Strangely full of energy last 2 days of a long series. Felt the same day during Appalachia. Body’s succumbed to its daily fate & mentally — whew! — you’re thinking about HOME. For me, that’s the snowy peaks of the Front Range. For me, it’s coming home to my best bud, Ro ❤️
Day 6 in the ‘Show Me State’. Course 5-minute drive from my hotel in Cape Girardeau. Still riding high from yesterday’s run. Mostly flat bike-path today in Missouri. #50K every day
Broken-record mantra: LUSH GREEN tropical. 6 days in, guessing that’s just the way the mighty Mississipp’ states are in Spring. Trees don’t leaf-out ’til Mother’s Day in Colorado — but then, it’s an intense catch-up, all within a 2-week burst. Winter, summer. Our ‘fringe’ seasons are short.
Ran a half, jogged a couple miles, finished up quick. 2nd fastest of the series, another 50K win (not lotta ultra folks). Packed/repacked the rental. Tomorrow’s Day 7 — then after, an overnight visit with Sis. Lives only 2 ½ hours from course. That’s just a short Mainly commute. LOL>
Vienna, Illinois. Place where I finished my first 50 miler. Tunnel Hill. Probably the flattest fastest 50-mile course out there (but it counts 😊) This day, warned not to run thru the tunnel or will have overshot my turnaround by 6 miles. HAHA! Didn’t sleep night-before, walked the early DARK miles. Guinness Mom-Chey (also eager to get home) made quick time of her Half. Thanks friend!
Happy pedestrian after; chatted-up miles with Tom from New Jersey. He’s all but talked me into his favourite local 6-day event next May at the NJ Fairgrounds. Said goodbyes @ Mile 24. Ran hard late, 4 miles to catch my buddies Angela & Ed. Wanted to finish out the series together. And we did.
7 days, 7 states, 7 50Ks. Notta record — that was last series. But doing the math, still 350K & a whole lotta places I’d never seen. One final river bridge-crossing into St. Louis, then fell off the wagon fast. Large blizzard w/ Reese’s at the local Sonic near Sis.
Life’s meant to be lived & what’s life without ice cream.
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- Show Me State
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- Osage Park
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- 50K BELL Ringer
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- Welcome to Vienna
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- Railroad Crossing
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- 7 days, 7 states, 7 50Ks
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- SERIES goodbye
Vienna IL
Day 5. Columbus-Belmont State Park. Mighty green. Sure was HILLY.
Hour-half drive from hotel in Cape Girardeau. Honestly notta lotta lodging options near Columbus Kentucky. Bridge-crossed both Mississippi & Ohio rivers before 430am.
Wildlife ticker started at the Kentucky border. Possum momma & babies. Raccoon. Raccoon. Owl I thought dead in the road, rose HUGE as I neared with the rental. GPS necessary for this Civil War Park — Mainly’s hilliest course of all 50 states.
Morning announcements. Long loop ’round parking, UP UP first big climb & I ran. Headlamp flickered then BAM… it was dark (failed to recharge night before). Howdy Kim from Wichita. I’m gonna run close ’cause I’ve got no light. Sub 9-minute pace; gal killed it for her 5K. Quick goodbyes & UP UP the biggest climb again. Push, push, push — fast on the downhill. Arms windmilling to help with balance I never fully regained from chemo.
Saw Chey/Guinness Mom, my half-marathon pacer, for second hour. I dropped a 7:40 minute/mile & we parted two laps ’til I’d catch her on another climb. Remember, she’s doing this with a stroller & baby-in-tow. Strong athlete 💪
My first sub-2 Half in years. Took in electrolytes, walked ’til base of incline & pushed UP again. Instead of holding back, I just kept hitting it. I’ll walk tomorrow. Kinda fun being that guy for a day. Think it the mix of rolling hills/use of different muscles or maybe the 25-degree drop in temperature. First past 26 miles. 50K winner this day.
Hung ’round, cheered on my run tribe & thanked the RDs for finally turning on the air conditioning 🙂 #Colorado boy
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- Dave from Raleigh
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- Mississippi River
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- Jeff Davis & Abe Lincoln
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- HILLS of Kentucky
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- 2K vert 💪
Video Disclaimer: Song I was humming: Blue Moon of Kentucky. Also NOT the fastest 50K of my life… I was young once 🙂
Columbus-Belmont State Park, KY
Second stay in 2 weeks @ Motel 6.
Both posted glowing reviews of recent renovations. Truth. Rooms were clean, furniture new, was freshly painted. Truth. Chain must cater more to late-night folks than ultra runners. Even with ear plugs, you’re not gonna sleep here. Mariachi FIESTA. Room AND parking lot thumping past 1am. Mistake made; not again. Alarm rang @ 4 — gonna be a tough one in Tennessee.
Another state park. Each day one-upping BEAUTY of the park before. Dolly Parton land.
Lush green forest — deep in the ‘holler. New day, same HIGH HUMIDITY theme. Rain forecast overnight, thermometer expected to drop 15-20 degrees by tomorrow 🙌
Day 4. Less laps, more hills. Head not plugged in/lack of sleep excuse. Ran half-marathon with the Guinness Mom then pedestrian-only day. GREAT walk (fast pace) & conversation with Texan gal, Angela. Jogged-in last 2 miles after my friend’s marathon finish. 8 hours+ but not the caboose.
Millington to Memphis (TN), West Memphis to Blytheville (AR), hour-half more to Cape Girardeau (MO). Unpacked/fully cleaned out the rental. 3-night stay. Whoop whoop! 🙂
Shower, dinner, lights out 8pm — tomorrow: the hills of Kentucky!
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- Day 4 DARK
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- Tennessee GREEN
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- Meeman-Shelby State Park
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- #50K every day
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, TN
