what a relief it had to be when we finally set the hotsers out beside the road, and they could begin the long trek to the rock. . the excitement of the 400 crowd was palpable as they clambered up the grassy knoll and started across the bill emerson bridge over the miss’ippi. and it was a pretty grand sight, as they began stringing out even as we drove past them to ferry the 350 Read more
twas the night before bus ride and all thru the motel not a runner was sleeping all preparing for hell. the backpacks they filled up with exquisite care in hopes that the things they need all would be there. the runners were tossing restless in their beds while visions of slim jims danced in their heads. and jan in the meatwagon and i in my car. were hoping the quitters would not be too far.
jameela struggled at the gate before going around the right side….and then continuing to the right towards the cliffs on the other side of castle rock.carl ran her down and stopped her before she reached themand she returned to the gatewhere she is now lying on the ground.,shenoa caught mauricio after the top of sand mountain and they are now together..jameelah is 1.3 miles from the finishshenoa and mauricio around 3 miles…..dont know if any Read more
there is no more insane time than the last night of the vol state.we are down to 3 runners now:jameelah mujaahid:after seeing her on the tracker going back and forth trying to find the turn onto castle rock roadwe drove out and pointed out the turn.she is now on castle rock road..if she can find her way past the gate,which has become progressively more difficult for each finishershe should finish..mauricio sanchez:under 4 miles from the Read more
all day the runners have been arriving at the rock.so many happy facesso many personal victories….so many reasons that people choose to face the vol state.it is impossible not to feel renewed by the joy at the finish lineas each runner comes intakes their seat on the thrownand tells their stories.there is laughterthere are tears.chapters are added to the decades of vol state history.and new members initiated into the family of 314..there is a little Read more
24 hours to go.after 9 days on the roadit has come down to this…..24 people have 24 hours to reach the rock.with battered feet and bleary eyes they face one last dawn..this final band of vol staters;spread out from sand mountain to tracy city;they trudge onward..they have been winnowed down by the constant struggle to stay ahead of oprah.only the toughest remain..the ones starting the hardest 14 miles this morning are in excellent position to Read more
i apologize for the lateness of this update.with rain falling at the finish areai chose to leave my electronics safely in the car..we now have 57 finishers in,and 24 runners still on course..with 36 (now 31) hours to goand off and on cold rain no one has left the clarion since it got dark.runners on the approach have little choice but to keep pushing towards the clarionit is too cold for sleeping outside!.this is a Read more
the longest day;.48 hours remain for the 37 surviving vol staters to reach the rock.(less by the time this is posted)8 are out on the longest 14 miles.the last two are dancing with oprah back in manchester..while their recorded times may differ on the resultsall the vol staters finish in the same time actual time.the vol state takes one long day..from the time the runners step off the ferrythe race is running.everything revolves around,and is Read more