vol stare toad race2.5 days.runners are hearing this from the locals all along the route;“just be glad you werent here last week.”“what?”.yes, it is true.last week was hot.this week it is only toying around 100.last week was really hot!even today the runners’ luck held.the temperature in kimball (at the 300 mile mark) came up just short of 110.but the leaders were still 100 miles awayenjoying temperatures 10 degrees cooler!see, 100 isnt so bad after all..at Read more
vol stare toad race48 hours!.a lonely figure moves beside the road.at firstfrom a distanceit might be a mailbox..but as we get closer it grows into a lonely figuremoving.we have seen them for hours now,they have been scattered along the last 130 miles of road.each differenteach the same.some runningmost walkingsome move forward with an efficient rhythmeating the groundsome limp alongmany seem to walk delicatelymincing steps with feet that do not want to touch the ground.but onwardever Read more
vol stare toad race36 hours update;.john wright solidified his hold on first place during the day today..piecing together sightings and check ins,we think both he and johan took a break for sleep at some point.what we know for sure is that he extended his lead to 15 miles:150 to 135….after a day and a half on the road,even john is not quite halfway.there is a lot of race left to be run….but i would still Read more
vol stare toad race:24 hour update!.while we slept a form began to take shape in the shadows of night.the form of a race….as spectators we knew so little about the runners as they came off the ferry yesterday.john wright…. was he real,or was he memorex?.by the 12 hour checkin we knew he had one part of the required skillset.he could lay down miles in the heat.while the day fell short of the 100 degree high Read more
vol stare toad race;.12 hours update:it is easy to forget that there is a race at the front.there is a different breed of humansfor whom running 314 miles is not in and of itself the achievement of a lifetime.they come to race…it takes a few miles for things to sort themselves out at the front.when the smoke settled,it was oregonian john wright in the lead.he was past mckenzie and well on the way to huntingdon Read more
way off center!.the actual count turned out to be 113.a lot of them huffing and puffing as they climbed the 134 steps(someone counted)up to the beautiful fulton county courthouse..the mood on the ferry was so lighthearted and happy.at last the months of waiting were over.finally battle had been joined.the morning was coolthe wind in their faces felt so good.and everyone had a plan….at least until the courthouse steps gave them the first punch in the Read more
When there were 3 of us starting the race back in 2005, we joked about how one day the ferry would be full… Now all the cool kids are here. We’ve improved the course to include the Fulton County courthouse and historic steps. Between huffs and puffs, the reviews were glowing. Someone even said, “now he’s gone too far!” – in the laz playbook that’s the highest form of praise.
vol state update t-8 hours… . the training is done. the interminable bus ride endured. the last supper has been eaten. and now 114 runners try to get that one last painless sleep. . if they can only take their minds off just how far away they parked this morning. and the predicted 100 degree day waiting for them tomorrow. . if they can only calm the nerves. some lie awake because they have been Read more