Run Diary Week 8

Monday 21st May 2007

Buffalo gnats have been dreadful for the last two days; apparently this is unusual. (reminds of the sand fly invasion at Blackpool marathon August 1999). Now onto third pair of sunglasses. Good job they’re not raybands. Stayed at Jacksonville super 8 motel for the night.

Tuesday 22nd May 2007

A 6:30 am start and got to New Berlin for breakfast. Had hoped to get a bit further than Springfield, to make up for shorter day yesterday, but ended up in ‘no motel land’ so carried on to Decatur arriving at 1 am. A hard 70 mile day.

Wednesday 23rd May 2007

Pleased to have made up a bit of ground yesterday, so had a slightly later start and covered the 43 miles to Tuscola today. Tomorrow will be the last day in Illinois.

Thursday 24th May 2007

Martin rang at 3:30 pm local time, at Chrisman, planning to do a further 25 miles to Rockville, which is across the border in Indiana. Now in Eastern Time zone, five hours behind us. A great surprise awaited Martin as he approached Rockville. Unknown to him, his friend Laurence from home had flown out to Indianapolis to spend a few days with him. He found him around 8:30 pm about 8 miles west of Rockville. We all wished we could have seen his face!

Friday 25th May 2007

‘It’s great to have someone to talk to’ Having been dropped back at the point 8 miles before Rockville, Martin continued on the now very familiar route 36, taking a break at Bainbridge before heading on to Danville; total distance 45 miles. Dinner for two at a nice seafood restaurant.

Saturday 26th May 2007

Today was mostly spent negotiating the city of Indianapolis. There was a motor racing event going on, which made the centre very busy. Goodbye to route 36 at last, after well over 1000 miles on it (since Denver). Now on route 40 and finished at Greenfield.