It was August 4th 2020, and day number 96 of the Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee. After finishing an initial virtual crossing of 1021.68 kilometers in 50 days and a second crossing in 40 days, I found myself way over my head in an attempt for a triple crossing. I originally had no intention of a 3rd crossing. Just too far behind. But a Twitter runner friend named Gail (who was attempting a 3rd crossing, and was also behind) encouraged me with these words, “WE can try”. So a triple crossing attempt it became.
Twitter friend Gail and I were often encouraging each other with zany tweets to keep each other encouraged, focused and pushing hard.
The virtual race is based on an actual 1021.68 kilometer race called the Great Race Across Tennessee directed by Lazarus Lake who is best known for directing the arguably craziest race in the world…the Barkley Marathon. I started my third crossing July 30th, 201.7 kilometers behind where I should be. Which is a pacer called the triple buzzard. The triple buzzard is a sort of a pacer which travelled daily at 24.92 kilometers. I needed just under 32 kilometers a day over 33 days to catch up and finish before the August 31st cutoff.
More than happy from a double crossing of 2043.36 kilometers. Had lost 15 pounds at that point and was feeling very good. To cover another 1021.68 kilometers in 33 days or less was quite ambitious.
Having spent nearly all my time on forest trails in this race, there had been literally thousands of mosquito and deer fly bites over those previous 90 days. I’ve had to fend off unleashed dogs charging at me in extremely unfriendly terms. I had a errant bullet fly over my head from people target shooting behind a neighboring barn. There had been days of oppressive heat and humidity. And I had been caught out in several electrical storms. All of this was wearing me down.
Even had snow 2 weeks into the virtual
Part of the package of spending so much time in the bush during this virtual is the massive number of mosquito and deer fly bites. Plus black fly bites earlier on in the virtual.
I have completed 14 ultras over the past 5 years. I am not fast, so every one of them had that hard cutoff hanging over my head. Keep pushing, keep fighting to stay ahead of that cutoff. The difference with this 3rd crossing was that I was feeling that cut-off pressure everyday I went out. Every day I would be out on the trails I would be questioning myself, “Why am I doing this, I’m 62 years old. What am I trying to prove? I’m never going to make it anyways”.
There were times I needed to look back at how I overcame previous ultras. Such as my most challenging Ultra to date, the 150k 3 day semi-supported stage race Bad Beaver Ultra. Directed by Canadian extreme adventure legend Ray Zahab. There is so much mental involved with the long distances. Image Source Life Outside Studio
And now on August 4th, 2020 I was at my low point. Another major electrical storm. I had been at the point where I was hiking the majority of my distances. So being out for 7 to 8 hours,Ā there was no way to avoid it. During yet another torrential downpour and thunder boomers getting closer, I decided to head to a fittingly low point in the forest and wait out the storm there. Then head home and announce to the social media world I’m stopping my 3rd crossing attempt and am happy on my double crossing.
Yet another torrential downpour
As I sat there like a drowned rat on a log I remembered a letter I had stuffed in to my hydration pack just the day before, thinking “I might need this someday”. It was from extreme adventure cyclist Shane Little. Shane is from the Netherlands and is one of a small handful of extreme athletes I have met in person on this planet who has deeply inspired me. I met Shane 6 years ago following his Trans-Labrador cycling expedition in the dead of the Canadian winter. Shane has cycled his mountain bike 30,000 kilometers on 4 continents. Much of it being inhospitable terrain. He is known for digging very deep to find the grit and resolve to keep going.
Meeting up with Shane Little in a Barrie, Ontario Burger King following his self supported Trans-Labrador winter expedition 6 years ago.
Shane Little during his self supported Trans-Labrador expedition in the Canadian winter
In 2020 Shane had to look death in the face three times. The cancer of his partner, the crash of his mountain bike, and being blindsided with COVID-19. While he has been slowly recovering, he has been following my Tennessee journey with acute interest. What I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around is that while he is getting his strength back, I have become an inspiration to him. Here is his letter I opened during that torrential rain storm.
Not only has Shane done some massive challenging bike tours, he has completed some crazy tough adventure races. This picture after finishing Biking Man Oman, 1040 kilometers in a time of 59 hours 7 minutes. Held in the Sultanate of Oman of the south-east Arabian peninsula.
Being an ambassador and runner for the 4,300 kilometer Monarch Ultra relay from Canada to Mexico I also got much inspiration from this beloved butterfly. A 1st in my lifetime was to witness copulation. Something I may have missed if I were not running this 123 day race.
Through all the challenges I had,Ā I experienced nature in such a real and personal way. And when you are not able to hug your friends…hug a tree! Which I did every day. š³
I wrote daily updates on Facebook running page and my Twitter account. With several photos. Each post also contained screenshots which showed my daily distances.
My blood pressure and resting heart rate!
Immersing myself in nature every day did me so much good. Most days I did not get in a car to travel. When I did it was usually around 10 km (to my beloved Copeland Forest). The maximum I drove the entire virtual was 30 km from home. Photo credit Alicia Freeborn.
Taken by my runner, tree hugger friend Alicia, who joined me for a day near the end. I don’t have a very good camera, but I really do enjoy taking photos.
Final stats 89th place out of something like 19,620 runners. One thing I noticed that the finishers in the top 100 did not stop once they hit 3x status. They kept going. What it meant if I were to retain my double digit position I would need to keep logging miles until the very end of the virtual on August 31st. Which I did, and ended up finishing with 3214.4 kilometers, or 3.15 crossings.
On my 13th kilometer in on August 27th I reached a yellow gate, changed into a #GVRAT1000k shirt and using a self timer on my camera, I took my picture at the completion of the 3065 kilometer triple crossing. š
theoldfellowgoesrunning 
YOU FINISHED IT!!!! CONGRATULATIONS, CARL!
I’m so excited for you that you made it! Not only that, but you also finished ahead of time. Such an amazing feat.
I should have know when you posted that photo with the yellow t-shirt that you had made it, haha!
I love this blog post and reading all the details about your Odyssey. I’m happy that Shane could give you so much encouragement with his letter. And just at the right moment, too!
Thank you, Carl, for being such an inspiration to the running community!
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!
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You are the best Catrina. I was wondering if you knew with the yellow t-shirt on Twitter. Did this very subtlety at the end of a thread that had random tweets of the highway sign and face coverings as I know Gail is pushing so hard out there to finish. Those who made it to the end of the thread might guess. You are always so sweet to read the entire thread…lol. I did not want to announce anything on Twitter until I knew she is done. By the sounds of it she had a massive distance day today, and it will be a smaller distance day tomorrow to wrap it up.
Shane has been such an incredible support, but so have you. Was often 11:00 to midnight by the time I would get my updates done and with the time difference you would always have such a cheery supportive comment waiting on Twitter for me when I woke. Always looked forward to reading your wonderful responses. So thank you Catrina for being such a big part of my journey.
One thing is for sure of “what’s next”, I’m definitely getting my bike out come September and go for a nice lone ride. š
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Poor Gail, still fighting out there!
I’m sure she will make it – I’m looking forward to seeing her Tweet about it.
Ah, the bike! Finally! I bet you’re looking forward to all the rides, Carl! š
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Smashed old man, well done. Such an incomprehensible distance to cover in a couple of months. Just goes to show that amazing things can be achieved by just getting out there every day. Have fun dreaming up the next one.
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Thank you so much Shane. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate your support on this journey. It really has been amazing. It is going to be fun dreaming up what is to come next.:)
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Carl you are an inspiration! I can not even fathom the dedication, perseverance and physical stamina for such a thing. I can see why Shane is drawing inspiration from you. congratulations on your massive accomplishment and your improved health. Wow! Simply WOW.
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Thank you so much for such generous words Sue. This was the best thing for me during this pandemic, and am so excited for the improved health. Thank you very much for taking the time to read. šš
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Hello Carl.
What an interesting post. It was like a suspense story. Your photos are great!!! Thank you.
Have a good day!
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Thank you so much for reading, and for your generous comment. Really appreciate it. Have a great day yourself! š
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Good on you Carl for running the 3rd crossing on a whim. Congratulations on finishing. Your adventurous running buddies were very encouraging and sounds like they believe in you. Shane was very nice to write that note for you and passing on words of wisdom. It is very humbling of you to say you are not that fast at running. I am sure you are faster than me! Even if you are not the first to finish the race, the fact that you tried and finished is a big accomplishment.
It must have been a bit challenging running through torrential downpours. From your photo it does look like very heavy rain. I’m not a fan of being outdoors at all when it’s that heavy – soaked so fast in few seconds.
The timer shot turned over very nice. Keep on running, Carl.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read Mabel. A perfect thing for me to do during COVID as I was all alone all the time. I have such amazing running buddies. Some I have met, and some connected through social media. I really appreciate your kind, generous words!
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Carl! This is an amazing accomplishment! And that much forest bathing has to be good for the soul–insect bites be damned. Sending you a virtual high-five.
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Thank you very much for reading and for your kind words Kay. Despite a pandemic, my soul was so much at peace. Definitely attributed to all the forest bathing! š
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Nice blog
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