the last annual Vol-State Road Race Press Release

the last annual Vol-State Road Race

Missouri to Georgia 500 kilometers (314 miles)

Megamarathon to Pass Thru "Your Town"

Drivers in Tennessee may see some strange characters walking and running alongside the road between July 12 and July 22. While sensible people will be heeding the weatherman’s advice to avoid exercise during the heat of the day, thirty runners from across the country are set to participate in the 32nd “last annual” Vol-State Road Race. The Vol-State, a 500 km (314 mile) footrace, beginning in Dorena Landing, Missouri and finishing at Castle Rock, Georgia, is one of the oldest races of its kind in the world, as well as one of the longest.

The runners will be divided between two divisions; Aided runners will have a crew and vehicle along to provide fluids and food, while the Unaided runners will rely on what they can purchase or carry along the route. The majority of this year’s field will be in the Unaided division. The ultimate, overall winner will carry the coveted title “King of the Road” for the next 12 months. Reigning “King of the Road”, 73 year old Don Winkley out of Corpus Christi, Texas will not be defending his crown, as he will be competing in a footrace across France that takes place at the same time.

The course record is held by Dewayne Satterfield, a mathematician at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, who completed the course in 2009 in a time of 3 days 17 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds. While Dewayne has not entered at this time, rumors persist that he will be there when the runners board the ferry, to make an attempt on the unaided record held by Dan Fox out of Seattle, Washington. The “Feral Fox” completed the course unaided in a time of 5 days 12 hours 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Fox is entered in the 2012 race.

While some of the runners will be competing for records and championships, others will be in the race as a personal challenge. The time limit for the event is 10 days, and runners will be entering Georgia up until time expires, as everyday people seek to achieve the seemingly impossible distance in Tennessee’s July heat.

The Vol-State is renowned among mega-marathoners for the famous hospitality of Tennesseans. Every runner returns home with stories of the kindnesses shown to them as they struggle thru the Tennessee summer heat. While the runners are thrilled just to receive words of encouragement, they have been offered everything from ice-water and sandwiches, to a bed and a shower. The challenge and the scenery is what brought the race to Tennessee. But, it is the Tennesseans themselves that keep the runners coming back.

the race can be followed on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/volstaterun

a course map, with runner locations marked with “stickpins” will be available during the race at: http://www.tinyurl.com/VolState2012

Landmarks on the course, and their distance:

Dorena Landing, MO ferry landing 0 miles
Hickman, KY old downtown district 2 miles
Union City, TN old downtown district 18 miles
Martin, TN old downtown district 31 miles
Dresden, TN square 40 miles
Gleason, TN high school 48 miles
McKenzie, TN square 56 miles
Huntingdon, TN square 67 miles
Lexington, TN square 92 miles
Parsons, TN downtown 107 miles
Linden, TN square 125 miles
Hohenwald, TN square 144 miles
Hampshire, TN downtown 162 miles
Columbia, TN square 177 miles
Culleoka, TN downtown 188 miles
Lewisburg, TN square 201 miles
Shelbyville, TN square 223 miles
War Trace, TN downtown 233 miles
Manchester, TN square 249 miles
Pelham, TN downtown 266 miles
Monteagle, TN downtown 274 miles
Tracy City, TN downtown 280 miles
Jasper, TN downtown 296 miles
South Pittsburg, TN Tn River Bridge 303 miles
Castle Rock, GA scenic overlook 314 miles

the Entrants:

Juli Aistars, Illinois
Rita Barnes, Ohio
Sal Coll , Georgia
Dan Fox, Washington
Dusty Hardman, Florida
Sherry Meador, Alabama
Abi Meadows, Georgia
Mike Melton, Florida
Joe Ninke, Florida
John Price, Virginia
Sulaiman Seriki, Tennessee
Jan Silverman, Illinois
Charlie Taylor, Tennessee
Diane Taylor, Tennessee
Psyche Wimberly, Georgia
Shannon Burke, Indiana
Jay Dobrowalski, California
Ray Krolewicz, South Carolina
Paul Lefelhocz, Ohio
Marvin Skagerberg, Texas
Richard Westbrook, Georgia
Mike Montgomery, Tennessee
Mike O'Melia, Alabama
Billy Ray Richardson, Tennessee
Shirley Smith, Alabama
Chris White, Tennessee
 Erika Matheney, Texas

Thomas Mikkelsen, Ohio
Lynn Turner, Oklahoma
Joshua Holmes, Tennessee

Ready or not, July 12th is approaching and I will attempt the Last Annual Vol State Road Race

I haven't been updating this blog like I should have been.  Sorry.  I am so full of anxiety about this upcoming race that if I start writing I get shaky and nervous.  Oh, I'm even sweating right now despite air conditioning.

I'm so honored to be running to raise money for Adrenal Insufficiency United!  AIU's main focus is to get emergency care protocols and medications for the treatment of adrenal crisis on all emergency care vehicles nationwide. 

The proceeds earned by this run will benefit Adrenal Insufficiency United members to attend the IAFC Fire-Rescue International Conference in Denver, Colorado, August 1-4, 2012, where over 10,000 EMS personnel will be attending. (Any extra funds earned will go towards other AI awareness conferences).  AUI will help educate emergency responders about what to do during an adrenal crisis.  This issue is near and dear to my heart, I've written about it multiple times over the last five years I've been writing this blog.

If you're interested in donating to AIU's IAFC Fire-Rescue International Conference, you can right here

My training is basically done.  I'm mostly packed for my Sunday departure.  My backpack for the race is generally packed as well.  I keep taking things out of it so it's not too heavy.  I can guarantee you that I'm carrying about 3/4 of a pound in medicines and supplements (salt, HC, T4, T3, DHEA and my injection kit, directions and medical info).  Sometimes Addison's is a pain in the backpack.

Questions are rolling in about where race info will be posted.  Here are the answers:

• Info specific to me and my whining can be found right here
• FaceBook
• Dusty Hardman (my blog posts will be updated here)
• Last Annual Vol State Road Race
• Twitter
•  #vs500
• @notfastsoigofar

That's it for today folks!  More tomorrow!