Ocean City, New Jersey

I finally had a chance to run again this morning.  Along the highways and freeways and turnpikes and toll roads, it has been totally impossible.  But this morning I woke up in my beautiful hotel room on the 9th floor of the Port Of Call Hotel in Ocean City, New Jersey, then went down to the beach.  First I scattered some of Mother's ashes in the waves because Ocean City was always our summer playground and I knew she would like that.  Then I went for a nice 3 mile run along the beach.  It was really cold, around 36 degrees but felt nice because the sun was out without a cloud in the sky.  Shorebirds were everywhere and didn't even bother to move most of the time as I ran by.  I could tell they are quite used to people.

Mammoth Cave Walk

Cross training today. It was pouring rain again so I didn't want to try to find a good running spot.  But I did have a nice hardy four hour walk through Mammoth Cave today.  That was more strenuous than my typical afternoon run.  I am behind in my travel time so will probably just go straight to Maryland in the morning. I am already halfway through West Virginia.  Maybe I will do a longer run in Maryland!

Mammoth Cave is an incredible place.  Well worth the visit.

Lawrence, Kansas Today

I was afraid I was going to run out of Kansas before I found a good place to run.  I left Topeka and found myself stuck on the turnpike.  So I had to exit at Lawrence.  I saw someone running along a bike path so found a place to park and had a nice run there.  I was running out of time so only did 2 miles.  But it was so hot that I think that was enough.  I sure hope it isn't that hot in Savannah!

Lots of pretty fall colors in Kansas today.

Evergreen, Colorado

I did my run in Colorado today.  Wow, 7200 feet.  I could sure feel that.  I ran around a small lake here in Evergreen and I could sure feel the altitude.  It was also very hot but there was a good breeze blowing so that really helped. I just ran 3 miles.  I guess I will think twice before I sign up to do a marathon in Denver.  That altitude really does make a difference.  I was really slow but it was a great workout.  There were lots of steps in several places which really gave me an extra workout.  The drive to Evergreen from Craig was gorgeous especially through the pass after Winter Park.
A gorgeous day and a gorgeous drive through Colorado.

Utah

I had a very interesting run today on a road that supposedly led to a place called Strawberry Pinnacles.  I never did get to any pinnacles, but had a nice 3 mile run along the road.  Sometimes it's hard to find a reasonable place to run when driving along a highway for hours and hours.  I don't feel like running along the highway shoulder with trucks zooming by, and desolate roads can seem a little spooky. But this spot was really very nice.

Idaho

Well since we still needed to drive back to Twin Falls, and I was still in my running clothes, soon after we crossed back into Idaho after driving to Jackpot, Nevada, I jumped out and did another 2 mile run on a gravel road in Idaho.  While I ran, Truman and Dixie had lunch.  It was a beautiful and peaceful place with once again, not a car anywhere.  Now I have run in all the states and Canadian Provinces that I have visited so far.  Off to Utah tomorrow.
Here is the road I ran on here in Idaho.

It was a lovely place for a peaceful afternoon run.

Jackpot, Nevada

I thought I was going to stay in Nevada on Wednesday night but I was so close to Twin Falls, Idaho that I just breezed right on in.  But I didn't get the chance to run in Nevada.  Today Truman and Dixie wanted to give me another chance to do it so we drove down to Jackpot, Nevada and I ran a 2.4 mile run on a really nice gravel road.  That was fun!  The area was peaceful and there were no cars at all. A real rural run.

I hated to miss a state when my plan is to do a run in every state that I pass through.  I am caught up again now.

Nike Women's Marathon

I did it, I finished, crossed the finish line, got the necklace, got the finisher's T shirt.  It was awesome.  I am totally beat but it was worth the effort.  This was my 4th Nike so I have a little collection of the Tiffany necklaces.  I love that run.  I was really worried because for the last 4 months my training has been terrible. First the broken ribs and collarbone after the moose stomped me back in May.  Then surgery on the collarbone July 9th, again putting me out of commission for another 6 weeks.  Then the last week of September some strep throat sort of thing that lasted for two miserable weeks.  If that wasn't enough, I drove 3200 miles to San Francisco from Alaska.  But at least I did a short run in each state and Canadian province along the way.  At least it was enough to finish. I don't know the official results yet but my chip time was a little more than 6 hours.  Certainly not great, but I am not complaining after all I have been through to finally get the chance to do the run.

San Francisco

Well tomorrow is the day. Nike Women's Marathon number 4 for me.  It's pretty warm around here and I hope I don't roast tomorrow.  I hope I can finish because I am still partially recovering from being stomped by the moose back in May, and from a horrible 2 week long cold/sore throat thing.  I also just drove 3200 miles from Alaska.  But I think I can do it.  I will give it my best shot anyway.

This one is for my cousin Michael Kaminski who has Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  I will be thinking of him with every step.  He has to beat this thing.

Washington and Oregon Today

I woke up in Bellingham, Washington this morning and now I am sleeping in the shadow of my beloved Mt. Shasta, one of my favorite places on earth.  The 14,000 foot peak that I have climbed 13 times by every route but the Hotlam Headwall.  All back in the 70's when I lived here.  I hope one day to climb it for the 14th time.

Since I crossed two states today I had to run in both states to maintain my plan to run in every state and province on my trip.  In Washington when I stopped to get gas, I followed a sign to Tolmie State Park Beach.  The beach was small but I ran along it for about one mile then started following the two trails up the hills through the rain forest for a total of 3 miles.  It was quite spectacular and some good hill practice.  It even stopped raining for me!

I ran again on a little country road south of Eugene, Oregon just before sunset when it finally stopped raining there.  I only ran one mile because it was starting to get dark.

I will make it to San Francisco tomorrow

87 Mile Loop Road British Columbia

I had a terrible earache yesterday so decided to do my British Columbia run sometime today. There was not a very good running place near my hotel this morning so I decided to just drive along and pick a place that looked good.  I found the most charming little road.  It was a 1.5 mile loop road off the main highway that just went through the woods parallel to the highway south of 100 Mile House.  I parked in the middle of the loop and ran to both ends for a nice 3 mile run.  It started to rain just as I got back to the car.  It was lovely.

This is my little running road.

Tomorrow will be a challenge because I will most likely drive all the way through both Washington and Oregon which means I need to run twice.  I am hoping to make it to Mt. Shasta tomorrow night.

Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Canada

I got up and ran 3 miles at sunrise this morning from my hotel in Whitehorse.  It's snowing lightly and right at freezing. It was a gorgeous drive yesterday by Kluane Lake.

Heading south now!

Tok Alaska

I left Palmer around noon yesterday and made it to Tok, Alaska last night. I managed to lock myself out of my car at the gas station, while it was still running!  But the nice man with a slim jim got the door open.  I stayed in Tok last night and woke up to quite a snowstorm.  It took a little kicking myself to get out and run in that, but I did run 3 miles in the 2 inches of new snow.  It was and is still snowing very hard.  I'm taking my time jumping into the car and heading off to Canada.  But it should be ok because the road itself looks just wet.  It is pretty warm.

Beautiful drive yesterday.  Mt Sanford and Mt Drum and the Matanuska Glacier were in bright sunshine.  Just amazing!