April 3rd

Today I ran 30 miles in 7 Hours 25 Minutes, a new personal record. Finished up the last of the busy interstate, hit route 412 scenic route, curvy with no shoulder and rather hilly. Ran through Locust Grove, Oklahoma. Finished 34 miles short of the Arkansas border today. I will hit Arkansas by Wednesday. 1612 miles as of today. Down to 193 pounds after 62 days. My feet were swelling again due to the hot blacktop. Tomorrow we will be leaving our luxury accommodations (joke) in Chateau, Oklahoma and moving ahead to Springdale, Arkansas.

April 4th

Well my 27 mile run today took me through Rose, Twinoaks and Kansas, Oklahoma. All small towns, clean and a few minutes in each, and they were behind me. I was at the 25 mile mark and who should I see  but Russell. He stopped and told me he just did the Hogs Eye Marathon in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Sunday. He won the Masters division, and 5th place over all. Way to go! This guy is truly a great runner and I think our paths will cross again. I finished 7 1/2 miles short of the Arkansas border today. Nice day in the 70s and the run went well. I will do a 30 mile run tomorrow as I have seen my route and I have 8 ft shoulder. 63 days and 1639 miles so far.

April 5th

Well, I hit Arkansas today as I was only 7 miles from there this morning. So I am 23 miles into Arkansas and I stopped 1/2 way through Springdale. Springdale is a big town and seems to be getting bigger. We will move ahead a couple of towns tomorrow. It was supposed to rain today, and it didn't, so I took full advantage of a cool, cloudy day. Just listening to weather now and it looks like rain 80 percent tomorrow, I don't like running in the rain. I will only do 27 miles if it rains all day. Lots of traffic for last 5 miles so I had to run in the grass, on and off the curb. Tough last 5 miles. Arkansas!!!

April 6th

Ran 27 miles today, very hilly and lots to look...finally. It was supposed to rain, so I ran wearing my rain jacket and it is completely plastic and doesn't breath, so you sweat like you are in a plastic sauna suit. I dressed completely wrong and froze today. The first 7 miles was in the high wet grass that killed my legs. I stopped 3 miles short of Huntsville, Arkansas. We will move our motel ahead to Harrison, Arkansas tomorrow. 65 days on the road.

April 7th

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.

April 8th

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 9th

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!