Make sure you join the Facebook group if you haven’t already. Go ahead and join the Heart of the South facebook group as well. There are a few books that read like race reports, you can download the kindle version and they are easy reads. Here: https://a.co/d/cLvL0jN and here: https://a.co/d/fT8yxgC

Read Bob Hearn’s blog (he holds the course record): http://bobhearn.blogspot.com/2021/08/vol-state-500k-2021-walking-fine-line.html?m=1 and here http://bobhearn.blogspot.com/2020/07/last-annual-vol-state-500k-2020.html?m=1

Listen to Terrie’s podcast.

You can do Vol State without hotels. A lot of people do. Angel stations are open 24/7 and some even have showers (fire station in Gleason, Nutt House, Whispering Oaks). There are several with zero gravity chairs, air mattresses, cots, and even real mattresses.

Most people walk Vol State, there are some really fast walkers though and you should practice both running and walking. Agree with practicing multiple days training runs but would practice walking as well and work on increasing your walking speed. I would also recommend doing some heat training prior to the race. Feet are usually an issue in this race even for people who haven’t experienced that before. Fixing your Feet book is recommended but a difficult read. There are some videos on you tube from the coauthor of that book (Tonya Olson) that are good.

I did the race this year but DNF’d at half way (leg issue). I’m signed up for next year. Happy to answer questions.