Run Across America - 29th June - Day 16

Today started off getting up at 5am and then leaving the RV campsite around 6am after some breakfast. I only had to run 3 miles before crossing into our third state of Arizona. I was planning to get in the usual 20 miles before taking a break in the afternoon but I felt so tired after an hour that I decided instead of running when half a sleep I would take a nap on the side walk under a tree. I laid there it seemed for only 5 minutes but turned out to be just over 1 hour. I entered Arizona fresh and ready to put the miles in before lunch but I was always playing catch up as I was running up hill for nearly 15 miles, it didn’t seem a big incline, but when looking back there was a big difference.

In the afternoon session Trevor and Natasha joined me for an hour walk, but after only 5 minutes Natasha ran back to the motor home why! Well there was a motorcyclist that stopped to make sure we were all okay and then told us to be safe as we were walking in Coyote land and they will attack, sometimes in groups. I wasn’t worried as I have a good enough kick (I hope) to keep them at reach before calling for the lads on the motor home. Anyway there was no sign of Coyotes even though I searched the mountains for the last 27 miles, but thank goodness to no avail.

I ended up going at nearly 8 miles an hour for the last 10 miles as I had cover 37 miles to make it over the 400 mile mark in 13 days of running since starting at Huntington Beach, California. Las Vegas now seems a distant memory and we have now moved on tour to another state. We are camped behind a gas station for the night so we don’t have much power or the internet (only at times).

Tomorrow we are running into another State (Utah), where the run is getting very hilly most of the time and will only come down in incline when we go past the Rocky Mountains. I am trying to run near enough 37 miles a day so we can finish earlier then first predicted. I don’t want to give any dates yet as the more miles ran extra, I can use for maybe a day off (if needed).

I have to thank my team so far as I don’t see the waiting around they have to do whilst on running, that’s why I’m sitting next to Ben and Natasha who are both having JD/ Coke at midnight to relax a bit (they have the life).

Artist of the day – Jay-Z     

Regards

Jackson and Team