Day 91: Up Early and Out.

Well, it was miserably hot again today. I'm very thankful I got up early and started running. Got 20 miles in this morning and called it a day. Definitely trying to be very smart about not draining all my energy during the nasty weather. Temperatures reached about 105 today, so finishing by 1pm was a great thing. We came back to the hotel and just relaxed all afternoon. I hibernated actually. Just woke up and I hope I can get back to sleep tonight. Gotta get another early start tomorrow, it is supposed to be near 105 again tomorrow. I'm getting very excited to see Dad and Elliot. They will be out on July 5th. By then, I should be very close to the Missouri border. Last day in June today, WOW!! I can't believe we've been out on the road for 3 full months now. Only 1 1/2 months remaining! It's getting closer everyday, and I get more excited everyday. It is so hard to control the excitement, but I know I have to or I'll go crazy thinking about it. Just trying to focus on each day's run. Still, I can't wait to see that West Virginia State line.

Mom's View of El Dorado, Kansas

 

We were wondering about these replicas of the Statue of Liberty that we kept seeing in small towns. I was able to read the plaque attached to this one and discovered that in 1950 the Boy Scouts of America had a campaign to "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty"  as part of their 40th Anniversary.

Butler County Courthouse in El Dorado

A Walk of Honor on the courthouse lawn

Dedication to Freedom--this was an inspiring stop just before the Fourth of July

Our first stop in El Dorado was the library. We were greeted by Angela Wilborn and the staff there was very interested in "The Long Road Home". Natalie Martin (above) invited us to stay with her and husband Chris and their family! We would have enjoyed their company and greatly appreciate the kind gesture, but Holly Paugh was arranging two free nights at the Super 8 Motel, so we checked in there--so much hospitality in El Dorado! Free sandwich from Subway there also.

Day 91: Running in honor of Coach Ernie Fox.

Day 90: Random Thoughts From the Road.

So, I got passed by a younger, female runner today like I was almost standing still. For a brief instant, I debated pulling a Jim Cooper and challenging her to a race to the finish line, but I wasn't sure if she was planning on running all the way to West Virginia. As I was debating this epic battle, she was quickly leaving me in the dust. I wasn't sure quite how to take this sudden, yet personally demoralizing defeat. I just watched her getting further away, with my jaw dropped open, trying to process this apparent lack of respect for her elder, haha. Just then, a bug flew into my mouth, and straight down my throat. Finally, after 1,405 miles, I inhaled a juicy flying species. For anyone who hasn't had the good fortune to swallow a bug, let me just tell you...bugs is good eatin'. I figured I needed the protein and carbs anyway, so I tried my best not to violently throw it back up.  At the time, I just happened to be running by a field full of what I think was cabbage, or spinach, or corn, or maybe it was okra. Not really sure since it was just a bunch of leaves, and I don't really know what any of that stuff looks like in early stages. Come to think of it, it may have just been some grass. I seriously debated chasing my bug supplement with some of the green, cabbage-ish, spinachy, cornokra grass, but I was afraid I might get shot by the farmer. Even though the spread was in front of a retirement community, I was sure that, at some point, one of the residents may have been a farmer.

I also thought tons about the upcoming football season, both for WVU and for our Roane County Raiders. John Pena has been keeping me updated on the success of our boys of fall during the summer 7 on 7 tournaments. Wow!! 3 out of 3, champions of all, whuupin' up on A, AA, and AAA teams along the way. It is definitely shaping up to be a very special year. I can hardly contain my excitment when I think about it. Only 2 more months!!

I also received one of the best text messages in my life, when Toby Ford sent me a message to let me know he was awake and doing okay. Although he said he felt like he'd been run over by a truck, I was just so happy to see his name pop up on my phone. I pray for a speedy recovery for Tobias.

I almost got eaten alive by a doberman that I swear came from Chernobyl. This thing was a mutated version of a regular doberman. I'm not kidding, the thing stood on all fours and could look me in the eyes. Luckily for me, his reaction time was a slight bit slow, so by the time he noticed I was traversing near his owner's domicile, I was already saved by a fence, or so I thought. Ole Cujo hit the fence at full steam, on a dead sprint, barking and foaming at the mouth, and nearly uprooted the support posts. It was at this point that I decided to bring out my trusty Usain Bolt impersonation. As Cujo was running the fenceline, looking for an escape plan so he could feast on my sweat and fear soaked body, I was pulling 3-G's down the gravel road. He finally found the driveway exit and peered around the end of the fence at me one last time before he decided not to go after supper. Let's just say, without getting too graphic, I was puckered for a few miles after.

Oh, and I made 25 miles today. Relatively easily. I did 20 miles in the morning, finishing around 1pm, just as the thermostat was nearing hell temperature. Spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the comfort of an air conditioned hotel room at the Super 8 in El Dorado, KS, once again courtesy of the hard work of Holly Paugh. Huge thanks to the Manager and staff here for supporting the run!! I finally got back out about 8:15, and casually finished the last 5 miles of the day. I really wish I had the power to clone running days, because today would be on permanent repeat until I got home. I barely remember much about the actual run itself. I was just off in wonderland, thinking of odd things most of the day, some of which made the blog tonight. Hoping for another one like this tomorrow.

Towanda Welcomed Drew

The high school in Towanda

Sun setting on 70th run, 1405 miles

Day 90: Running in honor of Holly and Timi Paugh.

Wichita Heroes

SrA Baloga, SSgt Broyles, Drew, TSgt Flaherty, SSgt Wheeler    Explosive Ordnance Disposal--when something that could explode and cause much damage needs to be neutralized, these men are trained to respond.

From McConnell Air Force Base, EOD flt members signed a T-shirt and presented it to Drew.

Alfred P. Besser shows Drew a medal from 14th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March

Grueling run through the desert at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, to honor those service members who fought to defend the Philippine Islands during World War II

Al served in Viet Nam and then in his 50's volunteered for duty in Iraq! Great stories from a true patriot.

Mom's View of People in Wichita, Continued

Texas Roadhouse treated us to a feast!

The staff at Texas Roadhouse celebrated Drew's run!

Headed to breakfast at Jimmie's Diner

Breakfast at Jimmie's

Meeting Representative Mike Pompeo

Rep. Pompeo's new district office in Wichita

Our hosts Jim and Marcia with their Congressman.

Staffer's working at the meet and greet at the new office. Great new leader in Washington.

Thanks for the the welcome at the Air National Guard Recruiting office. TSgt Edgar SalazarAguirre working the phone and SSgt Jason McAndrews with Drew.

Day 88: Don't Call It a Comeback!! What Happened to Me Today!!

All I can say about today is, I am shocked. Shocked in a very, very good way. I had no clue what was in store for today, but I was very worried due to the previous 2 days of misery. All I thought about last night after the 10 mile letdown was how in the world I was going to be able to run today. The fear of already being behind schedule was only compounded by the impending thought that I could fall way more behind if today was as bad as the last two days. Not only that, but I had to get up much earlier to try to miss some of the humidity, so I didn't sleep much. Basically, I was just scared of what could happen today. And, wouldn't you know, I had absolutely nothing to worry about, haha!! To my pleasant surprise, it was fairly overcast this morning, and not nearly as humid. Also, the wind, although strong against me, actually had a bit of coolness to it. To top things off, I was stunned as I started the run to find that I actually felt really good. Of course, I thought to myself, "Self, how long before my legs start shaking again and my vision starts blurring." Those thoughts lasted the entire first 5 miles. But, as I was nearing the van, I suddenly realized that I felt really good. I was still cautiously optimistic starting the second 5 miles, wondering if this would be when the exhaustion kicked in. Quite the opposite occured, however, as I began to feel stronger and stronger. By the 7th mile, all the fears I had from the past 2 days were long gone, and replaced by an inner confidence. By mile 10, although still completely dumbfounded as to how I could possibly feel this good, my confidence was bursting. Then, of course, came my natural arrogance in my mind. Suddenly, I was talking in  my head about how I bet I could run 40 miles today (yeah, I know I am swayed easily by my emotions, haha). Then I turned into Dad for about 3 miles, and started doing math in my head, calculating distances and what it would take to get back on schedule. I don't think I'll ever cure my OCD. I realized that, if, or should I say, after I finished my 40 mile excursion, I would only be 5 miles off the pace I needed. Ehh, what's 5 miles, it nothing. It's a cup of coffee. Then, the inward mental arrogance turned into flat out badgering of my body by my mind. I was saying things like, "you better get ready for 40 miles body, and I don't want to hear any whining from you, or I'll lock you back in the basement." You know, typical things you would see a crazy vagrant scream at himself in New York City. Despite the verbal assault on my physical being, my body just kept getting stronger. By the time I finished mile 15, I had it in my mind that I was going to run further than I ever have. Suddenly, 40 miles was a realistic goal. I stopped briefly to do an interview with the crew from KAKE-Channel 10 TV station (another in the long line of things Holly Paugh has done for me on this trip. What a wonderful man by the way.) Oh, and a side note, Rachael, the woman who interviewed me, was really, REALLY hot!! (Haha, I guess you all didn't really need that info.) Anyway, Mom asked if I was ready for lunch, and I said I was going to push it today and see just how far I could go with this great wave of energy. So I went 5 more miles, which gave me 20 for the day. Mom asked if I was done. I said no. So I went 5 more miles, making my total 25 miles. Mom asked if I was done. I said nnnoo, err, yeah, but just 'til after lunch. Here it was, only 3pm, and I'd already completed 25 miles, without a significant rest. The crazy thing was, I still felt great. I was so excited at the thought of what I could accomplish today. We came back to the lakehouse for lunch and some rest before the evening run. And, while I was lying in bed, pondering the morning, and the rest of the day, I realized what I had just accomplished. 25 miles without a real break. I let it sink in a little bit. Then I started thinking about just how bad I felt yesterday, and 2 days ago. I thought about just how nervous I was before the run this morning. Then it hit me, I was no longer nervous, I was back to being confident, just like that. I realized that I was content with the day. More than breaking my distance record, I just wanted to feel good about a run again. I promise you all, this journey, day in and day out, is as tough mentally as anything. I found that, all I really needed out of today was to get back to normal. So, I decided to call it a day. This is a very significant step for me mentally, because, as my sister will attest, I am extremely OCD about certain things. Normally, I would have had it in my head that I was going to run 40 miles, even if my legs fell off in the process. However, I took a step back, took a deep breath, and reminded myself that this is not a sprint, it's a marathon. There will be plenty of days when I feel good enough to run 25 miles over the course of the day, and I will make up the time I need within the next month and a half to comfortably arrive on time back home. At some point in the trip, most likely when I am much closer to home, I will catch another day like today, and I will choose then to break my own distance record, but not today. Today, I just needed to get back to normal, and use the rest of the day, and tomorrow to recover. Sometimes, it's good to learn when to not push too far. Today was that kind of day. Of course, being obsessive as I am, I also noted that, due to me finishing 25 miles today, I am at least back on track with the 20 mile a day average, haha. 1,380 down, about 920 remaining.
A quick note: I want to sincerely thank Holly Paugh for all of his hard work in welcoming me to Wichita. He has gone above and beyond this whole trip, but especially in these last few days. Tonight, he got us hooked up at the Texas Roadhouse. My first steak on the entire trip, and it was sooooooo worth the wait!! Not only that, but a huge thanks to the staff and management at the Texas Roadhouse for the welcome we received, the awesome meal that was on the house, the great service (thanks Landen), and the wonderful gesture after the meal with the entire staff picture. I'm sure Mom will post a few pics from the dinner. What a great end to a great day!! And it could not have come at a more needed time.

Helpful People in the Wichita, KS, Area



Timi, Holly Paugh's daughter on the lakehouse beach.

How about a private beach on a private lake a few minutes from the center of Wichita?



And with the lakehouse you get tennis/basketball, shuffleboard, horseshoes,  playground, picnic areas, conference room with tables for a crowd, and downstairs gameroom, showers, fishing deck, etc.

...And of course, the boating, skiing, tubing...

We made ourselves comfortable in the lakehouse. Thank you Jim and Marcia McAnarney for making us welcome in your fabulous fun place! And thanks Holly Paugh for making the contact.

Holly at it again setting up an interview  with KAKE Channel 10 TV News

Redemption begins after 2 1/2 hard days of doubt. Drew was only able to do 5 morning and 5 evening miles in the very hot and humid weather in Kansas. This photo was taken as he started his 10th and final mile. You gotta believe when the music from Chariots of Fire is on the radio as he appears on the crest of the hill just to the left of the sunset.

Supervan reflected in the window of Carol and Steve Dunn's charming restaurant in Mt. Vernon

Met Ray Noblit, Pikes Peak runner and his mom here.

They took us in and fed us and encouraged us.

Mom's View of Cheney Lake

Cove where instructors from Ninnescah Sailing Association teach beginners to sail.

Ninnescah Yacht Club

"Cats" parked on their own secluded beach before a day of brisk sailing.

Morning view from the back of the supervan.

And the sun rises over Cheney Lake.