 miles at the 2012/2013 Across The Years. Piece of cake, right? Of course, he had much cooler temps there but it will be exciting to watch what happens! Not only with him, but with all the runners.

Email from Carl Laniak at 2:36 pm:

Re: 21 mile vol state splits

Still waiting on:

Diane Taylor
Jan walker
Tj nagies
Marcia Rasmussen
Paul Heckert

Carl

Email from Carl Laniak at 2:10 pm:

21 mile vol state splits

1) joe fejes 3:09
2) sue (team stinky feet) 3:23
3) Alan white trash Abbs 4:04
4) Claude (team two step) 4:05
5) Joshua Holmes 4:06
6) sung ho choi 4:06
7) sal coll 4:21
8 ) Tim purol 4:30
9) Jeff castle 4:31
10) John fegys 4:35
11) Roy tamez 4:36
12) Marv Skagerberg (country gentlemen) 4:40
13) Charlie Taylor 4:40
14) Patrick binienda (dancing bears) 4:42
15) John Adams 4:46
16) Joel gat 5:09
17) joe F nance 5:10
18) dusty 5:19
19) Shannon 5:19
20) Texas Jeff 5:20
21) rayk 5:42
22) brad 5:42
23) Jeff mcgonnell 5:42
24) Jim ball 5:42
25) Diane Bolton 5:43
26) sherry Meador 5:44
27) Jeff Stevens 5:51
28) Wayne mccomb 5:57
29) jp 6:02
30) Dallas smith 6:17
31) psyche 6:18
32) joe co-alski 6:20
33) Robert Woodall 6:24
34) Scott tater krouse 6:24
35) giant backpack curro 6:29
36) 5-day brazell 6:29
37) dave wingard 6:33
38) Becky lockard 6:33

Carl

Tweet from @keithdunn at 11:03 am:

Email from Carl Laniak at 10:31 am:

Here is an album with a pic of each starter going past the overlook above the Mississippi River this morning (mile 2).

The sun was in the wrong place for more scenic pictures…
40 solo runners started their 500km journey run.
4 relay teams started.

Instagram post from Josh at 9:43 am:

Instagram post from Josh at 7:13 am:

And so it begins…

Email from Laz at 8:56 pm on 7/10/13:

twas the night before vol-state
and in all of the rooms.
not a person was stirring,
not even the doomed.
all of the runners were off in their beds,
with visions of ferries dancing in their heads…

except for the room that carl and laz share
where wagers are being taken;
who quits first, and where?

laz

Posted in Running, THE CLUB, Ultra Marathon, Vol StateComments (0)

VS500K-RR-Joshua-Holmes-Hohenwald-Smile

Run It Fast At The 2013 Last Annual Vol State 500K

Last Annual Vol State 500K 2012

The Last Annual Vol State 500K begins this Thursday, July 11th. What is the Last Annual Vol State 500K? It’s a 314 mile foot race across Tennessee…in July. Because running 314 miles isn’t crazy enough, you have to do it in the refreshing heat and humidity of the south in the summer!

The Last Annual Vol State 500K is the brain child of Lazarus Lake (Gary Cantrell). It starts in Dorena Landing, Missouri with a boat ferry ride, runs across Tennessee, and ends atop a mountain at Castle Rock, Georgia. The runners can do this crewed or uncrewed (Screwed) or as a relay. If you are doing it in the Screwed category, you must carry everything that you will need and can only accept handouts/help from the kindness of strangers.

This year, 6 Run It Fast Club members will be running the Last Annual Vol State 500K, 3 veterans of the race and 3 newbies. 2 RIFers will be doing this crewed and 4 will be Screwed. Think only super humans can do this kind of run? Think again! Below you will meet 6 every day people…just like you and me…who happen to be embarking on a 314 mile journey to see what they are made of. Check out their stories below and then check the bottom of the post for links to follow them.

THE VETERANS

RIF #276 DIANE TAYLOR

Diane has completed 2 Last Annual Vol State 500Ks and will be running her 4th this year (her first attempt was derailed by blisters). She will be running it uncrewed again this year. The past 2 years (since running 314 miles across Tennessee was not enough), Diane drove to the finish line and started her race early by running towards the start line. Last year, she was picked up in Lewisburg as others headed to the start so she added about 100 miles on to her journey in 2012! We asked Diane why she keeps coming back and she said: “I can’t explain it but I would like to do it every year as long as I’m physically able. There are others who have run/are running this who are in there 70s so I hopefully I will be able to do it into my 70s as well.”

Since Diane is running this Screwed and has to carry her own pack with what she needs, we asked her if she brought anything extra with her. She said this year “everything in the pack is just what I need. It weighs 9 1/2 pounds without water and another 6ish pounds with water so it will weigh about 16 pounds when full. Last year, I carried/wore a badge that Shannon (RIF #171 Shannon Burke – see below) made to honor our friend Angela Ivory.”

Screwed runners are not allowed to accept help from anyone they know or from the crews of other runners but can accept help from random strangers, Road Angels. We asked Diane if she had encountered any Road Angels and she said: “many times strangers stopped to give me water/soda and twice Road Angels asked me what I needed and then went to get water and bring it back to me.”

Next we asked Diane what she learned about herself while running the Last Annual Vol State 500K and she said: “I guess you learn when you want something bad enough, you are capable of doing a lot more than you thought. If you really, really want it, it can happen.”

Finally, we asked Diane if she had any advice for newbies to the VS500K or for anyone who was thinking about doing it and she said: “Tell everybody that they can do this. You don’t have to be a super athlete or runner. Anyone can do it.”

Diane used herself as a reference for that last questions, saying that if she, who was an average person, could do this then anyone can. We don’t know about you, but we think Diane is pretty amazing! Good luck Diane!

***

RIF #171 SHANNON BURKE

Shannon will be running her 3rd Vol State 500K this year and will be running uncrewed. The first year she ran it, she hadn’t even done a 50 Mile or 100 Mile race yet! She didn’t finish that first year but came back determined last year and finished in 8:13:13:36. We asked Shannon why she decided to run this race when her longest previous run was only 42 miles (only with a race like this can you say “ONLY” and 42 miles in the same sentence!) and she said: “I didn’t look at it as 500K as much as a grand adventure.  Laz (Gary Cantrell) has a way of writing that sucks you into his world.  I followed Vol State during 2010 and knew I wanted to try it.  And I am gullible and have a group of fellars that encourage me to try these races.”

Then we asked her why she keeps coming back and she said: “Vol State truly is a race that anyone can do.  It all depends on how bad you want it.  After I failed in 2011, I spent the next year wishing for the ferry to get my chance at redemption.  (It was a really long year!)  It is truly a journey run and you learn a lot about yourself.”

And finally, we asked her what the best and worst parts of the race are for her and she said: “The best: reading a Laz post that lifts your spirits when they were bottomed out, the open road, learning so much about yourself and your strength within, napping on a porch swing after a wonderful lunch, and the chance to stop when you reach the rock.  The worst:  going to bed knowing you have to get up the next day and go again, relentless rain that chases you under a bridge just to get a little bit of silence, and the pain and despair you find at times and don’t feel like you will ever reach the rock.”

But we do know that Shannon reached the rock and we are sure she will again this year! Good luck Shannon! You can follow Shannon on Twitter: @s4121burke and you can check out her blog Yellow Bus Adventures.

***

RIF #1 JOSHUA HOLMES

Josh has run over 90 marathons and ultras and will be running his 3rd Vol State 500K with a crew supporting him. Last year he was 2nd Overall and shaved more than 2 days off his previous year’s time! We asked him what makes Vol State 500K different from the many other races he’s done and he said: “It’s a grand epic adventure that gets in your blood like a bad virus and never leaves it even once the race is over and you’ve finished it. You think about it almost daily and the bond you make with your fellow Vol State runners is almost a fraternal bond that brings about a special spark when you see a VS alum at another race.”

Next, we asked Joshua about his huge PR last year and if it was training or mental preparation that made the difference and he said: “We had some crew issues in year one and I went in just wanting to finish the race. I was conservative and I kept an eye on my crew, my 15-year old cousin, as much as he kept an eye on me. We had a grand time and we both learned a lot along the way. I was a stronger runner going into my second attempt, but more so I knew what to expect and the layout of the course having run it before. I also attacked it like one of the wild dogs you sometimes meet along the way.”

Then we asked him if the running 314 miles seemed less intimidating after having done it twice and he said: “At this point I know what it takes to finish it, but I keep raising the bar of what I expect out of myself and what time goals I set for myself. It’s 314 miles no matter how you slice it. If you are going to be intimated by a race before it starts then it’s likely this one or you’re an android.”

Finally, we asked Joshua what lessons he’s learned from Vol State 500K that he’s been able to apply to other races/life experiences and he said: “Mental toughness, physical toughness, blister toughness…about every form of toughness imaginable. The downside is that almost every race since Vol State is a bit of a let down, because Vol State is such an epic adventure.”

We are excited to watch Joshua tear it up out there this year! He’s a beast! Good luck Josh! You can follow his adventures on Twitter: @bayou or on his Facebook page: UltraJoshua. Also, Joshua is raising money for charity: water and if you would like to donate to his campaign, click here: 2013 Vol State 500K Endurance Run. In 2011, Joshua and RIF #2 Naresh Kumar (@iamarunr) raised $6,205 while running VS500 that year and they helped fund a well in Ethiopia! Let’s help him top that this year!

THE NEWBIES

 RIF #79 DALLAS SMITH

Dallas has run many, many marathons, ultras, and Ironman races. He’s qualified for Boston numerous times and holds a boat load (58 and counting) of State Records for ages 63 to 72 in Tennessee for everything from the 5K to the marathon. He will be running his first Vol State 500K this year and he is doing it uncrewed.

We asked Dallas why he decided to take this challenge on and he said: “The answer is I don’t think I know why. I am always ready for adventure & a new experience & VS certainly is that. What I don’t like to face is that I may be seeking redemption for failing on a similar run in Spain. That failure was a spirit breaker in its abject totality. I was whipped. As broken ad Cool hand Luke. It haunts me yet & I guess I’m looking for a 2nd chance.”

And since everyone can use a bit of luck, we asked Dallas if he was taking a good luck charm with him and he said: “I hadn’t thought about that til now, but actually I am taking a good luck charm, a pair of Kalenji socks I bought on that same Spain trip. Practically every race I’ve run since, I’ve worn those socks, dozens & dozens. They seem indestructible & I’ve always said they were the best socks I ever owned. Not too romantic, I’ll admit, but when I was deciding on socks they had to go in. They connect this race to my failure in Spain.”

Since Dallas first answered that last question, he was given a good luck charm to carry by his daughter which we think is appropriate for the VS500:

Finally, we asked Dallas if he was nervous or excited about any part of this journey he was starting on and he said: “I’m not nervous. Strange to say – because I’m quite timid – I’ve never been nervous before a race. I am surely not bragging about that but merely expressing reality and a bit of amazement at it. I AM anxious, anxious in the sense that I want to see what will happen. Kinda like after a marathon finally starts and you say to yourself, finally dammitt we can run. This race holds many mysteries for me. A big component is the dirtbag-life on the road. Separate from the mere running is the continual foraging for food, water and shelter. All that is a problem in itself and I am curious to see how it all plays out.”

We cannot wait to hear all about the adventures Dallas has out there and are sure it would make for a great book! (If you don’t know, Dallas is an accomplished writer and a wonderful storyteller. You can find links to his books on his blog Turnaround and follow him on Twitter: @smithbend)

***

RIF #159 DIANE BOLTON

Diane is a racing machine. She just recently completed her SECOND round of marathons in 50 States. She will be running her first Vol State 500K this year with the help of a crew. We asked her why she took on this challenge and she said: “Why..actually I’ve been asking myself this too..ha,ha. Actually, RIF has been instrumental in having me challenge myself. With this in mind Vol State offered me a challenge totally out of my comfort zone. I’m not afraid of not finishing but would regret if I didn’t try. That said, I will take it day by day learning much about my threshold as well as the wonderful adventures in ultra endurance running.”

Next, we asked her what she was most excited and/or nervous about and she said she was: “Most excited about the knowledge I will gain learning so much more from some fascinating very accomplished ultra runners. What I’m most nervous about…everything! I’m such a rookie here. But thankful for the many people helping me on this journey. Most importantly my guardian angel crew chief Phil Min (RIF #286). None of this would have been possible had he not offered to crew me, giving up his scheduled marathon and extra days to be part of this epic event. I hope he’ll still call me friend when this is all over. “

Lastly, Diane had this to say about the coming days: “Also worried I’ll get lost. This is an unmarked course. I get lost on my last loop of a 9 times around course! 🙂 One thing I know for sure…I’m going to laugh and I’m going to cry. None of this would have been experienced had it not been for the gentle push by some in this wonderful Run It Fast family.”

We know Diane is going to be just fine! And we are excited that she is taking on this challenge. Go Diane!

***

RIF #101 DAVID WINGARD

David will be running his first Vol State 500K this year and he will be doing it uncrewed. He’s run almost 100 marathons and didn’t start running until he was 52. Not only does he run, but he raises money for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation as well. You can learn more about David on his website Run David Run.

We asked David why he decided to do VS500 and he said: “I only decided about 10 days ago to do this race. When I did the Jackal Marathon series a couple of weeks ago, some of my close enablers, oh, I mean friends, explained to me why I needed to run this race.”

Next we asked David if he had done anything like this before and he said: “The longest race I have done so far is Camrades (54 miles) twice. I plan to do my 1st 100 mile racin in August – the Leadville 100.”

Finally, we asked him what he was most nervous and excited about the next 314 miles and he said: “I’m most nervous about having my 1st DNF. I am most excited about running a new race with my friends and running further than I have ever run before.”

Good luck David! We have no doubt you will do great and that this will be great training for your next big adventure! (David is planning to go for the World Record for hiking the Appalachian Trail in June 2014 – you can find more info about that on his website as well).

***

I hope you’ll join us in wishing good luck to all of our Run It Fast Club members and all the others running the Last Annual Vol State 500K. Once again, it starts at 7am Central Time on Thursday, July 11th. We will be posting daily blogs/updates here on Run It Fast so make sure you check back here or follow us on Twitter @runitfast. You can also do a Twitter search on the hashtag #VS500 to see all the tweets about this year’s Last Annual Volstate 500K.

You can also like the Last Annual Vol State 500K Facebook page here: Last Annual Vol State Road Race.

And finally, you can also check on the runners at this link to the Last Annual Volstate 500K Spreadsheet & Map. It will be updated twice a day with each runners position/miles as they head to the finish.

Don’t miss out on the fun! Who knows, maybe next year people will be asking you “You’re going to run how far?” 🙂

[photos courtesy of Joshua Holmes, Naresh Kumar, and Lisa Gonzales]

Posted in Running, THE CLUB, Ultra Marathon, Vol StateComments (0)

General Petraeus and Paula Broadwell Knockin Elbows – First Run Together – Run It Fast

Paula Broadwell’s Run with General Petraeus Started It All

The big scandal involving General David Petraeus and his biographer Paula Broadwell has consumed most of the cable airwaves and news headlines over the past week.  At the heart of the story is the affair that Petraeus and Broadwell shared together.

Broadwell wanted to write her book on Petraeus but she needed access. She heard he was an avid runner and asked the General if she could run with him.  So the two of them met at the Pentagon in D.C. and went off for a run together.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Here is how Paula described it during a speech at the University of Denver back in October:

Our first interview in person was on a run. And I had proposed this because I knew it was a rite of passage for many of his former aids, to kind of get in the inner circle you had to be a runner.

Well I had run in high school, I had run in college, I had been a sponsored triathlete when we lived here in Colorado, so I loved physical fitness, but I didn’t think he knew anything about me in that regard.

So, we went for a run. We started at the Pentagon, and I had my recorder. I thought if I asked him questions that he had to give lengthy answers to, he would be more winded than I was. But he was smarter than I was — he’d say yes or no or he’d just asked a question in return or say “that’s classified, next.”

Anyhow, at some point at about mile three or four, he started to pick up the pace. And I knew this was coming. I call it the “boiling frog approach,” because you don’t know that the water is getting hotter and hotter. In any case I realized what was going on and I decided to shut off the recorder and race him.

And I was told never to beat him.  Keep up with him and you earn… it’s the rite of passage. But don’t beat him because he’s a guy, you’re a girl, and he’s a celebrity, and you’re a soccer mom.

In any case, he started elbowing me and it was over.

Long story short, I did beat him. We got down to six-minute mile pace, and I later found out that he was going through radiation treatment for prostate cancer, so it didn’t really count. But it was a rite of passage and a great sort of rapport builder with him.

It sounds like both Petraeus and Broadwell are in excellent shape if they were going head-to-head putting down a 6-minute/mile pace.  And hats off to Broadwell if she was a sponsored tri-athlete in Colorado.

Who knows exactly when or where their affair actually commenced (reports say 2011 after he left the Army), but I’m sure there was no turning back once he started elbowing her.

Broadwell’s words should become the confirmation quote from now on when one is caught with his or her running shorts down, “He started elbowing me and it was over.”

Knockin’ elbows is the new ‘Knockin’ Boots!’

Posted in Celebrities, RunningComments (0)

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (June 16-17, 2012)

Where Run It Fast Runners Are Running This Weekend (June 16-17, 2012)

New Story

Storified by Joshua Holmes · Fri, Jun 15 2012 10:36:45

Here is a look at where everyone is running this weekend. We had 32 responses this week. Good luck to everyone and Run It Fast!

To join Run It Fast – The Club then click HERE to read more details.

@runitfast I’m running the World Famous Camp Pendleton Mud Run with Team Jaammm!Jeff Courvoisier
@runitfast will be running with a new group, with the view of paddy valleys. a new track with estimated distance around 20-25K :)Natalia Tanyadji
@runitfast I have 18 miles planned for Saturday and 8 for Sunday. Somewhere in SoCal.Lisa Gonzales
@runitfast Old 98 in Destin FL!Nichole
@runitfast Llaundudno 10 this weekend.Andy Huxley
@runitfast Inaugural Canton Marathon….but they are sending out emails offering half option or deferrals….Phil Min
@runitfast 26.2 in Duluth, MN! @GrandmasMaraJaydn B
@runitfast Back to back 13 miles, Saturday and Sunday. Phoenix summer.Robert Boluyt
@runitfast Tahoe Rim Trail 26-mile training run! See awesome photos here: http://www.tahoerunco.com/2012/01/a-tale-of-two-winters/Tahoe Running Girl
@runitfast @GrandmasMara in Duluth MN – rail?nhapp
@runitfast running the Ragnar wasatch back relay tomorrow with 5 runners instead of the customary 12 per team.40 miles apiece, lets rock!Jason Howard
@runitfast I’m running the RC cola moon pie 10 miler in Bell Buckle, TNRunning Franklin
@runitfast Run for the Pies 5k, Jacksonville, FL.E. Smith
@runitfast Gonna try out a 10 mile route I’ve never done beforeJamie Yardley
@runitfast Got myself a place in the inaugural Karrimor @Great_Trail Challenge in Keswick courtesy of @TrailRunningMag – doing the half.Amanda Crozier
@runitfast running 20km in Tampa, Fl. Nothing like a good run in the middle of your vacations.Jorge Angel
@runitfast 3000m Sunday at the Moscow Med. Institute Track Meet 1000m Monday eve at Moscow State U. 5000 was cancelled :-((((Michelle Mitchell
@runitfast philly! 1/2 Sour 1/2 Kraut Marathon.Laura Raeder
@runitfast San Jose Giant Race, San Jose, CA. http://j.mp/NCZZgF (RIF#140)Dennis Arriaga
St. Charles Trail Run 5k.. My 1st Trail Run!!“@runitfast: Where are you running/racing this weekend? Responses will be posted on RIFnicole
@runitfast trail run in bozemanelizabeth v rehmer
@runitfast RC cola and moon pie 10 milermike
@runitfast Big Green Tri in Hanover NH tomorrow, whoop!Michele Lash
@runitfast 10mile road race in Llandudno, North WalesGavin
@runitfast Running in the @RelayColumbus in OHIO!Ann Driscoll
@runitfast ruckus race in marshfield MA woop woop!!!!April feeney
@runitfast racing the Woodminster Trail race, 3rd leg in East Bay Triple Crown. Raced the 2cnd leg after racing Reno-Tahoe Odyssey relayJim Elliott
@runitfast @runitfast @ruckussports tomorrow! my first obstacle race!! #GetOutAndPlayShalini Patel
@runitfast christopher newport university in newport news, virginIaDavon Guerrier
@runitfast tangamanga park 8.6 km runFernando Avila Alvar
@runitfast Just some training runs in the Smoky Mountains and West TN. #runitfastJoshua Holmes

Posted in RunningComments (0)

Worst Things We’ve Witnessed Runners Do During Races

Worst Things We’ve Witnessed Runners Do During Races

We asked you via Run It Fast’s Twitter (@runitfast)for examples of some of the worst things you’ve witnessed other runners do during races and many of you replied.

The list of things ranged from cutting courses to numerous mentions of runners leaving bodily fluids and excrements along the course, in front of you, or too close for comfort.

Take a look below and see if you agree or have an experience that can top these:

Worst Things You’ve Seen Other Runners Do During Races

Storified by Joshua Holmes · Wed, Jun 06 2012 13:31:06

@runitfast I ran the Disney marathon and a lady crapped her pants- she tied her shirt around her waist and it seeped through that too #grossKonstantine
@runitfast A guy peed right in front of me in a race. Didn’t even move off trail/go behind a tree, just whipped it out. #didntneedtoseethatLisa Gonzales
“@runitfast: What is the worst thing you’ve ever seen another runner do during a race? Responses will be used in a RIF post.” losePedrosRevenge
@runitfast cut flags!!!! <<<ashley
@runitfast during a hot half a runner .25 miles in front of me collapsed. no one stopped, I did. We were pacing a 1:55 so not a winning paceKimberley Hill
“@runitfast: What is the worst thing you’ve ever seen another runner do during a race? Responses will be used in a RIF post.” Quit.MIA
@runitfast take short cut!!!!!elizabeth v rehmer
@runitfast Spitting in the wind while I’m running behind them. Gross!Tanjie K
@runitfast watched a guy cut through a neighborhoodand come out in front of race officials. He didn’t win.Rich Thibault
@runitfast A woman pull down her shorts and do #2 in a parking lot in a marathon…Phil Min
@runitfast Farmer’s blow RIGHT in front of me on a very windy Ambassador Bridge from Detroit to Canada, 2011 Detroit Marathon. Really?Lisa Edwards
@runitfast ran by a guy in INGMiami who was talkin on his phone.. I mean really??Jason Orlinsky
@runitfast Bi-lateral leg cramp. He stopped, straightened up, staggered a bit, and fell right on his butt. That’s all I got.Brooks Gatlin
@runitfast I saw a pace leader just whip it out and pee all over himself… I’ve heard similar stories about dropping deuces as well. YikesE.B.
@runitfast Take a shortcut(in more than one race) then try and cut me off in the finish chute. Caught on video at the finish. Witch with a BMichelle Mitchell
@runitfast blow their noise on the ground….disgusting…Julie Armat -Bowles
@runitfast Throwing a half full cup of water behind him, hitting me in the face. WAIT – that felt pretty good!Tanjie K
@runitfast poop on the trail!Life as a Convert
@runitfast I once was spit on during a race. It was an accident but the dude deserved to be passed and beat by a girl!Melanie Hebert
@runitfast Worst? At Hot Chocolate 15K, Nov 2010, lady couldn’t wait for port-a-potty! Dropped it right out it the open! What? No bush?! :)Dianna Seda
Pee by the roadside. In full view of everybody @runitfast worst thing you’ve seen a fellow runner do during a race?Aleah Phils
@runitfast Seeing @Samuel_Pogue poop his pants during the mile of an indoor track raceRyan Arthur

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