Most race participants write a race report when they finish a race. I'm going to change that a bit and just write a list of funny, amusing, and sometimes just plain puzzling encounters/conversations while driving the course, checking on racers during this year's race. I'm going to leave out the names of the people in question just in case they might not want their name associated with a particular encounter.
As an introduction, for those not familiar with the Vol St Road Race, and my role as it has come to be...
"The Last Annual Vol St Road Race" (it's Official name), is a 314mi foot race, usually held starting the 2nd Thursday in July, with a 10 day cut off to make the 314mi. I completed the race in 2013 with a time of 9 days, 10 hrs, 11 mins, 42 secs. The following year, I volunteered to drive the course during the race, helping pick up and shuttle any participants who drop out, hopefully making it a little easier for the Race Director and his assistant to cover the entire course once the participants get so spread out.
As it turned out, my help was greatly appreciated and again this year I volunteered to do the same thing.
Since I have actually done the race, I have a unique perspective when I drive along the route checking on and offering encouragement to the runners. I know exactly how they are feeling at any given time because I have been there (sometimes in the exact place where I find them). They seem to understand my ability to have "been there, done that", so they tend to at least try to listen when I try to impart some wisdom or encouragement along the way when they most need it.
Even though I have passed every single mile that they have, I am still humbled, inspired and amazed at what I witness out there on the road. I will admit sometimes I am also disappointed when I know, without a shadow of a doubt, a person can continue but chooses not to. I always try my best to discourage people from dropping. Sometimes I win, most times I lose. However, I can say 100% of everyone I've been able to talk into not quitting, has come to me after they finish and thanked me for convincing them to stick it out. That makes me very happy!
So the following is some of the conversations/situations I had with this years field of participants:
Me: Hey, how's it going?
Runnner: Fine
Me: Where's your shoes? (runner is running the down hill into Jasper in socks only)
Runner: My feet were sliding out of my shoes so I just took them off. The socks feel better.
Me: Ok, well it's 3 miles down this hill ya know?
Runner: Yes, I know. I hope these socks will make it!
It's about 3am and I find a runner wobbling down the Jasper Hill...
Me: How are you doing?
Runner: Not so good. I need sleep and I'm weaving. I already fell in the ditch. (he's in a section of that 3 miles where there's no place to sit, even if he wanted to)
Me: Well, you're about 3/4 mi from a church. You can rest there.
Runner: A church? Really? Do you think I can find it?
Me: Yes, you'll walk right by it.
Runner: Are you sure I can find it?
Me: Yes. It is there. You will see it.
Runner: Oh I hope so. I'm so tired. I keep falling in the ditch.
(Later the runner in question came up to me and told me he did find the church and one fo the doors was open. He went in and slept 4 "glorious" hours on the floor)
Another encounter with a runner coming down the same hill...
Me" How's it going?
Runner: Not too well. (he's physically leaning way over to the left)
Me: Have you had any sleep?
Runner: I've tried but I can't sleep. Every time I stop I can't fall asleep.
Me: Well, there is a Fire Station not too far up the road. You need to stop there and take a rest.
Runner: I don't know. I cant seem to stop falling in the ditch. I keep falling over.
Me: Well, try to get to that Fire Station and rest.
Runner: I just can't keep from falling in the ditch. The road is tilted.
Me: You're leaning. You need some rest.
Runner: I just don't know, I can't keep the road from tilting.
Me: Just get to the Fire Station Ok?
Runner: I think... uh... I keep... uh, ok. I'll try.
I saw the runner later the day after he had finished. He said no wonder he was falling in the ditch. He looked in the mirror when he got back to the motel and he was leaning way over to the left (Duh, when I was talking to him on the road, he had no idea he was leaning at all!)
I spot a couple of runners coming up the hill out of Columbia, nearly to the turn to Lewisburg late at night...
Me: How y'all doing
Runner(s): Uh, ok. The hotel is about 5 miles right?
Me: No. It's right up there about 1/4 mi. You can see the sign from here.
Runner(s): Oh, Ok. But it's only about 5 mi right?
Me: No, it's right up there. See the sign?
Runner(s): Yeah, the sign. It's 5 miles, right?
Me: No. It's right there. (I point to the sign)
Runner(s): Oh. Ok. Do you think we can find the hotel?
Me: Just keep walking. You'll find it.
I get a text at 12:35am from Carl...
Carl: (runner) says he's quitting. Says he has bad shin splints and can't move another step. Where are you?
Me: I'm in Manchester
Carl: He's about 6 miles out of Lewisburg (a 40 mi trip back on the course)
Me: Well I can go get him but he'll have to wait till tomorrow for me to take him back to his car.
Carl: He says he's ok and can stay where he is till in the morning.
Me: Ok, I'll go get him first thing in the morning.
I purposely took my time getting to him the next morning, hoping the extra time would give him more rest and he's change his mind about quitting.
I drive up to where he has spent the night on the ground under a pavilion...
Me: Are you sure you want to quit? You look like you are doing fine to me?
Runner: Ya know, I don't feel too bad. I can walk pretty well now. I think I'll go on.
Me: Great! See you down the road!
Yes, he finished.
On road from Linden to Hohenwald:
Me: What happened to your arm?
Runner: A car hit me.
Me: What?!?!
Runner: Yeah, a car hit me and another runner.
Me: Did they stop?
Runner: F***k no!
Me: Are you OK?
Runner: Yes, I'm fine. Just a little bruised.
Me: OK. keep moving.
Runner: We will!
On the road between Parsons and the Pine Tree Inn:
Me: How's it going?
Runner: My feet are trashed.
Me: Well there's a motel about a mile up the road. Maybe you can rest there and fix your feet.
Runner: Oh that's sounds wonderful. But I've lost my running partner.
Me: Where did he go?
Runner: He said he was going in there to get some water but he hasn't come out. I guess I need to go in and see what he's doing.
Me: Ok, well just up the road is the motel. See ya.
Later I found out the lost partner had gone into the "Why Not" bar and was sitting in there having a beer unbeknownst to his buddy.
Driving up to the rock, I see a runner passing the Sonic in So. Pittsburgh...
Me: Don't forget to text Carl when you get to the big blue bridge.
Runner: Where is the big blue bridge?
Me: Right there in front of you.
Runner: Ok. Do you think I can find it?
Me: Yes, It's right in front of you.
Runner: I don't see it.
Me: Walk 100 steps and then text Carl
Runner: Ok. I think I can do that. Is that where the bridge is?
Me: Close enough.
Same runner a little later...
Runner: I took 132 all the way to the end. Missed the turn.
Me: Go into Castle Rock through the trees down the long driveway, then 1/4mi down you'll see a red arrow pointing to the left up into the field and follow the arrows.
Runner: Is it marked. Does it have a name?
Me: Is what marked?
Runner: I'm gonna wait till sun up (It's 1am and he's at the Castle Rock Gate, but can't figure out he's supposed to continue walking through the gate)
Me: Do you see a rock wall and a long line of trees along the driveway?
Runner: All I see is trees and a ditch. I saw cars coming from here but I don't know where they came from.
Me: Carl is coming to show you. Wait where you are so he can see you.
Carl goes out Castle Rock road and finds the runner had gone to the Ranch gate, thought that was the finish line and nobody was there. So he turned around and was headed back down the mountain to wait for the sun to come up to go back up the mountain to find the finish line in the day light.
Carl found him 1.5 miles back down the road from the gate.
This was told to me by one of the crew's...
Runner: (frantically) Where's my socks? I can't find my socks!
Crew: Ok, I'll help you look for them.
They look all over. Go back into the rest room where the runner had been, look all around the car. Nothing.
Crew: I can't find them either. Where did you have them last?
Runner: (exasperated) I just don't know!
Crew person looks down at runner's feet. Her socks are on her feet.
Somewhere between Wartrace and Manchester...
Me: How's it going?
Runner: Not so well.
Me: What's wrong?
Runner: My feet keep coming out of my shoes. (he has cut his shoes open at the toes)
Me: Maybe you need to tape them up a bit.
Runner: I don't have any tape.
Me: You can buy some at the store not too far up the road.
Runner: Oh Really? That would be great. There's a store up ahead?
Me: Yes. Not too far.
Runner: Thanks you soo much!
Me: No problem
I see a runner hobbling down the road in Culleoka...
Me: How you doin'?
Runner: I just literally had a come to Jesus back there in that church.
Me: Really? And what did he say?
Runner: Keep moving. You can do this.
Me: Road Angels are everywhere aren't they?
Runner: They sure are!
At the first convenience store coming into Columbia...
Me: (seeing a runner looking a bit confused) Are you OK?
Runner: Yes, I think so. I think I ran too much back there. I've been walking around this car wash for about an hour trying to figure out a place to rest.
On the road from Hillsboro to Pelham...
Me: How you doin'?
Runner: You always catch me at my worst times.
Me: What's wrong?
Runner: I tried to check into a motel back there. When I got to the room, the tub was full of some sort of green slime. I went back to the front desk and no one would let me in. I left my hat in there. I just left without a shower or rest then I fell again.
Me: Well, I don't know what to tell you on that one. Keep going maybe?
Runner: Yeah, that's about it
Outside a store in McKenzie...
Runner: I don't need all this stuff. Can I drop it off with you?
Me: Yes, but you can't get it back till the end of the race.
Runner: That's OK. I don't need any of it.
Then he proceeds to hand me his entire pack, water bladder and all.
Me: Are you sure you want to give me all this? You won't be able to get it till you finish.
Runner: Yes, take it. I have all I need right here.
He then points to a belt around his waist where he has 2 liquor bottles filled with water tucked, then takes an extra pair of shoes and ties them around his belt. And that's what he had, minus one pair of shoes, when he got to the finish!
At the bottom of the Jasper Hill...
Runner: I was so tired, I crossed the road and went over the guardrail. I didn't care if there was poison ivy, or snakes or chiggers, or even if I slid off down the embankment. I had to have some rest!
Well, that's all I can remember right now. Meat Wagon Drivers have withdrawals too. I came home and have slept 18hrs straight through.
Looking forward to the next Last Annual Vol State Road Race. I'm sure there will be just as many stories to tell for that one too!
