Registration is now OPEN for the 2012 Run for the Heroes!  Go to http://www.active.com/running/columbus-ga/run-for-the-heroes---run-across-georgia-and-relay-2012  Don't delay - register prior to April 15th to get the discounted registration fee.  We look forward to seeing everyone at the Start Line Memorial Day weekend.

The 4th Annual Run for the Heroes/Run Across Georgia will take place again on Memorial Day weekend 2012!  We will soon have our Registration open on active.com.  Stay tuned for an update.  We wanted to get the fees posted.  For the Individual race - Civilian $175/Military $100 prior to April 15th.  From April 16th to May 18th, Civilian $225/Military $150.  For the Relay Team Race - Civilian team $500/Military team $300 prior to April 15th.  From April 16th to May 18th, Civilian Team $800/Military Team $400.  Individual Runners will run a five day race beginning on Wednesday, May 23rd at 4:00am at the National Infantry Museum.  The Relay Teams will run a two day race beginning on Saturday, May 26th at 4:00am at the National Infantry Museum.  The Finish Line wil be at Emmett Park on East Bay Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Day Three

 

Mother Nature showed mercy on us today. We started the run with cooler temperatures and cloud cover until about 11:00. Temperature reached 90 for a short period.

 

Again the road and sun took its toll on the group today. There were blisters upon blisters and bad knees everywhere; at end of day one we score it Mother Nature 2 and RFH/RAG 2 with 2 in limbo. One got little stronger today and two others suffered a little more.

 

As we left breakfast and started heading down the road Barney Fife proceeded to inform us that the bikers must ride on the other side of the road and the runners better stay on the other side of the white line or else. We tried to get out if his town as soon as possible.

 

About 10 miles down the road we sat down for 2 minutes for water and snacks. We looked back down the road 1 mile and watched a huge thunderstorm come up the road and engulf us in less than 3 minutes. Rain provided a small refuge until the sun came back out.

 

At lunch we were welcomed by the Telfair County Chamber of Commerce who had pizza, sandwiches and chocolate milk. What a treat for some road weary runners. We also picked up our first RFH/RAG guest runners – Sim, Howard and Tommy. They escorted us 10 miles down the road to Alamo. Those were some of shortest miles of the day with the fresh company. Finally at the finish line in Alamo, Howard finished with gold medal, Tommy with the silver and Will with the bronze.

 

Runner Summary:

 

Dane Talbert –   The single knee pain turned into double knee pain and swelling. Dane grinded out the entire day with walking, running and pain. After all that his Achilles stared aching. It was a very long day that ended after dark.

 

Will Ansick – Started the day with plan to eat and drink more as long as stomach would let him. This approach proved beneficial and Will did not suffer with the heat at the end of the day.  He did have a little knee pain at the end – hopefully it will not come back. Will rose to another level today and earned runner of the day award.

 

Mark “The Man” Millen – Mark started slow and stayed slow. Then his feet went south , very south. His feet had blisters upon blisters upon blisters. Matter a fact the gnats started taking up residence in the caverns created by his blisters.

 

Abi Meadows – Abi has hung with the group to crew and provide whatever support necessary. Abi earned volunteer of the day award by getting out and pacing Mark for the last 18 miles when his feet became so problematic. 

 

Me (John Teeples) – John continued enjoying the run with some minor chafing and tired feet.

Day Two

Finish up from Day One:

 Me (John Teeples) – Comes to the start with lots of years of running, some ultra experience and two prior Run Across Georgia crossings. This year Run Across Georgia is more of training run getting ready for Badwater 2011 in July. Everything went well yesterday with no major or minor problems

Day Two

 Run started early at 4:30 about 12 miles outside of Montezuma. We rolled into Montezuma around 7:00 to enjoy a big breakfast prepared by the Goodman’s. Channel 41 from Macon was on-site to interview everyone and hear the HOH and RFH/RAG story. We left Montezuma and I ran into my old friend William Youder about 5 miles down the road. As some of you know William has been friend to race since the beginning and always opened his farm to us. Today was no exception; William took my 10 gallon drink cooler and filled it up with fresh milk straight from the dairy. Nothing better than fresh cold mild while running in the heat! Milk from Youder’s is one my secret weapons to get to the finish. I hate to let it out.

 At lunch we arrived at Twin Oaks campground another old friend to the race. Twin Oaks provided probably the biggest highlight of the race to date at pool at 12:00 – noon. What a relief, we left Twin Oaks full and refreshed to tackle upcoming heat.

 I’m in my third year of doing this race and I have made major scientific discovery after three years. Day Two is always the most difficult heat day due to the newly discovered phenomenon called heatmax proven at the RFH/RAG for three years straight. On day one runners are put through the rotisserie bake in sun for the first day. Then on day two since the runners have been fully pre-heated from day one, the rotisserie bake of day two is just about unbearable. The internal oven does not have time to cool down between day one and day two. One other footnote to the theory – the worst time of the day is between 9:00 and 11:00 am when the humidity is the worst. Afternoon max temperatures are not that bad because the humidity is down.

 This section of the RFH/RAG is probably the hardest most desolate part of the race. We started 12 miles west of Montezuma and in 48 miles of running there is only one town; Olgethope/Montezuma. That makes for a difficult run.

 Mother Nature did not look kindly on the individual runners; hot, humid, hotter, humid and then hottest. We did get a break around lunch and the wind picked up and kept things a little cooler. The t-stat topped out at 95. We will have relief tomorrow.

 Again the road and sun took its toll on the group today. The dog bite did finish the race for one, the bum knee kept one to walking more than normal, the heat slowed two down to a crawl and the heat finally finished the race for another one; so at end of day one we score it Mother Nature 2 and RFH/RAG 1 with 3 in limbo. I believe the RFH/RAG team will show up ready reclaim a few tomorrow. Team seems to be getting stronger and wiser as the race rolls on.

 Runner Summary:

 Dane Talbert – Started today with the same steely drive as ever.  The slight knee pain turned to a major knee pain. As long as he walked it was okay but that would make for a very long day so I called Randy Hitz from Big Dog and had him bring Dane a knee strap. Dane could then run and walk. Dane finished the day looking good. Dane earned the runner of the day award but more importantly Randy earned the volunteer of the day award!

 Will Ansick – Started the day with a sore Achilles but was able to keep it under control for the entire day. Again today Will suffered with the heat at the end of the day. Not as bad as yesterday but it slowed him down. Fluids will be all he should think about tomorrow..

 Mark “The Man” Millen – Started the day in pretty good shape. Mark continued to just get it and go, and go but did was slowed by the heat in the second part of the day.

Cathy Saylor – Did not start today because of the dog bite. Huge kudos for Cathy finishing 10 more miles on day one after the dog bite.

 Abi Meadows – Abi has been training in Japan for the last five weeks. Weather in Japan is not like Georgia. The lack of heat training and acclimation took its toll and Abi called it a race after finishing 87 miles. 

 Me (John Teeples) – Started the day in good shape but a little tired from the last two weeks of work and training. Heatmax really made it tough from 9:00 to 11:00 but rest of the day was fun and good.

Day One

by John Teeples

 

Run started early at the infantry museum at 4:00 am. I was a little numb at the start of this years race due to all the work that was necessary for the race, for John Teeples Construction and for Big Dog Running Company. As soon as I was 2 miles down the road and running I finally got in the RFH/RAG gear. My excitement and enthusiasm built as the day unfolded.

 

Just so that everyone knows mother nature looked somewhat kindly on the individual runners; the wind was always at back assisting up any uphill’s,  the wind was in our face keeping us cool on any downhill’s and all chicken trucks  that passed smelled like roses because the wind always blew from blooming plants when the trucks passed. Well the chicken trucks maybe a stretch ,but can I convince you the rest is true? By the way, I believe the temperature topped out at 94.

 

The road and sun did take its toll on the group today. One bum knee, one bum ankle, one heat exhaustion, one dog bite, one hiding in the shade and one in good shape; so at end of day one we score it Mother Nature 5 and RFH/RAG 1. However, we will still have full line up tomorrow for the second round.

 

People along the way were great! First the Four Winds restaurant (Ranger Burger) gave us a great breakfast. Next Buena Vista provided Subway sandwiches and brought a group of young basketball players of which I had my picture made and they promised me to run a  relay with us from Ranger Burger to Buena Vista next year. Buena Vista paper was there for story. Next Ellaville Piggly Wiggly welcomed us with fresh fruit, water and Gatorade. Ellaville press was also there for a story. Finally, Montezuma welcomed us with Downtown Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce, and many special local citzens including the Forestery Queens (10 of them). I told the House of Heroes and Run for the Heroes story. Then I had my picture made with the Forestry Queens and had a Fun Run/ Fun Walk around downtown. I have never had so many cuties with me in one picture. Picture and article should be Montezuma paper for documentation.

 

Runner Summary:

 

Dane Talbert – Comes to the start with as much drive as I have ever seen.  A bad shin has kept on the sideline for the last three weeks and stressing about the race. He felt good today with no shin problems but some slight knee pain started at end of the day which will require icing, pain medicine and more walking tomorrow.

 

Will Ansick – Comes to the start with nice history of Ultras and heat running (Badwater 2010). Will has not been able to train as much due to Achilles flare up from that miserable Reator Run in March. Ironically the heat took a major toll on Will at the end of the day with Heat Exhaustion. However, after 45 minutes of lying horizontal and giving him a full body icing and I mean full body, Will recovered and finished the last three miles quite well.

 

Mark “The Man” Millen – Comes to the start as a veteran. I believe he made it 155 miles last year before calling it a race. Last years experience and a good year of training has proved very beneficial. Nothing fancy or frilly, Mark just gets it and goes, and goes and goes. Mark has very little gear or accessories to ease his run. No hand held water bottle, no drape hat and no crew. I had my wife bring a water bottle and hat from the store today for Mark. He felt good all day with an ankle nagging him a little at the end.

 

Cathy Saylor – Comes to the start with very little long distance work but great determination. Cathy has a plan of slow and steady with nothing getting in her way, including touchy stomach issues and a dog which took a little chunk of her leg. After the paramedics left her with a big bandage she returned to the race to finish the day and then trip to the ER. Cathy gets the runner of the day award!

 

Abi Meadows – Comes to the start with most experience of all. Many, many ultras including multi day long distance runs like the Tennessee version of the Run Across Georgia – Vol State 306 miler. Abi is going unaided and uncrewed. Meaning she will run the entire race with no outside help. She left with a small camelback which included water and everything she may need for the next 4 to 5 days. She will pick supplies as needed but there are no drop bags or changes of clothes. She will make the most of evening cool temps and rest during the heat of the day.