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!

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, TN

M-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I

2 50Ks west of the river, today I’d bridge-cross & begin a trend east of the Mississipp’.

2-night stay in Lake Village = 3am alarm for Day 3.  Striking a balance between lodging nearby [our] next day start & the treat of two nights in the same bed.  No checkin, no unpack/repack routine, immediate post-marathon shower & a break from daily highway travel.  So… somedays you welcome a dark 3am start ‘though it still comes early.

Another state park, more GPS coordinates.  Well over 70 degrees; HEAVY still air.  No breeze, no cell signal, isolated — later, most leafy green cover I’d seen all series 🙂

60+ miles in so far.  Even with TheraGun massage, notice Days 3 & 4 are the worst physically.  Everything hurts, mind’s fighting ya… doesn’t seem any end in sight.  7 days [mentally] more like months away.  So… you walk the beginning… in the dark, with a headlamp.  Ya group with your best end-of-race walk buddies & listen to stories.

Dave from Raleigh.  He’s lap one, lap 2.  Chey (gal attempting Guinness Record/baby-in-stroller) shows an hour later, runs a Half, appreciates the company.  9:30/10:30 minute pace.  Just like that… 16 miles completed.

And then... a day early… it begins to rain.  Light gentle summer drops.  Temp becomes something bearable.  Tree canopy amplifies the patter.  Frown upside down.  Mini miracle.  Run/walk/jogged remainder of my 32.  Thank ya Lord 🙏

Leroy Percy State Park, MS

Another early a.m. start.  Day 2, Lake Chicot State Park in Lake Village AR.

Advised to use GPS coordinates to locate today’s start — thanks so much!  Tucked deep in the woods next Lake Chicot.  Headlamp beginning but without the Day One swamp or croaking gators.

What they do have in Arkansas… whole lotta HUMIDITY.  Sweated inside & out.

For folks wanting to drop some winter weight, hey y’all — found your spot.  LOL>  Drip, drip, drip. Down my nose.  Off the cheeks.  Shirt soaked tight against my chest.  WHEW!

But… those daybreak views?  FAAANNTASTIC!  As the laps wore on, light steady breeze half-mile ‘longside the lake.  Whoop whoop!  50K day, finished with a smile 🙂

So… after 32 miles… grabbed a extra lap to help a runner finish her marathon day.

GREAT day to be alive ❤️

Bridge-crossing tomorrow.  Running east of the mighty river, M-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I!

Lake Chicot State Park, AR