THE VOL STATE 500K

Mile 198.5 - Sunset along the Mooresville Hwy (State Rd 373) on the way to Lewisburg.

AKA “The Splendid and the Vile”

oh wait. That title is taked. How about “The Vile and the Less-Vile!”

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Actually, this year’s Vol State was much less “Vial” than the 2025 Race. In this race, you learn quickly! This year a ran/hiked when I felt good, rested when I was tired, slept when I realized I was weaving down the road. I only stopped at a hotel when I arrived at the right time for a nap. I only stayed in three hotels over the 7 days; 5 hours it took me to finish. That was almost a day quicker than last year.

Yes, there were still “Vile” parts. 1) Passing over “Stinky Creek” (Obion River) only 20.5 miles in. The almost unimaginable odder is result of the rendering plant just off the road on our right. 2) Each of 468 trucks (maybe a slight exaggeration) hauling chickens that passed me during the entire race. Apparently, they never wash the trucks. They stunk as bad as Stinky Creek. I tried to hold my breath until the truck was well past. 3) Probably 150 miles of roads with no shoulders and lots of traffic. 4) 3AM the second, or maybe the third, night when I decided this was the “stupidest” thing I have ever done and decided to call Carl and tell him to pick me up on the next DNF run. 4) This should have been first. Two pre-race meals at China Buffet!!

But that’s what the race is about.

Tuesday, July 7th - Wednesday, July 8th (Pre-race events)

So, we meet at the China Buffet in Kimball, TN Tuesday night to turn in Liability Waivers so we can park at Castle Rock Farms and get race shirts. Next morning we arrive at Castle Rock about at 6:15 AM, park in a corn field (This year it was a soybean field, I think.) and walk 1/3 mile back to waiting busses just outside the gate. We ride busses 300 miles to Union City, stopping halfway in Columbia for lunch. We arrive at our hotel and unload, rest a few minutes, get back on the busses to go eat at, you guessed it, another China Buffet. Following the meal, we have the pre-race briefing to be sure we remember to get up to catch the busses to the start and don’t pick fights with cars!

Small Steps Create Big Shifts

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Turn Intention Into Action

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Make Room for Growth

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.