Send me on my way

Everyday while I’m running, I always think of little things I want to put in my blog post. Lots of times I’m caught between wanting to record my thoughts and feelings, give a picture into the soul of the run; or to capture the pure physicality of it and the sights and sounds of each day. Since last night was a bit sentimental, tonight I’ll catch everyone up on the running part of this run!

Well yesterday was another challenging day – I am happy that I am getting my butt whooped to the very end! It’s pretty hard to even have the toughness of it register these days though…when you’re 100 miles away from finishing a run across the country, you feel like you’re walking on sunshine.

In any case, yesterday I was walking, but definitely not on sunshine! I had to run right through the city of Augusta, GA, and running through cities is always tough – just like driving. Lots of stop and go and avoiding getting hit by cars and navigating curbs – let me say this loud and clear that I will never again take a ramped curb for granted. Every single block yesterday I was gingerly lowering my stroller down from the curb and then lifting it back up on the other side of the street – a constant 60 lb arm workout.

Anyway I made it across town, over the Savannah River and was greeted by the South Carolina State Line sign – probably the happiest a street sign has ever made me – yet. I sat right down under the sign and ate a nice cold grapefruit fresh from my cooler. Mmh mmh.

Continued on my way and came upon an impassable strip of highway. Got stopped by a police officer, who went from ticked off to relieved to enthusiastic when I told him no there was no baby and explained what I was doing. He ended up escorting me for a quarter mile so I didn’t have to do any 8 mile detours. Thank you Officer!  So after all the city obstacle courses and the highway delay, I didn’t finish up until 8:30 – a 12 hour day! Aye caramba. Fortunately I had the pleasure of staying with a very sweet couple, Mel and Marilou in Aiken.  They fed me a giant plate of spaghetti and I was even treated to homemade carrot cake :  )  Thank you to Mel and Marilou for a nice night and to their son-in-law Evan from  BGCA for arranging it!

After yesterday, today felt like it flew by! 32 miles and I was done by 6.  Mostly flat and a very pretty route for most of the way.  About 3 miles from finishing, however, I was stopped by another policeman. This time he took my ID, ran my record, and then issued me a written warning!  I don’t even know what it was for; I imagine he was warning me that it was dangerous to run on the highway but hey, I do realize that. Anyway, it gave me a good chuckle and now I have an interesting piece for the scrapbook.  Unfortunately, I am on that highway for pretty much the remainder of the run, and it’s got absolutely no shoulder. Today I was running more or less in the road and a big truck was coming so I moved onto the grass and I nearly ran over this giant black snake – I have seen so many dead ones on the side of the road that it almost doesn’t register anymore that it could be a live snake. Well this black one turned out to be alive. It wasn’t a dangerous one or anything, but I definitely shrieked and jumped on the other side of my stroller when I realized it was alive!

After finishing I met Ms. Dennis from the Club in Barnwell, SC, part of the Clubs of Southern Carolina. It was too late for me to meet the kids but I got to see the club and meet the staff :  )  and on top of that, they put me up for the night in a hotel in town – I sure will miss getting spoiled like this! Thank you Jeteseya!

Well, I’m in the homestretch now. Last 100 miles :  )