Run Across America - 19th August - Day 67

After crossing into Illinois yesterday morning I’m feeling more self-assured as even though I am running the boring country roads (corn fields) it’s getting me closer to New York City. At the end of this evening’s session I will be 80 miles into our new state. This morning Matt (cycling) and I left from just outside Pittsfield, heading towards Jacksonville. I do like the name of these places and the “Jackson” name seems to be all over America.

I am renowned back home for my stubborn ways and after breaking my own 40 mile record yesterday I paid the price today as I started slow because of my tired and stiff muscles. I have to set myself goals relating to my running times and if I feel a new record is achievable I will push for it. The session today was over 1 hour slower than the previous day but I don’t have to push everyday as long as the miles are covered. The first 10 miles are always the hardest but I know from many days of doing the same painful miles that I will wake up both physically and mentally once over the 10 mile mark. The road started out good with plenty of beautiful houses to view but that all changed after 10 miles as I started running again along the “famous” corn fields.

Matt has now biked 140 miles in 7 days and I’m very proud of him, remembering he hasn’t exercised much since his school days. I hope that his girlfriend Hannah is very proud of what he is doing for the “Run Across America” project because personally for me it was important for me that Matt is here as he was one of the first people I confided in way back to the days when I was a bar tender at Chicago Rock Café, Norwich over 7 years ago (they were the days).

I spoke to my twin brother Gareth this afternoon and it was so good to hear him and his wife Rebecca’s voice. Rebecca is expecting their first child in a few months so I’m glad I will be back to see my little nephew. Once they have a baby that then means all my brothers have had children. My older brother Mark has Harry-George, Scott has Bailey, and I have got my wonderful Poppy and then Gareth. I know this is meant to be about the run but my family are very supportive and mean a lot to me.

Tonight the finish was near a place called New Berlin (7 miles away), so we have parked the RV in a parking lot for the night. Ben bought a new laptop in Jacksonville today so he has a new toy to play with when not driving the RV. I am trying to get him biking some miles but he is not up for it yet.

Artist of the day – No music again as I am trying to get the team biking with me all the time as there are 4 crew members so I thought it would be rude to listen to my iPod.

Regards, Jackson and Team