“I found in myself something that I never knew was there.Bygdell made her final preparations, packing clothes and food, and honed in on her goal of finishing the annual 100-mile ultra endurance challenge. Former King, Barry Crumrine probably summed up the Vol-State experience as well as it can be put into words No one can explain the regret that this incredible journey has actually come to an end. No words can adequately describe the sense of combined relief and amazement to be experienced at the Rock. 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. 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. Finishing will often seem an unfathomable dream. If you do encounter another runner, theirs is the same desperate plight as your own. Your friends can follow your progress from afar, but no pacers can carry your burden for you. There are just miles and miles of empty road. There are no aid stations, teeming with volunteers waiting to tend to your every need and encourage you to continue.
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?” 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. What lies in between are 314 miles of the great unknown. It begins with a ferry ride across the Mississippi River, from Missouri to Kentucky, and finishes at “the Rock,” high atop Sand Mountain in Northwest Georgia. The Vol-State is a journey, an adventure, and an exploration of inner space.
The Vol-State is not just another ultramarathon.
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