Strolling Jim 40

Trying to catch up on all the post for the year. Strolling Jim 40 is a run that I have wanted to try since the early 80's. I used to read about how Malcolm Gillis used to run the "Strolling Jim 40" in xx time and how it was a great race. At that point in my running career, I could not see how anyone could run over 26.2 miles without dropping. "Jim" as it is known in the ultra community has been a well established, well organized and a "staple" in the running community. The run was started by Gary Cantrell. In the Ultra community, Gary is well know for his wit and his ability to organize and put on some awesome races. Barkley Marathons is a topic within itself. Maybe someday, I will have the courage to "attempt" Barkley.
I had entered Jim as a requirement. Jim was my first ultra in 2006 and I was hooked. DeWayne Satterfield, which He and I have ties that we still haven't unraveled talked me into. Dewayne, is a runner that I would have like to have known in my younger day and trained with. I think he could have taught me and brought a better runner out of me.
None the less, Jim started on cloudy but promising to be a warm day. I was 4 week after running Umstead 100 mile Endurance Run and really had no business running this day. But "The Jim" has that mystique. I started out with the idea that there would be no goal, other than to finish. I started with Umstead partner Janet Duncan and we see-sawed for the first 25 miles. I was listening to " The Bangles-Walk Like An Egyptian" and something clicked. I was like Forrest Gump, I ran like the wind. Then after about 5 miles, I crashed. My body had not recovered. Janet began to catch me. At about 28 miles, I heard a dog bark, the dog was coming from a farm house toward Janet. I stopped to call the dog off. I don't know if I stopped the dog from attacking but I might have helped.
After about another 3 miles, Janet passed me. "no mercy" . But that is what it is about. If I were in trouble, she would have stayed with me as I would with her. That is the way it is with ultra runners.
The last few miles were long as they always are. The time/distance Gremlins really take their toll. (Never heard of the Time/distance Gremlins? It's where you run for you know 30 minutes and actually you have run for 3 minutes. It is devastating).

I finished in like 8 hours and 44 minutes, but considering I had done 100 miles 4 weeks earlier, I was happy.

We had a great feed at the end. Oh by the way, Gary always feed you chicken. I still want to know the recipe for the vinegar slaw! But no one is sharing it with me. Maybe next year.