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April 20 Update

It was hot today, hottest day so far. I figure on this run I have lived through 4 Seasons, started hot it California, with rain, snow and freezing rain in Arizona and New Mexico, Spring in Texas and Oklahoma, and now summer temps of 83 degrees. Ran 30 miles again today, which took me through Waverly, Tennessee and past a couple miles. I had a wide shoulder all the way, which let me recover somewhat from a couple days of off roading. The route gets hilly and winding so I am told by the Bradberrys who live at the top of a big hill called Bradberry Hill. He owns the whole thing, both sides of the road, they seemed like good ole boys. Nice to meet them. It is supposed to rain for two days now, we will see. But I was also told by the Bradberrys it's only 70 miles to Nashville!! I have logged 16 30 mile days so far.

April 19 Update

Today was another hot one and I was real happy to see that blue support truck ahead. The 30 mile run today took me through Bruceton, I liked the name for some reason! And only 12 miles ahead on my route is Johnsonville, which is on a lake and Dave is fishing. You can walk to the lake from Motel. No shoulder for 25 miles and 5 miles of 8 ft shoulder. Shoulder is everything on a run like this. The last thing you want to do is four wheel it all day. A big shoulder lets you hit flat and perfect and you don't have to concentrate too much on cars. I miss Route 60 and Route 412, but I am heading East and taking a bite out of Tennessee, bring it on!

I ran from just past Central to 6 miles past Atwood, Tennessee. Ran 30 miles today and I have no shoulder at all on Route 70. This will be tough on the legs, because I have to get into the grass/rocks/holes/uneven terrain, with every car. The heat also makes it tough to increase miles right now. Rain would be dangerous with no shoulder. Picture of shoulder at 30 miles. So far 2053 miles in 77 days. I figure to run to Nashville by Sunday or Bust.

The big news today is that I crossed 2000 miles at my 7 mile mark. I think I am going to like Tennessee, Route 104 is a great back country road and lots to look at, Swamps on both sides of road, it looked like the Florida Everglades. Creeks, rivers, dead snakes all over the road, (BIG ONES) no traffic, but HOT!! It was 68 at the start at 5:15 am. My milk at the ten mile mark was hot and I didn't drink it, I lost a lot of fluids today. The pavement was hot and the more I loosened my shoe strings, the more my feet just kept filling them up. They are wide open, almost where I don't even have to tie them. I think I want it to rain now, that's how hot its been for last 4 days. The long sleeve white shirt in picture is to keep sun off. So far 2023 miles in 76 days. The next cool day I plan to break my 30 miles in a day record.or break my feet, I haven't decided yet. Knowing me, I will do both. I am fine, nobody worry. I am going to make it.

Today the road was like a carpenter's dream, flat as a board. It was hot again but I had an 8 ft shoulder and that was comfortable. I crossed the mighty Mississippi River into Tennessee today! At the 27 mile mark I ran across a giant steel bridge that said ; No Pedestrians, and was welcomed by a big sign that said Tennessee! Well only two states left. I ran 30 miles today at a good pace. Arkansas measured 218 miles straight across, but with all the hills and curves it came out to 265 miles, roughly 50 miles extra.

Tough day physically and mentally. I had planned on taking Route164 across the bottom of Missouri which would of been about 20 miles shorter than running 15 miles north to stay on Route 412, but when Dave got to the end of Route 164 it stopped!!!! No bridge across Mississippi River. So out of the 30 miles I ran, I only got 15 miles east. I didn't think swimming would count and the Mississippi is wide, fast moving, and deep now. I looked at just plowed fields today, flat, no hills and a 6 ft shoulder. Ran to Kennett and just out of town. I will hit Tennessee in 27 miles and a huge steel bridge at least 1/2 mile long. That will be something. I think Dave will be fishing there when I pass. We are staying in Dyersberg, Tennessee now, as Dave wants to get fishing, his 3 day license ran out in Arkansas and now he has a full year permit in Tennessee and he will use it everyday. I was going to run more than 30 miles today but I didn't because I just got scared too right now, I don't know. No pictures, nothing to see but fields.

Well, it looks like I can finely stop complaining about the cold and start complaining about the heat. It was so hot today and we went from freezing to hot. We have a refrigerator at this motel so we can freeze water bottles and they are somewhat cool when I get to them. We will move ahead tomorrow to somewhere near the Mississippi River so Dave can fish. Ran through Paragould today, a large town of 22,000 people that has everything. The TV Station from Jonesboro, an ABC affiliate came out today, it was fun and it lasted for a long time, right in town. I will watch at 6:00 PM tonight. They found it interesting I had to cut sides of my shoes. My feet are bad but I am not worried. I ran a 30 miler again today. On the road 73 days 1933 miles so far. No pictures today, lots of City running and road construction today. I will hit Missouri in 4 1/2 miles tomorrow