Today, Russell and his wife showed up today. I
was at about my eight mile mark when a huge yellow Hummer pulled off
ahead, Russell popped out, ready for a few hour run. We talked the whole
time, the miles flew by. 75 degrees with wind out of the WEST! He told me
of his over 50 marathons, he has a 2:41 Marathon and ran the race across
America at a five mile an hour pace. Forty miles in eight hours, average
day 45 miles! He had a packet with a map showing safe route through Tulsa
all made up for me. His wife went about 14 miles ahead and waited for him
as she did in the Race across America. When I was almost at the 20 mile
mark we said our goodbyes and he handed me $100.00, and wished me luck.
Thank you Russell. This guy is one of the great long distance runners of
our day. Our check engine light came on this morning, so I was worried all
day hoping the truck would start or what, that's all we needed. I was
already thinking of hitch hiking after tomorrow's run back to auto shop,
but Mike at ABBY Automotive fixed the problem. He just took that little
light out, all fixed! Yes! Why didn't I think of that. No, he said a
vacuum problem, nothing to worry about, maybe gas cap not on tight but
he hooked it up to computer that's it and the light is off. Whew!!
The big news today: I DID A 30 MILER TODAY!!
It took me 7:30 min but I never stopped. It was 60 degrees at the start.
Rolling hills, no shoulder on and off the road a million times today,
windy but it made it to 75 degrees. Stopped 20 miles short of our hotel in
Stillwater today. I will run through town tomorrow as Russell is coming up
from Norman, Oklahoma to run with me for a while. Russell is the guy I met
when I went down and supported a race across America that Russell did in
only 71 days! It is supposed to be nice with no wind. Picture of 30 mile
mark. I could of went more!
March 28 Update
Well, yesterday's fast times hurt me today. I had
to eat at Subway for lunch and dinner as everything was closed in Seiling,
OK. I just was tired today. It was 35 degrees at the start and then warmed
to 70, so I had to carry all my winter clothes for 15 miles, I had my
camera, cell phone, water bottle, and I broke in new shoes today, lost of
excuses. Ran my standard 27 miles today, I have 1444 miles as of today. We
moved 50 miles ahead to Stillwater, OK so we have 50 mile drive to start
tomorrow.
I would like to take time now to ask that if anyone out there is
impressed with what I have done so far to please make a donation to the
Crisis Center, address above, and make note USA Run on check. Even if it's
only a penny a mile, it would be $14.44 and they will take it and I worked
hard for those pennies.
My goals, if you are just tuning in are as
follows:
1. Make it to Virginia Beach.
2. Do the run in 120 days or less.
3. Have a 27 mile per day average.
4. Take no days off.
5. Live through it.
Today was a big day for talking to the man
upstairs, All day I counted my blessings and thanked him for getting me
this far. The 27 miles was done in record time, I couldn't believe it when
I looked at my time. I passed by where Dave fished in Canton, Oklahoma. I
finished about 7 miles past Canton. I figure I will hit Tulsa on a Friday,
worst day to try big city run. Forgot to say a prayer about that, still
have time. Easy day with rolling hills that suits me fine. No shoulder,
but low traffic today anyway.
March 26 Update
Well I ran through Vici and Seiling, Oklahoma today. It
rained on and off with a mean head wind. It could of been worse, heck it
has been worse! 27 miles today and I said goodbye to route 60 and onto
route 51 now. I have 1390 miles so far. This road Route 51 has no shoulder
at all. I knew this state was going to really test me. I saw 3 dogs today
out in the middle of nowhere, Pit Bull, Black Shepard, and some other big
thing. They were running along a fence line and looked up at me dressed
like I was and ran the other way, I had to laugh at my good luck there. I
mean these dogs ran like they were really scared I had to turn around to
see if something was behind me. Dave got his poles out of moth balls and
found a lake and caught a 6 pound walleye and all is well.
March 25 Update
Ran 27 miles again today but no pictures. I
didn't want to run with the weight. I did pass some pretty stuff though.
Pine trees scattered about and rolling hills that are changing to spring
colors. Then the last couple miles nothing again just farm fields. Half
mile uphill grades and half mile downhill. This suits me fine, slow
traffic today so I was able to run on the road mostly, people here seem to
move over when they can. It is supposed to rain for two days now. I hope
they are wrong. I figured roughly that I would do two states a month so in
60 days I would hit Oklahoma, I am 37 miles into Oklahoma and I have 6
more days of running, I think I am making great time and will be done a
little sooner than expected, although I haven't done anything yet!
March 24 Update
I made to Oklahoma after a 16 mile run, so I am into
Oklahoma by 11 miles now. 27 mile run today. It was cold at first but it
warmed up by the time I was done to 65 degrees. Not so hilly today, so it
was really an easy day. It was good to get to Oklahoma but it will be
tough because my shoulder goes down to a foot. I have to get into the
grass every time a car goes by. That breaks stride and you sometimes hit
holes you can't see. I miss my 8 ft shoulder. but Oklahoma he we go.
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