dont even try to guess what’s coming next!
.
the morning heated up just like what the forecast said,
dropping 4 more hopefuls
bringing the number of fallen to 21,
and leaving 115 of the original 136 to continue the long trek to the rock.
.
it was looking like the afternoon would turn into a bloodbath,
when the sky darkened with clouds
and yet another round of violent thunderstorms swept in before runners could take refuge,
or road angels could secure their tents.
.
this has been the year of unpredictable weather,
as the forecasts have not been reliable even an hour out.
.
but we have learned one thing;
no matter how violent the rainstorm,
it beats the pure heat.
it is the heat that decimates the field.
furious storms just knock them around a bit!
.
oprah is, of course, unfazed by the weather
moving the exact same speed around the clock
and without regard to the weather.
.
but she has taken down most of her victims in the heat.
.
i see the question pop up,
as it always does;
“what or who is oprah?”
.
oprah represents the real world.
she walks the course,
in stiletto heels
at the exact pace of the cutoffs….
.
and if she catches you,
that is where you must return.
.
to the comfort zone,
the world that is long on safety
and short on adventure.
.
oprah is not only relentless
she is insatiable.
she gobbled up the ones that were struggling yesterday
and today she goes into the night with 4 more in her crosshairs.
jason vore
adam pallett
janet miller
ed masuoka
all of them are but a single mile ahead.
the sound of oprah’s heels clicking and clacking on the pavement
will echo out of the darkness behind them all night tonight.
they are in their own horror movie.
can they stay ahead?
can they survive to see another sunrise?
.
addison hendricks is not hearing the heels of oprah.
he is not hearing any footsteps at all.
last night he had a small lead.
but he extended it in the heat
then he extended it more in the rain.
going into the last half of day 3 he has a 14 mile lead.
by morning he should be in the vicinity of shelbyville,
where the contenders start planning their final push.
kyle malone is the closest to him,
but he will have to muster a big effort just to get close enough to mount a challenge.
and he might already have enough to worry about;
michelle leduc is only 5 miles back,
and she can be very competitive….
.
plus she has motivation enough with adam walker suddenly getting very close behind her.
adam is the fastest moving athlete in the race right now,
excepting addison.
.
and so,
while we all sleep
115 exhausted runners will battle fatigue,
the elements,
each other,
.
and oprah.
.
nothing will be decided tonight
except failure.
neither a win nor a finish can be secured.
but a moment of weakness could steal either one.
Categories: Vol State 2026