The Tennesse Floods of 2010 kept me stranded in heaven

I was going to post some pics of the flood but this video gives you a much better idea of what happened while I was there.   I was trapped there with my friend and the wonderful family I mentioned earlier.  There was no way we could get to the airport because EVERY road there was flooded and closed.  Luckily we got to hang out with Mike and Lisa who took such good care of us it was unbelievable.  It literally was like heaven for me.  Biscuits and gravy, pizza, relaxation, more pizza, snacks galore, and the warm welcome of a loving christina family who knew how to give and love like Jesus.  Thanks guys.  You were so good to us. 

Check out this video everyone.  I really shows well what happened and is still happening there.

I got to sleep in one of the coolest rooms ever in the whole wide world. I only got one pic of it but it is a cool pic at that. It was at the family’s home that I stayed at. It was one of the daughters rooms. There was the greatest paintings on the walls and I took a pic of this cool mouse.

This mouse was on the wall only three inches from my face while I was in bed. I had to take a pic of it cuz i loved it

Coming to the finish line for the third time. Strolling Jim 40 miler 2010 final race report post. Real men wear pink.

This pic was take in the flats after the monumental "WALLS" on the course. After about 35 miles things flatten out "a little" so that I was able to pick up the pace to beat that guy I told you about. LOL

 In this particular race, it is a mighty fine feeling to finally make it to the 35 mile point because you know that there are no more HUGE hills to do.  After the major undertaking of the WALLS (a section of the course that has very steep hills followed by very steep down hills.  This goes on for a mile or two), I figured since I was feeling really good that I should pick up the pace.  I was running nice and easy up to this point chatting away with everyone I could.  I started running around 10 minute miles until I reached the 5k more point.  Then I turned it up to sub 9 min miles to the finish.  I love it because I get to pass all the people who started the race at sub 9 min miles. lol.  Starting slow is a wise thing to do most of the  time in these runs.

Running down a small decline in a pretty sun exposed section of the course nearing the end of my journey.

I was thankful for the cloudy weather during the race.  It did storm like crazy and pour down rain for about an hour or less at one point.  But for the most part the clouds blocked the sun so towards the end of the course where things are very hot and exposed it was not so bad.  I did get very hot though after I picked up the pace to 8 min miles or so.  My face was red and I was getting dehydrated since I traded off water for coke for the last three miles.  It was worth the wonderful coca cola rush though.

This is a minimalist race. Every two miles there are water jugs just like these for the runners use. This year they did have 4 minimalist aid stations though which I did not really use. I stopped at one for water, they did not have any, so the mom of the station told her kid to run inside the house and fill up my water bottle. HAHAHAHA. That is why I love this race. He did it and I took off again.

 The above water jugs were my close friend when I felt hot.  I would pour some in my mouth and pour ALOT on my head.  These jugs are located at the last turn of the course.  At his point there is two miles left to the finish line.  I poured water on my head and booked it fast to wartrace to get my finishers medal. 

Here I am just about to dance a jig at the finish line. 11:47 average pace I think. My slowest Strolling Jim but a monumental one for sure.

 The guy behind me was such a great sport.  At the 5k to go point I heard a guy yell, “HEY WASHINGTON!!!!!!!! WAIT UP!!!!!!!!!!!”  He had left his friend in the dust to catch me.  We ran together until he wanted to take a walk break where I just kept on at my faster pace.  I had about .5 miles to go and one last hill and I had to walk.  I was all dizzy and dehydrated. I had not taken care of my intake for about an hour or more.  Look at the dude, he caught up to me and finished just behind me.  I gave him a big hug, he hugged me back, and we laughed about trying to run fast at the end of 41.2 miles.  I really enjoyed running with him.  At the finish my friend was right there waiting for me along with Lisa who was waiting for her husband and friends.  I did not partake in the BBQ chicken this year but I did have another coke. LOL.  I sat down and watched the winner of the race down his beer (a brazilian man who finished in 4:44:43).  The fellowship at this race is just wonderful.  My friend and I stood around and talked with the family for a pretty good amount of time watching others finish which is one of my fav things to do at this race.  We finally got in the car to head back to the motel when all heck broke loose.  The rain had come, the floods had started, and it was going to be the worst in 100 years.  Thank God for Carrie, Lisa, Mike and fam who took great care of me. 🙂

I have no idea why they picked a pink shirt but I think it might have been one of Gary Cantrells sadistic humor factors. Here I am in the motel while it is storming outside sporting my cool pink shirt.

 Overall the race was awesome.  I loved it.  My next post will be on the added adventure of being in one of the worst floods Tennessee has ever seen.

Strolling Jim 40 miler 2010 continued: 22 miles, chocolate cookie, heat, humidity, not good!!!!!!!!

Here I am out on the course. The man in front of me was 65 years old and very encouraging. He had lost 30 lbs and was going to lose 50 more. He said he was proud of me and "JASON!!!! Keep Going and NEVER stop running!!! GO GO GO!!!" That was at the tope of his lungs as I passed him. He also said I was a wise runner.

I really only had one rough patch during the race and that happened at mile 22.  A dear boy said, “Hey mister, do you want a chocolate cookie??”  Well I knew that this did not do well with my tummy but how could I say no.  I had three bites and threw it in the bushes when he couldn’t see.  I almost immediately got blood sugar roller coaster mania and felt sick.  This last for about 2 miles when it finally evened out.  No cookies for me.  Not that early at least.  HAHAHAHAHA.  Basically I ran all the flats and down hills at a nice relaxed pace.  It is a VERY hilly race so when I got to any hill I just walked and talked with other runners so that I could learn about them and meet people.  It was really nice not to push pace at all.  I was also heavier during this race than any other race I had ever done but I fared well I would say.  And my green shirt looked cool I think.

Just another pic of me running from afar

The guy behind me in the above pic was probably the only factor that added some “push” for me.  He was in front of my most of the time and we also leap frogged often.  But towards the end he was in front of me by a long ways and I was determined to beat him in.  I did beat him in by a long ways in the end.  I really picked up the pace for the last 5k.  I was happy about this. LOL.  I hit the marathon and 50k marks feeling very good.  I did not struggle in this race to keep on really with the exception of the cookie incident.  It is amazing how the beauty of the course takes you in and helps you to enjoy your time out there with friends.  Speaking of friends, my friend was an awesome handler.  She met me every 5 miles and because of this we met a fantastic family from the area.  The guys wife also met him every 5 miles or so and she had about three weeks worth of yummy food in the back of her suburban.  She was so kind to me and many other runs always stopping and asking if I needed anything to eat or drink.  Thankfully, she had REGULAR COKE in the back and I took a bottle of it around mile 30 and it FELT GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.   I took another one at 38 miles.  I love regular coke during an ultra marathon.  Because of the 100 year flooding that occurred during and after the race, I was blessed enough to be taken in by this family for about two days while I searched with my friend for a way back to the airport.  This woman, named Lisa and husband mike, made me biscuits and gravy.  I mentioned how much I loved them at the finish line and she invited us over to eat some that she especially made for me.  HAHAHAHA.  They are wonderful and I will never forget them for as long as I live.  They made the trip so much more memorable.

Adjusting my water bottles as I run in to meet my friend at a 5 mile marker.

I also have to say that having my friend meet me every 5 miles was such an encouragement.  Even though I did not need anything, it was nice to know that someone was going to be waiting for me just to look at me with encouragement and tell me to keep on.  I have never had this much support on this race before.  It was really cool.

At this point I am starting to move a bit faster. It is getting closer to the end.

During this race  I pondered on many things in my life.  What was to become of it, what had happened in it, what I was going to do with all of it……………and it was really good for me.  It was hard as I have a lot of memories with Audrey for this race.  She had gone with me the last two times I ran it.  This time, I had to work at making new memories, with new friends, with new strategies, and a new future.  I have to admit, it was not easy at all.  In fact, it was really hard, but I made it to the end with victory.  I feel good about that.

Long race #22, 3 full years of running, Strolling Jim 40 Miler #3. Race report 1

 

This is the story of the original Strolling Jim Horse

This is the town center sign which traditionally welcomes all the racers.

I still love the Strolling Jim 40 miler.  I can’t even express how much I like it and how much cooler it is than any other race I have ever done.  First off, it is on pavement and I love to run on the road far more than on trails which is weird for an ultra-runner.  Second, the scenery is absolutely awesome, lush, nostalgic, and refreshing.  Thirdly, the people at the race are just too kind.  Wartrace is a very tiny town in middle Tennessee but it is a beautiful place.  The race starts right in the center of the town.  Days prior to the race, the weather predictions said it would be severe thunderstorms, rain, and tornados.  WOW!!!  How fun right!!!  LOL.  It was fun though and there was probably only about an hour max of thunder, lightning, and rain but the tornado watch was on for two days.  At 4:30 am I walked out of my motel room to roam around outside to check out the weather.  It was very warm and humid and the sky was darkly ominous.  After some coffee and walking outside I hunkered down in the room again to watch how to get “Financial Freedom in 30 days” from buying real estate.  This was interrupted with tornado watch until at least 11 am.  This would, however, go on for two days.  HAHAHAHAHA.  At 7 a.m. on May 1st 2010 100+ ultra-runners took off to complete the 32nd running of the race.

Here is where we started the race.

And we all eagerly take off for our adventure. This was my first race that I did not wear my traditional black shirt. I wore my favorite color on this race: GREEN!

A rail road runs right through the middle of the town where the starting line is.

I am always pretty nervous and quiet prior to starting a race.  Even though this was my third consecutive Strolling Jim, I was still nervous because it is such a special race and you never know what it will be like during such a long run.  But once I take that first step of the run I fall into my peaceful place (that is…………until the lightning started. LOL).  The race goes right into hills immediately as it bends into its 40 miles.  This race I made a concentrated effort to take things very slow the entire time and to enjoy the process as much as possible.  I was not going for a PR, or a faster time, or anything really…………………I just wanted to enjoy the experience.  I did very minimal training for this race and ran only twice a week max since my 100 mile attempt.  I accomplished my goal for taking it easy.  I thoroughly enjoyed the process of ultra running as it is intended.  I am thankful for being able to take part in my 22nd marathon or longer race and to have the blessing of running for three years consistently. 

More Strolling Jim posts coming up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!