POC at the Southern States 200, 2025

We just wrapped up another unforgettable weekend at the Southern States 200, where we spent over 72 hours straight serving runners, meeting crews, swapping stories, and learning a whole lot about endurance, grit, and...even Waffle House. I wanted to share collection of some of the (very) random takeaways from our sleep deprived time on the aid station front lines.

Aid Station 14 mile 170

The Random Things We Learned from Our Weekend

It’s March of 2025, and this past weekend, our team had the privilege of running an aid station at the Southern States 200 (SS200) ultramarathon. If you haven’t heard of it, the SS200 is no ordinary race – it’s the only known point-to-point, 200-mile mountain trail run east of the Rockies​ southernstates200.com , following the legendary Pinhoti Trail from Georgia to Alabama. In other words, it's a big deal, and we were thrilled to be a part of it!

We set up camp around mile 170 of the course, just a handful of brutal miles before the finish atop Alabama’s highest point, Mt. Cheaha. Two cold nights, 3 beautiful days, we watched runners push through exhaustion, blisters, and even some hallucinations to achieve something incredible, and we learned a lot in the process. (It turns out an event of this scale needs a small army of volunteers to make it happen –race organizers know that creating a point-to-point 200-miler is a “logistical and staffing beast”​ of its own.)

From heartwarming moments (a welcome in hug from your sweet kiddo who is there to be your biggest supporter)  to unexpected challenges, here are some of the random things we learned at our SS200 aid station. 

Beneath the towering pines of the Talladega National Forest, our aid station was a home away from home for weary runners in the stillness of night and the first light of the next day.  The Pinhoti Trail is known for its serenity and beauty, and we got to witness that as the race tested every runner’s limits. 

Prepare for Anything (and Bring Extra Caffeine)

One thing we learned right away was to expect the unexpected. In a 200-mile mountain race, anything can happen. Weather can swing from warm sunshine to down right freezing temperatures.  (It is Alabama right?)  In between aid stations, headlamps can die out mid-trail, and the fastest runner shows up at 4:00 AM and then you wait. We double-checked our supplies and then checked them again. Batteries, KT tape, vaseline, tums, vitamin I – you name it, we had it. but being over-prepared was the only way to go. 

Caffeine! When you’re pulling an all-nighter (or two) to support the runners, a giant thermos of coffee, some extreme support beans, and maybe a no-doz or two are your best friends. Our team quickly learned that a steady caffeine drip,  sleeping in shifts, while navigating a little chaos was as essential as the blue reflective trail markers. It's a rare occasion that you would find any of us awake at that hour for any other reason. Whatever it takes to keep our energy up for the runners, we were game.  

3am Waffle House Discussion: Organized Chaos in Action

If you’ve ever sat at the counter during a Waffle House rush, you know it feels chaotic—but it’s actually a finely tuned system. Orders are shouted out in code, like “pull one bacon, drop two, scramble plate,” and the cooks get to work immediately, no ticket needed.

Plates are color-coded—white for regular, blue for eggs-only, red for to-go—paired with clever condiment placement to indicate toast type, egg doneness, and more. It’s fast, it’s efficient, and honestly... it's kind of inspiring. There’s something to be said about how simple systems and good communication can make even the wildest situations run smoothly.

Carrot Dogs are an Elite Aid Station Move

We said what we said: carrot dogs slap. When marinated and grilled just right, they give off this smoky, savory flavor that hits the spot without sitting heavy in your stomach. They're also vegan-friendly, which makes them a perfect option for a diverse group of runners. Throw on your favorite condiments, kraut, onions, relish, mustard, ketchup and heck even some chili….

Honestly, some came back for seconds just because they were that good.

Electrolyte Capsules? Crack 'Em Open

One of the sneaky little hacks we learned this weekend is to bust open electrolyte capsules and pour them straight into your drink. Your body absorbs the electrolytes faster this way, which is critical during those hot stretches when hydration and balance are everything. Who knew?

It’s a simple tweak that can keep you hydrated quickly, prevent cramps, nausea, and that “I’m about to hit a wall” feeling.

Ultrarunners Will Surprise You

We thought by the time runners reached us at mile 170, they’d all be stumbling zombies – we were so, so wrong. Ultrarunners constantly surprised us with their grit and positive attitudes. Sure, some arrived looking absolutely wrecked (which was completely understandable), but many came in with a smile, a joke, or a simple “Thank you” that blew us away. Imagine running for three days straight and still taking the time to be kind and grateful – that’s the spirit of this sport. One runner rolled in, covered in dirt and clearly in pain, but grinned and quipped, “Well, I’ve felt better!” before gulping down some soup and heading back out. We couldn’t help but offer some encouragement and admire that kind of toughness.

The runners’ resilience wasn’t the only surprise. We also got our fair share of memorable moments that we never expected. After mile 170, a runner, (probably one of my favorites and most entertaining for sure) sang the Pina Colada song for us, with some anecdotes that weren’t quite family friendly.  He decided that the bottom of the styrofoam cup would be a great option to protect his growing blisters (For the record, the jury is still out on this option for a first line of defense on blister care.)   He shared stories of the little kid that he was talking to at the last aid station (that didn’t exist) The very next runner come in singing “I’ve been waiting, for a girl like you” at the top of his lungs as he sees me sitting waiting for him to join us at the age station.  Then he slept for an hour to recharge.  Hallucinations and crazy ideas aside, the camaraderie and humor these athletes showed even when they were exhausted was incredible. We had runners who could barely stand giving us a hug or a fist bump on their way out!!  They reminded us that these races are as much about grit and spirit as they are about endurance.

Running Solo Doesn’t Mean Running Alone

We saw several runners taking on this 200-mile beast without a crew, and i’ll be the first to say: that takes a different kind of mental toughness. You're solving your own problems, making your own decisions, and pushing yourself through every wall without a familiar face waiting at the next stop.

But here’s the beautiful part—the long-distance running community rallies. Other crews, volunteers, and even fellow runners show up with what you need: a word of encouragement, a shared snack, or a headlamp when yours dies at 2 a.m. It’s proof that even when you're running solo, you're never truly alone out there.

Little Comforts Go a Long Way

If there’s one motto for aid stations, it might be this: the little things are big things. We learned that small comforts can work miracles for a runner deep into a race. A cup of hot broth, a grilled quesadilla, a handful of M&M’s – at 3 AM, these are like five-star gourmet meals to someone who’s been surviving on energy gels. We had a menu of real food going at all hours: Burgers, warm soup, bacon and eggs, and the ever-popular mashed potatoes. The instant we handed a runner a warm cheese quesadilla or a sip of ginger ale, we could see life spark back in their eyes. It’s amazing what a bit of salt and calories can do for the human engine.

Beyond food, a warm blanket, words of encouragement and even some tough love were just as important. We set up a couple of chairs by the fire pit so the crews could wait for their runners to come in.   A little first aid for blisters, a dab of Vaseline for chafing, or even just a few words of encouragement (“You’ve got this! Only 30 miles to go!, and even a couple, you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here, or you’re not quitting now- comments”) often meant the difference between someone dropping out or pressing on. We learned that compassion is as important as calories, that people are so much stronger than they think they are,  and bodily functions just have a mind of their own.  (we’ll leave that one alone). IN those moments of total meltdown, a hug or a laugh can be as energizing as any sugary gel. In an ultra, physical and mental fatigue are intertwined, and a little comfort for the body and soul goes a very long way.

Volunteers Are the Heart of It All

We’ve seen time and time again that the trail-running community is full of absolute rock stars when it comes to volunteering and running any aid station. In fact, we want to give a special shout-out to two volunteers that showed up big: Robby Fleming and Bubba Pharis. These guys stayed with us the entire weekend and served selflessly, day and night. Robby and Bubba are known for consistently showing up to support and always putting Pinhoti first – and this weekend was no exception. Rain, shine, 2 AM or 2 PM, whenever a runner showed up, Robby and Bubba were right there making sure they had everything they needed. Their dedication set the tone for everyone else. Honestly, seeing them and so many others give their time and energy reminded us why we dedicate so many hours to this event in the first place. 

It’s because volunteers are the heartbeat of races like this. Without people like Robby, Bubba, and our whole crew, an aid station of this scale simply couldn’t happen. And in return, we volunteers get to be part of something truly magical.A runner stops at our aid station, grabbing some much-needed fuel while volunteers hustle to refill water bottles and flip quesadillas on the griddle. We quickly realized that volunteers are the unsung heroes of an ultra. Our crew poured their hearts into taking care of each runner as if they were family. Whether it was our grill master Bubba, cooking up hot food, Nathan and Kimm bandaging gnarly blisters, Robby, stoking the fire, or grabbing just another needed item out of his truck, or anyone dashing down the trail to chase after a dropped (you name it), the volunteers did it all with a smile (and maybe a yawn or two). Many of us were running on fumes by Sunday, but you’d never know it when a racer came through – every person on our team snapped into action, no questions asked. The hours were long, the work sometimes messy (let’s not talk about the chair situation), but nobody complained because we all wanted to be there.

It’s All Worth It in the End

At the end of the weekend, as we packed up our aid station (and tried to remember what sleep feels like), one thought kept coming up: Every bit of effort was totally worth it. Yes, we were exhausted. Yes, we all smelled like campfire, and probably hamburger grease from the griddle, (Except for the quick trip to 8 Acorns hostel for a quick shower). Our hearts were full. We got to watch runners achieve what seemed impossible, and we loved played a small part in helping them get there. There’s a unique joy in pushing the last two runners towards the trail as we get them situated outside of the aid station to make the cut-off time, and knowing you helped them hang in there for that final push. As we left the aid-station and headed for home, we still had the opportunity to track the runners we served.  It’s hard to put into words how inspiring their battles are – it’s the kind of feeling that hooks you into coming back year after year.

So why do we dedicate so many hours to an event where we’re not the ones racing? Because this is our community, our family. We do it because we love the Pinhoti Trail and the people who run on it. We do it because every volunteer shift, every uncrustable handed out, and every encouraging word might help someone achieve their dream of finishing 200 miles. And to be honest,  we get a lot out of it too: friendships, laughter, and the joy of seeing people crush their goals. As we swapped stories on the drive home (between yawns), we were already talking about next time – what we’ll do differently, what we’ll bring more of, and how we can make our aid station even better. In the world of trail running, there’s a saying that it takes a village to get one runner to the finish of an ultra. After this weekend, we felt that to the core. As we still try to recover from the weekend, we wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Helping others reach new heights on the trail was the adventure of a lifetime for us, too.

See You at the Next One

Whether you’re slinging carrot dogs, busting capsules, running solo, or working the graveyard shift at an aid station, just know—we see you, and we’re right there with you.  And you can bet we’ll be out there again, ready to do it all over – energy gel in hands and hearts open – because that’s what the Pinhoti trail family is all about. Pinhoti forever  AS170 - out!