Mica Anderson and Steven Carr are among the 376 runners in the legendary Western States Endurance Run in California and highlight this week’s TVO Roundup.
Anderson and Carr, both of Huntsville, gained entry into the event via lottery. Anderson was on the waitlist until about two weeks ago. She is president of the Huntsville Track Club and has completed several ultramarathons, including the 2023 Hoka Bandera 100, Strolling Jim and Mountain Mist 50K. Carr is a longtime ultra runner, with finishes in Massanutten Mountain 100, Javelina Jundred, Bighorn, Lake Martin 100, Cruel Jewel, Badwater 135 and others.
Western States begins in Olympic Valley and ends in Auburn, two legendary California areas for trail running. The route was established decades ago by a cowboy who wanted to ride 100 miles in 24 hours. He went from Tahoe City to Auburn. That set up a competition, but in 1972 it was 20 U.S. Army infantrymen who wanted to do the 100 miles on foot in 24 hours. Seven finished.
From there, the event grew and changed. The challenge is the same, though: try to finish 100 miles in 24 hours. Some do, and many do not. Today’s starting point in Olympic Valley, and the finish in Auburn, have become celebrations of the sport. Hoka is the primary sponsor.
Huntsville runners have a strong legacy in the event. Martin Heimbeck completed the 2023 race in 26 hours, 46 minutes, 54 seconds. Eric Fritz finished the 2022 event in 29:50:28. Martin Schneekloth completed it in 2019 in 23:43:57, as did the late DeWayne Satterfield in 29:10:07.
In other TVO Roundup news:
Community Free Clinic 5-Miler
If you’re itching for some competition or a nice run this weekend, it’s not too late to sign up for the Community Free Clinic 5-Mile run on Saturday morning in Decatur.
The race takes place on the flat, fast course at Point Mallard Park, starting at the old ice rink. It begins at 7 a.m., and late registration and bib pickup is from 6-6:45. The course is grit gravel with a smidge of street; lace up your running shoes and be sure to hydrate well. Runners will pass an aid station twice on the route. It’s a fun event.
The event is put on by the River City Runners of Decatur.
See the info here and register, or come early Saturday morning.
San Juan Solstice 50
Eric Fritz and Dana Overton completed the challenging San Juan Solstice 50 run on June 22.
The rugged area in Colorado tests runners with 50 miles of tough terrain and altitude, along with providing stunning scenery. It’s been around for a while and is considered an under-the-radar gem compared to more ballyhooed and commercialized events.
Overton, of Brownsboro, and Fritz, of Huntsville, crossed the line together in 15 hours, 21 minutes, 36 seconds. Both had attempted it before but DNF. This time they were determined to square things with the course and cross the line.
See all of the results of the San Juan Solstice 50 here.
Last Annual Vol State 500K
Who’s up for a 10-day journey run across Tennessee in the summer heat?
A handful of determined runners from the TVO area are, with their sights set on completing the Last Annual Vol State 500K. That’s 314 miles — about 31 a day — if you hate the metric system. It starts July 11 and ends July 21. The field has 110 runners in the Screwed division — meaning they’re self-sustaining — and 18 in the Crewed division.
This year’s entries from Huntsville include Erin Dupey, Andrew Hardwick and Haley Hardwick. Dupey was one of the 93 runners who finished in 2023. Runners from the Chattanooga area this year include Charlene Moultrie, Jimmy Layne and Billy Collier.
Runners meet in northwest Tennessee and take a ferry across the Mississippi River to the Dorena Landing in Missouri. From there, the night before the start, they are given a map of the required route. The finish line is at Castle Rock, Georgia, east of the Alabama line and southeast from South Pittsburg, Tenn.
Ten ultramarathons in a row, with no aid other than what you take or buy on the way? Sounds insane. Sounds fun. Runners have to complete the route on foot. No rides, no bikes, no skateboards or anything like that. No pacers, either. If you make a wrong turn, you’re required to go back to the wrong turn to get on the right path. This ain’t no cakewalk for Aunt Maude’s coconut cream delight.
The late DeWayne Satterfield of Huntsville won the inaugural LAVS in 2006 in 4 days, 8 hours, 39 minutes. He also won in 2009, and had two other DNFs. Satterfield was the only finisher of three entrants in 2006. Three years later, 10 finished. The field has grown each year, as runners toe the line in Dorena Landing to test their mental and physical abilities.
If you’re thinking, “Ohhh, I could never do THAT!” then think again. Dr. Terrie Wurzbacher is 74 years old and a four-time finisher in the Screwed division. She battled through postherpetic neuralgia after a horrid bout with shingles just eight years ago. Wurzbacher is a four-time finisher in the Screwed division. Why repeat that? Because anyone can do just about anything if you put your mind to it. Wurzbacher is a legend.
Vol State starts July 11, with daily tracking. We’ll have a TVO Roundup update once things begin.
New Harry Williams Winners
The annual Harry Williams All-Comers track event, hosted by the Huntsville Track Club, saw some top competition in the sprint and mile events.
Logan Gordon of Hazel Green posted a 10:47 to win the 100-meter race, nipping Elijah Wells of Harvest and his time of 10:88. Joe Keith of Harvest was third in 10:89. In the 200-meter, Keith won in 21:44, with Wells second in 21:68 and Logan Gordon of Merdianville third in 21:90. Keith also won the 400-meter race in 49:60.
Luke Miller of Madison won the 1-mile in 4:54, with James Wine of Madison second in 4:56.
John Glidewell of Athens, no stranger to the podium, smoked the 5000-meter field in 17:50.
See all of the overall results here, and all of the age group breakdowns here.
If you have news, results or event info for the TVO Roundup please send it to info@thetvo.com for consideration.
MAIN PHOTO: Eric Fritz of Huntsville and Dana Overton of Brownsboro at about 16 miles of the San Juan Solstice 50-mile run in Colorado on June 22. They completed the event in less than 16 hours. (Photo: Melissa Hopper Fritz)
