THE LAST ANNUAL VOL STATE ROAD RACE 314 Miles

8Dorena Landing, MO to Castle Rock, GA

Ordinary People Can Achieve Extraordinary Things

 

 

 

Twice daily tracking will be maintained, and runners wishing to drop will be transported back to their vehicles. Finishers will be shuttled with their vehicles to motels near the finish for a safe sleep before getting behind the wheel. There is no greater freedom than being totally alone on the open road, relying only on your wits, your skill, and your physical ability to cover ground in order to reach the finish line.
Come experience it for yourself.
Jul 8 – Jul 18, 2021
Laz's Daily UpdatesDaily Tracker

The Vol-State is not just another ultramarathon. It is much more than that. The Vol-State is a journey, an adventure, and an exploration of inner space. It begins with a ferry ride across the Mississippi River, from Missouri to Kentucky, and finishes at “the Rock,” high atop Sand Mountain in Northeast Georgia. What lies in between are 314 miles of the great unknown. From the time the Vol-Stater steps off the Ferry until they reach the Rock, they are totally reliant upon their own physical and mental resources. For the next four to ten days, in the face of the heat and humidity of July in Tennessee, the Vol-Stater must make their way on foot, along highways and backroads, from one small town to the next, over hills and across rivers, up mountains and down long valleys, all the while accounting for all of their most basic needs; “what will I eat?” “When will I find water?” Where will I sleep?”

Success is not guaranteed. There are no aid stations, teeming with volunteers waiting to tend to your every need and encourage you to continue. There are just miles and miles of empty road. Your friends can follow your progress from afar, but no pacers can carry your burden for you. If you do encounter another runner, theirs is the same desperate plight as your own. You will have doubts. Finishing will often seem an unfathomable dream. Your worst enemy may become the knowledge that an air-conditioned ride to your car at the finish (in the dreaded seat of disgrace”) is but a phone call away.

Many will fail. But, for those who find the steely will and muster the sheer dogged tenacity to overcome the impossible obstacles, and reach the rock on foot, the Vol-State can be a transcendental experience. No words can adequately describe the sense of combined relief and amazement to be experienced at the Rock. No one can explain the regret that this incredible journey has actually come to an end. Former King, Barry Crumrine probably summed up the Vol-State experience as well as it can be put into words;

“I found in myself something that I never knew was there.”

Tracking

The race is underway. It was a festive group of 106

 

Laz’s updates

i cant believe we got to sleep last night.

i cant believe we got to sleep last night. 0430 to 0730 what a blessing to get a normal night sleep at the normal time!!! . it was raining when i got up, but there is a bright sunny sky as the first...

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all is quiet up here on the rock

it seems to be coming up on 0200 and all is quiet up here on the rock. we have some finishers being toted down to the super 8 to wash their battered bodies and get some serious sleep (the first in...

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only the strong will survive

another day on the road. it was last thursday morning that 106 people came streaming off that ferry. laughing, joking, full of big dreams and grand plans. . 26 of them have seen their dreams come to...

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late update this morning.

late update this morning. we were up at the rock at check-in time as the flori arrived just before the 4 day mark, and bev came in just after. . it was entertaining with bob also on hand for the...

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Debrief with King Bob

we got to debrief with king bob over supper tonight. truly amazing stuff. the ability to rework plans on the fly, while maintaining that incredible pace. hell, the ability to run an *extra* 25 miles...

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King Bob 3:04:09:10

Congratulations to Bob Hearn on crushing both the crewed and screwed course records! King Bob 3:04:09:10 “i just want...

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THIS.IS.INCREDIBLE

i am afraid there is not much time to post anything this morning. overnight the metronome just kept on keeping on… . he reached the three day check-in with a 7 mile lead on the OVERALL record...

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LAVS 2021 Course