Running Across The USA

I hope to finish today Thursday May 12, 2011 somewhere around 3 to 5 pm. Which will make 88 days and around4 to 6 hours… I will twitter during the second half to let friends who want to come out know where i am….
Thanks to everyone who has visited my site or FB or twitter and especially those that took the time to comment. Thanks again.
John

I’d hoped to finish on Wednesday but the road conditions just would not let me get far enough today. No shoulders and just enough traffic to keep me in the grass and slow me down. So I plan on trying to make Oceanview Ave., Norfolk, VA tomorrow late and finish off with a short 24 miles by early afternoon. I hope to make it up to NJ (by car, not running) for the last 48 hours+ of the “3 Days at the Fair” race. Just so I can harass some friends and a little cool down run without having to push Gopher Jr.!
Pictures:

Some nice houses on this route!

Nice Breakfast Break!

Reach for the Stars with all your Heart!

Right after my hair cut today, Evening rush hour!

Hopefully only 2 days left on the road! I will be technically in the Hampton Roads area tomorrow if all goes well. I don’t have time for pictures tonight, well maybe one…. Or two!
Also I will be having a contest after I finish, I’m making a collage of some of my pictures and the winner will get a copy, probably 16×20. details and how to enter after I finish….. Hint: start looking for your favorite top ten pictures.

I've seen about 2700 miles of this road!

About a mile from the motel I'm staying at!

Hopefully, this time next week I will be finished. Probably catching some zzzzz’s so that I can make the trek up to NJ for the 3 day at the Fair 72 hour race

Tomorrow I will start the day with a 4 mile climb up to Long Mountain Wayside. I will probably get pretty emotional. I have crossed over US Route 60 at this spot 26 times as a participant in the Mountain Masochist Trail Run 50 miler, originally RD’d by Dave Horton. This race means a lot to me and Dave has been a big inspiration to me. I will probably stop for a half hour or so and take it all in. It will also be the last Major climb of my journey. I’m looking forward to it!
Thanks Dave.
Pictures:

It doesn't get much better than this! The VA line is at the top of this climb!

Forest and Streams

Along the Detour caused by I-64 taking over US Route 60

Yeah they spotted me!

You can see the interstate clear down at the bottom. That's where I started this climb. I'm only half way up!

Top of the 2500 foot climb!

Crossing the James River, entering Buena Vista

2 miles into my day tomorrow I will be down to the distance of the Vol State Run. IE 100 Pies (PI=3.14 and VS is 314 miles). Just a little jog left
Pictures:

Me at the Capitol of West Virginia

Kanawha River Which I traveled along all day today!

The Buzzards are waiting for me!

One of many beautiful small water falls today.

Kanawha River Falls

By tomorrow I might only have a “Vol State” run left! I had a ton of greetings today due to the TV spot yesterday. about 4 or 5 stopped to talk! Of course this slowed down my time but it was fun. I’m now in downtown Charleston, WV.
Pictures:

Lighthouse, must be getting close to the ocean!

Yep at least that far!

I still like old buildings!

This ones even older than me!

This is the way bridges should be!

Charleston, by night...

Getting closer!  As one person ask, can I smell the salt air yet? Well nope but it’s getting stronger.
Pictures:

Tug

Next to last State!

This was one big pool!

Woodie..

Getting more education! We are Marshall

Pink Elephant

Well going through downtown Lexington, the 4 lane road went straight through, unfortunately US 60 turned and I missed the sign (if there was one). I ended up with 3+ extra miles!
I had a visit from Anne Sevilla with her new son Noah. Anne is from Virginia Beach currently and before her baby worked part time for Running Etc. She grew up here in Lexington, KY and is a diehard UK fan
She is here to visit with her parents (and the Kentucky Derby!). It was a nice visit and that always helps with your mental attitude.
Pictures:

Anne and Noah Sevilla

Still in the "low rent" district!

What this area is all about!

Barns

Fun

Natures Beauty

What I'll be doing in a couple weeks

Rain book-ended the day with thunderstorms for the first and last 3+ hours of my day. The middle was ok but humid. I managed a 43 mile day with my total at 2432 leaving me 568 miles left. Anyone volunteering to drive me to NJ immediately after I finish

Yes, I like old farm buildings...

Yep, more farm buildings

I'm in UK country!

Waterfall courtesy of all the flooding

Capitol Building

Beautiful stone walls

The title is an understatement. I got a 3 hour late start because of the early severe thunderstorms. Then I stopped about the 3 mile mark to visit with Roger Lehman, whom I met at the Double Deca Ironman this past November, He came down to Louisville to watch his daughter in a volleyball tournament and realized that I was passing though at the same time so we hooked up for a nice meet…
Rained a lot with flooding that poured out over US Route 60 with much more thunder and lightning so I called it a day at Shelbyville, KY with only 20 miles. Picked up a new rain outfit at Wal-Mart that should do much better than the poncho I was using.
Pictures: (not many because of the rain)

Roger Lehman visited

Small countryside church!

Memorial to those who died in a civil war era massacre (plaque follows next picture)

Explains last picture