Vol State 2018 – 36 hour update – from regular to extra crispy

The first rays of sun that hit you on day 2 at volstate are a right of passage. Not a single runner experiences it and thinks, “oh, thank goodness, finally the sun is back!” The actual reaction is generally to recoil violently, and search the horizon for any merciful promise of shade trees or clouds. No one had an easy day today, as the cloudless Tennessee skies tormented the runners with heat from above, and Read more…

nebraska is adventureland

july 13 day 65 23 miles total 1,703 nebraska has not wasted any time revealing the new adventures waiting for me. 23 miles really does not do my day justice. after fighting thru a dust storm that threatened to blow me off the road i spent most of the night playing hopscotch with electrical storms that put on quite a show all around me. ginger drove behind me with flashers on, so i could hop Read more…

Vol State 2018 – 24 hour update – after a day on the road

All along the road last night, the runners marched alone, in couples, and in packs. The impact of the town aid stations was apparent again this morning. At 24 hours the count was 10 runners at the Farmers Market in Dresden 16 runners in the Fire Station in Gleason, and 13 runners at the market in McKenzie. There is just something about the hospitality of these fine rural Tennesseans. Even the Canadian runners are saying, Read more…

what will happen today?

i am holed up in the crew car with poor ginger. she was following me down the right shoulder because we knew thunderstorms were on the way. lightning was flashing all around some big bolts were hitting the ground. took a hiatus to squeeze in more steps between cells. it has been a wild ride so far tonight. at one point (while walking past a hog confinement operation) heavy winds blasted thru, smothering me in Read more…

Vol State 2018 – 12 hour update – we are under way

First, 114 is the correct number of starters. The 115 reported earlier included someone accidentally counted twice. The big story of the day, aside from the record number of starters, is that the people of Northwest Tennessee are getting to really LOVE the volstate. I am a little worried that Walmart may be completely out of pop-up tents, coolers, and those folding chairs….because it seems every front yard on the course is adorned with a Read more…

more or loess

july 12 day 64 25 miles total 1,680 it boggles the mind to think that all these big hills are just made of windblown silt! i have been running up and down the loess hills for 3 days! except for a few hours crossing the missouri river basin. it is the glaciers again. after the ice dam broke on the giant glacial lake it left an enormous amount of silt which dried and blew down Read more…