Run Across America - 20th August - Day 68

There was no driving to the start point this morning as we parked the RV at the point I finished the night before, which gave me an extra 30 minutes in bed. The team didn’t get the best nights sleep as Ben parked the RV up near an “old” train track. Around midnight it certainly proved it wasn’t “old” as the noise of a freight train came thundering down the tracks Natasha and Matt thought it was coming straight at the RV. This will be a story we will be reminiscing about after the trip.

After leaving the RV the first thing we came across were corn fields either side of us and the pouring of the ‘Illinois’ rain. Matt (cycling) and I got the view of some trees in the distance but in order to get there quick I had to “run like the wind” and wait under the trees for the rain to stop. The trees we waited under were next to a house that looked haunted (The Burbs). It felt rather strange, topping it off a black cat came out of no where that freaked us both out. The cat only had one ear and was very skinny so I did feel sorry for it, but once it jumped up on me, I quickly had to push it away (10 yards in the air) and run away fast.

The running conditions in Illinois have been just right and it feels comfortable to run in (not like Kansas). The big City of the day I was running towards was Springfield. Springfield is famous for being the birthplace of the first American President Abraham Lincoln and also being the Capitol of Illinois (pictures from Springfield will be on the gallery). I almost got knocked over today at a crossing as I was looking the wrong way, not realising until Matt told me I was so close to being hit.

Springfield has lots of history so whilst I was running through town Matt was getting pictures of either Lincoln’s tomb or of the Springfield College American Football team. Natasha and Ben went shopping at the Mall with Natasha coming back with lots of bags. I hope she doesn’t spend all her money before arriving in New York City in 4 weeks. I am not buying anything until New York where I will be getting my family some presents and that’s all. I had a nice email from my friend Jimmy Archer who said he and hopefully Drew and Steve will be coming out to America and meeting me at Central Park at the finish.

News of the day – Matt has set himself a challenge of biking all the way to New York City alongside me who is running. Now if you know Matt you must understand that this is a big challenge, which even though he will struggle at times this will make him much more mentally strong and after already completing 180 miles in a space of a week, I have all my faith in Matt succeeding. His aim is to bike 1000 miles in 5 weeks.

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