About Bruce Johnson

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We moved motels from Hardy, Arkansas to Paragould, Arkansas. I stopped about 25 miles short of Paragould today. So we will have a 25 mile drive to start in morning. Ran through a bunch of small towns today, Ravenden, Imboden, Black Rock, Portia, and Walnut Ridge. Thats a lot of good small town viewing. I like to look at the small towns. I think 3 or 4 newspaper reporters from four different towns came out on the road today to interview me. I also got a call from the Jonesboro Television News Station and they will come out tomorrow. I will have to wear my last good pair of socks. Went through 14 pairs of socks and 9 pair of running shoes, so far. It rained for 15 miles then stopped, so I figured let's do 30 miles again. I have 1903 miles so far in 72 days. Arkansas is as friendly as it is hilly. Yes, they are real friendly here.

April 12 Update

It didn't rain today, so I did a 30 miler today. It was only 60 degrees and I had a good, fast pace today over some tough hills. These hills would kill me if I wasn't in shape. Lots of trees and streams and always something to look at here in Arkansas. Lots of rain and rivers flooding and creeks were high. We had three inches of rain yesterday, felt like 4 inches. I won't soon forget that run. My stopping point today was about 10 mile past Hardy, Arkansas today. We will move our motel ahead tomorrow, I don't know where yet. I think I will make it to Missouri by Friday. So far 1873 miles in 71 days. In the race across the United States that I supported two years in a row they finished in 71 days!! My hats off to those Pros. That web site is www.runacrossamerica2002.com

Today it got up to 80 degrees quick, my time was slow and Dave was at the 27 mile mark and I wanted to stop for the day but Noooo. I must like pain. Water bottles were 80 degrees as they sat on the road for 5 to 7 hours, I drank the hot water because I was thirsty. Lost a lot of fluids today. Fred Lowe, a newspaper photographer/reporter came out and he definitely gets the award for the most motivated. He kept pace for two miles then two miles back to his car, he also had church and baseball game to cover. He also runs some and he wanted picture of me passing the lake so he did some miles to get the shot. Thanks, Fred Lowe, it was nice talking to you. Well 120 miles in 4 days and I feel it, but it really moves you along on a map. Finished today in Gepp, Arkansas.

Well today I ran through Snow, Yellville and Flippen, Arkansas. It was a nice day of 75 degrees so I said let's do 30 miles again, 90 miles in 3 days. The weather looks good for tomorrow so maybe 30 again? Hilly, but a nice shoulder. I think I will do thirty miles from now on unless I get rain, then only 27. I just don't like running in the rain, cars don't see you and no shoulder. Its an adventure every time. I will run through Mountain Home tomorrow and finish around Gepp, Arkansas. 1786 miles in 68 days! Well we had a lady named Patsy Udell, from Flippin, Arkansas, who has been following me since her daughter and son in law sent her the Courier-News article about me. She lived in Elgin and moved here 26 years ago. Her daughter Kyle is a nurse at Sherman Hospital, in Elgin, Il and her son in law John Garcia is a driver at Seigle's Lumber. Kyle donates her services to the Crisis Center and they are glad to have her I am sure. Well, Patsy came out twice on the course and insisted she buy Dave and I dinner and also pay for a night at our hotel in Mountain Home and gave me a bag of power bars and drinks. She is going to make a donation to the Crisis Center!! We talked the whole time at dinner and I have a friend in Flippin, Arkansas. Thank You, Patsy!

I ran 30 miles again today.....back to back 30 milers. I had tough run today as 13 miles was in the grass along the busy 4 lane highway. That grass running is tough on the legs. I ran through Harrisville, Arkansas and just past Bellefonte, Arkansas. Slow time of 7:36, but a nice day as it hit 75 degrees today. Feet hurt now from when I stop running until I start running again. After the first couple miles they just go numb. Lots of killer hills that don't let you rest. Nice scenery, lots to look at, a couple close calls with dogs but no bites. My weight has stabilized now at 193 lbs. No animals have gotten to my lunch in a while. Knock on wood.

April 7 Update

It rained all day until I got to my 26 mile mark, so I figured I'd do 30 miles today. I was soaked but I don't care anymore....I can smell the ocean. I was sitting in a restaurant in town and a man asked about my run and he said I was a big runner. I told him a lot of people said "no way" and it was funny he said, "You have made it a long way and those people must of Judged the Size of the Dog in the Fight...Instead of the Size of the Fight in the Dog."

I ran about 23 miles short of where we are staying in Harrison, Arkansas. I will run past Harrison into Bellefonte tomorrow. Ran 1726 miles in 66 days.