9 day update!

vole stare toad race9 day update.this is a different race today.over the days we have morphed from the competitive runners trying to winuntil we have today the last 14 runnersjust trying to reach the rock before the clock runs out..strategy is no less important.if the resources are less,the importance of maximizing them is at least equal..and managing your body over an event lasting 10 daysis a whole lot harder than managing it for three..we have Read more

8.5 day update

vole stare toad race 8.5 day update . the race is entering the final stages. only 26 runners are still on the course 62 have finished 26 have dropped along the way. everyone remaining is planning their final assault on the rock. . the staff is nearing the end. as much as the runners we are counting down hours and trying to marshal our dwindling resources to make it to the end.the tail end of Read more

day 8 update (part 2)

vole stare toad raceday 8 update (part 2).more mathbroke this update in half.the laptop is struggling,and remaining charge is unknown.i only hope there is enough left to finish the job this 12 hours.we will worry about the next update when the time comes..the math at base camp is not much better.it has been 100 hours since we came up here to man the finish line.during that time we have seen 7 rain events,including 3 major Read more

8 day update

vole stare toad race8 day update.everything can be stated in numbers.day 7.5 update did not happen.during that time period we were hit by rain events 6 and 7 since we came up here monday at 0200 for the first finisher.3 of those were full blown stormsand the day 7.5 storm was a doozy.incredibly the mortally wounded big tent still stands.but everything is wet.there was not enough of a dry place to get out the laptop Read more

7 day update…

vole stare toad race 7 day update… . schuyler stuart found out what is over the next hill; “usually more hills” . yes, they have been living like stray dogs for a week now. some of them probably do not remember having things like a home and a job. . last night was a strange one. 90 degrees at midnight. as it was gradually approaching morning twilight the sky to the north was a fireworks Read more

6.5 day update

vole stare toad race6.5 day update!.the first half of the 7th day the real vol state came to visit.the 63 runners remaining in the race found themselves running right thru the gates of hell..the humidity from yesterday’s rains hung in the air in a heavy haze,and the sun hovered over them like a malevolent spirit..for the first time we saw “real” vol state weather.those up on the cumberland plateau got off light.the heat index was Read more

6 day update

vole stare toad race 6 day update. . the race has entered a new phase now. the winners have been decided. the sub 6 runners are all in. . but dont think for a minute that there is any less desperation in the hearts of the runners still marching relentlessly towards the rock. the battles may be more personal but today we have the runners battling to finish in less than a week inching their Read more

5.5 day update

vole stare toad race5.5 day update.i cant believe it is night again.the parade has started.i am loving these new trackershaving some idea where the runners are between here and the valley inn is incredible,the 10 miles from the blue bridge to the rockcan take anything from 2 hourst0 12 hours..with runners picking up trackers and starting the home stretch at a an average rate of one an hourwe need to know whenever there is a Read more