Posts Tagged ‘500k’

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5 1/2 days into the race 24 screwed runners have quit. It has been record high temperatures this year. 67 are still in the unsupported division of the race with Westbrook in 62nd. He is hoping to finish still as the course grows more difficult and he manages his pain. Currently, 185 miles behind him, he is now past Columbia.

Screen Shot 2018-07-17 at 10.37.44 PM“Bench of Hope” at “Mack’s” Whiteside Market in Hampshire, TN. Photo from Melinda Whiteside Guettner. (Edward Masuoka on the “Bench of Despair.” Richard Westbrook in the white singlet)

 

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NUMBER 94 on the map still with 164 miles, Westbrook slept last night and is on the road again today. He planned on sleeping behind a church but then realized they opened the doors for the runners, so he slept comfortably inside. He is in pain but still hanging in there. He is 64th out of 68 screwed competitors. 22 total screwed runners quit.

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A great poem by Shawn Cox Sumner’s daughter that was posted on the Last Annual Vol State facebook page.

Another update after 7:30 pm. Stay with us and pray for all out there on the road.

~ Season

 

'His 5 hour energy drink timed out. If only he had taken it 3 seconds later.'

THE RACE IS OVER for Richard Westbrook. Finishing 38th of 59 in his division and 44th overall of 88 initial, total runners. 15 quit the race all at different times and locations. At this point, well after Westbrook’s finish, there are 15 runners remaining on the road (10 of them in his screwed division).

Westbrook completed the deathly hot, very hilly, 314 miles in 8d 00:44:24 – 8 days 44 minutes and 24 seconds. He started the race with hamstring pain and hoping it would at least diminish if not disappear all together, he struggled with it the whole way through to the finish. In compensating for that pain, he planted differently than normal and now has some foot pain on the opposite side. We have also discovered a rash here and there, which is to be expected, and many bites (chiggers?) all over, eww!

All in all he finished and with everything going on, that is saying A LOT! The old man rarely ever gives up, just when his body absolutely makes him. Now it is time to deal with the post race issues…fun stuff!

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LAVS 2016 – WESTBROOK MADE IT!

YAY! Westbrook completed the grueling 314 miles, hobbling in on a painful, blistered foot around 1-2 am this morning. His time was 8 days 15 hours 20 minutes and 26 seconds finishing 35th out of 40 screwed runners. His quote after the race from the tracking website: “Boy…oh boy…. Somewhere along the way I opened Lazdora’s box, and out jumped blisters and muscle spasms.”

Out of 22 crewed runners, 6 remain on the road trying to make their way to the finish. Of 40 screwed runners, 3 are still running along somewhere.

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THE ENTRANCE TO CASTLE ROCK, A PRETTY TREE LINED STREET TO THE DIRT ROAD.

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WESTBROOK ENTERING CASTLE ROCK

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WESTBROOK COMING INTO CASTLE ROCK

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DIRECTIONAL SIGN FOR THE LEFT HAND TURN AT THE DIRT ROAD. EVERY SIGN THEREAFTER CONTINUED TO SAY 1 MILE TO GO, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH CLOSER YOU WERE. – EVEN JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE FINISH.

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TERRIBLE PHOTO WITH ALL THE DUST AND DIRT BUT WESTBROOK MAKING HIS WAY UP THE HILL AND THROUGH THE SOYBEAN FIELDS TO THE FINISH

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WESTBROOK KISSING THE ROCK, CASTLE ROCK, AS HE COMPLETED THE RACE. LAVS 2016

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WESTBROOK AFTER THE RACE RELAXING WITH LAZ AND OTHER FINISHERS AND RACE STAFF.

 

LAVS 2016 - DAY 8 AND 1/2 UPDATE

LAVS 2016 – DAY 8 AND 1/2 UPDATE

Not exactly sure where Westbrook is at the moment, except that he is not far from the finish. He is either 10 miles out or 5 miles out. I think he may be hallucinating and not very clear at times where he may be. He has to go up Sand Mountain at the end with a foot mangled with blisters. We are heading out to the finish to find him now, if we can.

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LAVS 2016 – END OF DAY 8 UPDATE

Westbrook is coming into a nice breeze and downhill for the next three miles, currently at mile 288. You would think this sounds nice. The breeze yes, but downhill no. His blistered foot will slide around in his shoe while going downhill only to create more friction. Not to forget that downhill is harder on one’s knees and muscles if your are very exhausted and sore. All in all, the downhill will probably be painful rather than a relief. He remains 29th out of 43 screwed runners with 26 miles ahead of him.

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LAVS 2016 – DAY 7 AND 1/2 UPDATE

Out on the road with very little sleep, extreme heat, running along with one foot as practically an entire blister, and covering 276 miles, Westbrook is hallucinating. He tried to say hello to a girl with a dog in a yard just to realize that neither is actually there. His explanation, “It’s funny what the mind does to you out here.”

Westbrook is in Tracy City, Tennessee about to find something to eat. He has 38 miles remaining. He is still 29th of 43 screwed (unsupported) runners to struggle along. His goal: to finish!

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LAVS 2016 – END OF DAY 7 UPDATE

I have to apologize for the delayed posting. I was having difficulties with my iPad not showing the current update this morning and had to wait until I had access to a laptop. So, here it is.

Westbrook’s entire right foot is almost completely blistered. He runs a bit, screams, and walks on. Ughhh. I feel for him. A blistered, tender, sore foot and this heat makes for an extremely miserable time. Not to mention having to run up Sand Mountain at the very end. What a way to end a lengthy, hellacious road race.

Having 266 miles behind him and approaching Pelham, Westbrook has 48 miles remaining. He is holding 29th out of 43 runners. Way to go! Hang in there. Not too much further.

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LAVS 2016 – DAY 6 AND 1/2 UPDATE

Westbrook is at mile 250 in Manchester, Tennessee. 64 miles to go! It is 104 degrees with no shade around. He is hanging in there, trying to make it to the finish. Right now, Westbrook is 29th out of 43 screwed runners. Hopefully no more blisters or other major problems. Bring it on home!

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LAVS 2016 – END OF DAY 6 UPDATE

Westbrook reported in for this update, however, they did not record his location on the map. He is between numbers 87 and 70. At check-in time, 7:30 this morning, he was at mile 236 just past Wartrace, Tennessee. Another screwed runner dropped out leaving 43 on the road. Westbrook is 27th in that group.

Sometime after this morning’s update, Westbrook called home to check-in as well. No more news on how he is feeling, very tired and a bit delirious I believe. He did report being at mile 239 approaching US 41 where he takes a right to head into Manchester, Tennessee. Last year, Manchester was where he ran into all of his problems. Let us see how it goes this year! Wish him luck!