Run Across America - 10th September - Day 89

Only 6 days left before (hopefully) arriving in New York City on Sunday (16th Sept). It’s been a challenge and people keep telling me to “savour the last moments” as it’s something that will pass before you know it. I honestly can’t wait for the end in New York City because it’s the finished objective and I can finally dream about seeing my beloved family again.

Today was a good half day of running (23 miles) as I’ve had a few hard days recently that have knocked my confidence for six, but with the mountain hills almost over and flatter roads ahead to New York I’m feeling a bit more relieved that the finish in achievable without struggling mentally too much.

Before starting running today we had a quick walk around Historic “Gettysburg” for an hour before driving to the start point about 8 miles from the town. The roads were much nicer today and I didn’t struggle at all and even put in a good pace for the full 23 miles. Along the route today I went through a town called New Oxford, which had plenty of history attached to it regarding the troops marching towards Gettysburg and then I moved on to the City of York.

The City of York (nothing like our historic English York) seems a retro place with lots happening on the streets whilst running through. People always seem to look at Matt and me as freaks because of the tattoos we have plastered on our body, but people always assume bad things. If they only knew what I was trying to achieve and that the tattoos are only a symbol of my life and no different to some strange things people wear or do. The exterior of a body don’t symbolise a person’s interior goodness (so people don’t always assume by someone’s exterior look).

Matt and I do discuss many things on the road as we have lots of time to pass and Matt is a very intelligent person that needs to put his ability to good use. We were discussing music for most of the running session as he knows so much about the great artists of yesteryear (Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones) and I hope that when he gets home he puts his talent to good use.

Ben is planning to go back to his “beloved” Middlesbrough (even though he is Australian) for a few months before working the ski season in Verbier with (the daddy) Alex. Natasha is going to East London University to study Physiotherapy, whilst Matt is moving into a nice pad with his girl Hannah in Norwich and hopefully going to study something at college.

PS – Only 200 miles left to New York City

Regards, Jackson and Team