March 27th

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 28th

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.

March 29th

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 30th

 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 hitchhiking 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!!

March 31st

Well, before I left home, I said my biggest fear was mean dogs and cars that don't see me. After diving head first out of the way of a van that didn't see he was off the road, today it was the dogs. I have seen a lot of them and, so far, most have been protective but cool. Today, three big dogs came off a porch and they never slowed... they all started biting, the biggest bit me first in upper leg, went to slug it and the other dog bit my arm. I ripped out of his mouth but still had jacket sleeve and third dog had my water bottle holder in his mouth and they were all pulling down. I was lucky, the lady was home and she got one dog to listen and I limped away. Glad they stopped but she couldn't control all these dogs and they started back. I yelled, threw water bottle at them and they stayed. This was at the 20 mile mark. I still did my 27 miles, totally different day than when Russell was out. 35 mile head wind so at 20 I was tired. The leg bite still hurts but it really hurt for a few miles. With the head wind like that pepper spray and a light drizzle wouldn't of helped. I won't let this happen again, I now carry a Krenshaw lock blade on my belt, a small but razor sharp knife, clipped on my belt along with the pepper spray. Do they have dogs in Tennessee and Arkansas? Oh well, on a brighter note I ran the rest of the way through Stillwater and am 35 miles short of Tulsa. I have 1528 miles and tomorrow will be 60 days in a row.

Also, a big update on my training partners knee injury: Susan hurt her knee when she was out here in Feb running 24 miles a day. Her MRI came back and said no damage, just a little water on knee and no surgery! So that same day she got the news she went on a 30 mile bike ride and later that afternoon went on a 4 1/2 mile run. She was In a hail storm where she had to cover her head with her hands because hail hitting the top of her head and face so hard she thought it was breaking her finger nails as she covered her head. That's a training partner!!!

April 1st

We ran through Sand Springs and part of Tulsa, 27 miles. Going to have Dave stay in front of me as we go through Tulsa so I don't miss any turns. Not looking forward to tomorrow. Feet are started to swell again.

60 days on the road!

April 2nd

Started at 5:30 A.M. in Tulsa, cool morning, 35 degrees to start and then warmed up to 70 degrees. Dave stayed in front of me by about two miles as planned and a guy could really get used to that. Really nice to have a cool drink every 2 miles, but it's back to the real world tomorrow, warm cokes and hot water. I am 17 miles past Tulsa today. Sure looking forward to Arkansas. 1582 miles as of today. Glad to be out of Tulsa and Dave is anxiously awaiting our arrival in Arkansas, lots of fishing along the way.

Going to start running more every day.