"For 31 years, the first Saturday in May has meant one thing in the scenic hills of Bedford County, Tennessee; the return of the Ultra-Marathoners. And the Ultra-Marathoners have kept coming back. Coming back to stroll the quiet streets of Wartrace and Bell Buckle, enjoying the picturesque homes and quaint shops. Coming back to share in the three day reunion of the Southern Ultra community. Coming back to celebrate the end of winter with a run in the inspiring springtime beauty of the Highland Rim. Coming back to be a part of one of the US most competitive road ultras, and to match their times against the fastest runners of the past 29 years. Coming back to strive for a coveted Gold Shirt. Coming back to feast on the bountiful repast at both pre- and post- run festivities. But, most of all, the Ultra-Marathoners keep coming back because, at the Strolling Jim, every runner is a hero, an honored guest, and a welcomed friend". This is what the website says.
I ran my first "Jim" in 2007, my first ultra. I was hooked! What is it that brings these people back year after year? You should see the list of people who have run this race over 10 times. This is one of the oldest ultras in the Southeast.
Today's ultra runners mostly choose to run on trails, much easier on the legs. A lot of the races are a catered affair with anything from cookies to soup. Jim started out a little different, water jugs every 2 miles, that was about it.
Today Jim has water jugs every 2 miles and 3 aid stations! The course starts in downtown Wartrace, TN, a small railroad town (oldest in the state) founded in 1853 and home of a world class gourmet restaurant and destination hotel, and being the birthplace of a world champion walking horse "Strolling Jim".
In my opinion, you are not an ultra runner until you have done "The Jim"! This year the weather became a factor in the race. Most years, the Sun, heat and humidity plays a big part on your performance. Oh yeah, I for got to mention "THE WALLS". Jim boasts that there are only 4 hills on the course. While running you wonder how you will know if it is a hill or not, don't worry, it's painted on the road telling you that it is not a hill or it is a hill, when you come to "THE WALLS" no one will need to tell you.
After the Rocket City Marathon in December, I backed off on my training. I'm not sure if the body was telling me to or my mind was tired. The longest run in January was 15 miles averaging probably 15 miles per week, in February I averaged 10 a week, March was nearly run free, April saw a 5 miler and a 3 miler.
I was in no shape to run Jim, but with the lure of the race, I had to go see how far I could go. The course is so beautiful, my wife Judy loves to crew for me and help other runners on the course. She is quickly becoming known as "The Angel of Strolling Jim" Over the last three years, she has helped numerous runners, some she didn't know.
This year, instead of taking the entire day off on Friday, I only took off at noon. We finished the final packing and left for Wartrace. About Chattanooga, I realized I had forgotten my double water bottle fanny pack. Judy asked if I wanted to stop and buy another one, I replied "No, I can carry my stuff in a Walmart Bag". we laughed and kept driving. Fortunately, I had a one bottle pack in my running kit! Not as much storage for stuff but at least a belt for my bottle.
The trip to Wartrace was very wet. The trip up Monteagle Mountain was as bad of traffic and conditions I can remember. Entering Wartrace, the rain was not slowing down at all. There was no wind, just monsoon type rains and lightning. As I picked up my pre-race package and mingling with the few ultrarunnners there, a stroke of lightning hit within a half mile of the finish line. The railroad crossing poles came down. The ride into Shelbyville where the hotel was had major flooding, traffic was hydroplaning and was very slow. I checked into the hotel and got ready for the traditional spaghetti supper back in Wartrace. The rain slowed down a bit but still was threatening. The supper was held at the community center. I believe it was cooked by volunteers, and man it was delicious! A salad, Spaghetti with either marinara or meat sauce, bread, tea, and a dessert for $8!
A drive back to the hotel and ready for an early night, need my rest. Remember, I am not ready for this physically. I need every ounce of energy tomorrow and I need to screw my head on right. Pace and energy conservation will be key for a finish. I had really no goal of a finish time, just finish!. My best time was my first year 7:38, last year 8:44 ( 4 weeks after a hundred miler) and now I'm to the point, just let me finish. I slept like a baby, no worries, no anxiety. Strange, I always experience these before most races. I had a minimum goal, I guess the pressure was off.
The morning came with monsoon rains. I dressed and got ready for what I knew would be one long day. I got to the starting line with rain pouring. I waited until 20 minutes until race start to get my stuff lined up for the race. I like to do this an hour before the start. I went towards the starting line and met up with some of the old faces there. We were huddled under the pavilion "Cradle of the Tennessee walking Horse" when all of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye I saw Dink Taylor and Dewayne Satterfield bolt out into the rain. The race had started with no one at the starting line. The first 100 yards we ran up a hill where water was running down the hill. Feet were wet in the first 2 minutes of the race. This will be a factor for me later.
I knew to keep the pace slow and loose, especially if I wanted to finish on the training ( or lack of) I had. I settled into a comfortable pace with a couple from Atlanta who had finished Umstead 100 miler 4 weeks earlier. I knew where they were at and we had a great conversation. This was their first Jim and was eager to hear what I knew about it. Karen and Don ran smoothly and consistently through the day and would eventually beat me by several minutes. We exchanged stories, jokes, etc. They got to meet Judy and she provided aid to them the rest of the race. They pulled away from me at about the half marathon mark. At that time I hooked up with Diane Taylor, well know in the ultra community for constancy and finishing. I knew if I could hang with her, I could make it. There were rumors all day that there were runners behind us and that flood waters detoured the course and added distance to it, bummer!
Diane and I ran from about the 12 mile mark until the 29 mile mark together. we picked up a friend of hers (Amanda) at 20 miles who was going to run with her until the 39 mile mark. At 29 miles at the "THE WALLS" my legs felt better running than walking. Diane is one of the best walkers I have seen, I have to run to keep up with her. I found that running hurt less than walking, which proves that you need to train for walking in an ultra. Different muscle groups are used. I ran half way up the hills of "THE WALLS" and walked the rest, ran down the other side. I managed some 9:30 and 10:00 minute miles on the down hill sides. I ran away from Diane and Amanda and actually put several minutes between us. Not to run off and leave them, but I figured to run while it felt good, for when I crashed it would be ugly. I caught Karen and Don at about 32 miles, by this time I was crashing, they ran off and left me. Well, about 33 miles, it got ugly! I quit! Someone come and get me, my calves ached so bad! I sat down, ate a Little Debbie Fig Bar and drank some orange Gatorade. Waiting to let the body catch up, it took about 5 minutes until I was able to get up and shuffle and walk. Still Diane and Amanda was still not in sight. I was ready to quit, A Wartrace Policeman came by and apparently I looked like crap, he stopped and asked me if was alright, it must be showing. Well, the testosterone kicked in, I smiled and said I was fine, he drove on, Man what was I thinking. About that time Diane came cruising by , then Amanda, I asked Amanda for her phone to call Judy to come and get me. She reached for it. Then the testosterone kicked in again and I said, no, I blamed it on Diane. I told Amanda that Diane wouldn't let me quit. So here we all go towards the 35 mile mark. I get to the 35 mile mark, not in good shape. I drank several cups of Coke and ate some chips. About that time Judy came driving up. I went to the M1 Abrams (Durango) race wagon and filled my bottles with Coke. Judy knowing me for 37 years said the one thing that She knew would keep me running. "Why don't you quit?" I really didn't have an answer, but with that challenge shot across the bow, what could I do? I kept going, only 6.2 miles to go or so we thought.
Flood waters across the road at about 38 miles created a detour that put us up another hill ( not by Cantrell standards) but it put us on Arnold road. I enjoyed this part of the run, a shady lane, that would be very much welcomed in the later part of the run especially when the Sun was shining. The last stretch down highway 64 seems to be twice as long as it really is. It probably is because I have run it alone the first two years, this year , i ran it with Diane, it seemed shorter. I need to have someone run with me the last two miles here next year.
The finish was slow, not pretty but welcomed. The legs are recovering well, the blisters healing. I'm looking for another run. The Jim has fired my desire to run again! Oh BTW, the detour added about 1 mile to the course.
