Hi:
As you may know, running is a very important aspect of my life. It has been with me through some really great times. Some very low times too. Running has been my comforter. Running has been my muse. Running is my therapy.
Over the years, I have run races from 1 mile up to 50 miles, and every distance in between. I have had fun competing in over 40 marathons and ultra-marathons. Even with all that running, there is one thing I have yet to do. To run for a cause.
Until now.
Internet connectivity has not been very good the last few days which has prevented me from providing updates.
Here is a summary of my mileage:
Day 1 – 27.4
Day 2 – 26.8
Day 3 – 20.8
Day 4 – 30.7
Day 5 – 20.5
Total: 126.2
Over the next two days I will be running the last 41 miles into Steamboat Springs. This journey is about over. A part of me is sad for that. My plan is to run 14 or so miles then end with a full marathon in Steamboat on Thursday.
The journey has been good. I am have been amazed by how well my body is holding up. Feet are just fine, legs working like pistons, arms swinging like they should. Brain? Well, that is questionable. Each morning when I head out the door, so to speak, to run my body has been ready to go. I am very grateful for that.
For the past 5 days I have been looking at a vast amount of land with nothing but sagebrush growing on it. Now, I am from Wyoming and grew up with sagebrush, but I have seen a ton more. Yesterday I saw some cows. Today llamas.
The weather has been clear and bright. Hot as well. Today, in Craig, Colorado, the temps were cooler and a very small amount of rain this afternoon. The sunshine had given me an opportunity to work on my tan, which is something I haven’t done since 1995 when I moved to the island.
Yesterday I decided to not wear my watch/GPS device. I thought that I really didn’t need it as this is not a timed event. I have gotten back to just running for the sake of running. That was a pretty cool thing to realize.
Ashley, from MS Run the US, is really good about tracking mileage and where to meet me for water, etc.. She is a tremendous help and a very nice person. She makes sure I have what I need to eat and drink. She also drives the RV.
This whole event has been nothing short of amazing. I can’t seem to find the words to explain what I mean, but I am working on that.
Until then, be safe and go for a run.
Clark
Sunrise just minutes before my start.
Daily Mileage: 27.4
Running Time: 4:53
It has begun. My segment of the MS Run the US Relay that is. How very cool and exciting.
At a tad past 6:00 am, while the sun was coming up I started my 7 day journey to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The starting point was a few miles west of Vernal taking me over 7 miles to get through town.
Welcome to Vernal
Vernal is a nice town with a very long main street. One of the things I realized was between 6 and 7 am all the fast food and cafes do one thing and that is cook bacon. I ran with the wonderful aroma of cooking bacon, which is a really nice way to start a day. Bacon and running, that is.
30 miles to go and I have run almost 8
Our original plan was for me to run to Dinosaur, CO, which we were told, by Cherly, was 30 miles away. When I had reached the mileage information sign I had already run close to 8 miles. Total distance would have been 38 miles, which was do-able for me. In a pinch. I was feeling pretty good and thought I would go ahead continue to Dinosaur. Tomorrow I would run a shorter distance. That was my plan. Maybe not the best plan, but a plan.
Everything was looking pretty good until mile 16, that’s when I started climbing. Not the type of climbing we do in the San Juan Islands – short and steep – no this climb was long and gradual. Close to 4 miles long. Maybe 5. Seemed like 10. My pace slowed down some, but fast enough to stay ahead of the snakes.
While running through Vernal and all the way to Jensen I encountered heavy traffic of both personal automobiles and semis. After Jensen the traffic thinned out in a very big way. Thank you Jensen. I found that the truckers were really good about giving me room as they passed, but if they didn’t it was due to another truck or car coming from behind me. Thank you truckers. You are the best.
Ashley, the founder and operator of MS Run the US is great. She would meet me with water or whatever I needed, including a nice smoothie at mile 18. Thank you Ashley.
Once, when a semi was coming towards me and without the normal given room I moved over to the side of the narrow shoulder. Next to where the vegetation grows and was buzzed by a rattlesnake. That caused me to dance a jig and taught me to keep clear of the bushes. I wonder what the trucker thought when he saw me dancing down the road for a spell. I don’t like snakes.
Ashley met up with me a couple times to run with me. She was with me when I went through the marathon mark (4:36), which was pretty cool. We talked about going the remainder of 12 miles into Dinosaur; determining that it would be best to call it a day at the RV. Total Mileage 27.4 with running time of 4:53.
The clear skies, sunshine and sweeping views made this a great run. I can’t wait to get on the road tomorrow and see what it has to bring.
After a ferry, train, plane and bus ride I have arrived in Vernal, Utah. It’s hot and dusty. I was able to move into my RV quarters as which will be my home for the next 7 days.
The bus from SLC to Vernal. Not like the buses I am use to.
Tomorrow at 6 am I will start running. Oh joy, finally! The plan will be to run until I reach Dinosaur, CO. It’s about 30 miles away. Give or take that is.
Depending on my ability to access the Internet I will post the happenings of the day.
Here I go! Stay tuned.
Clark
The trip to Salt Lake City, Utah was a good trip. The train from Mt. Vernon to Seattle was very relaxing and fun. Ammon, Harper and Miles picked me up at the train station, which was a really nice surprise and treat for me. After Finn left pre-school we all went out for lunch at Taco Time. Then to the airport for my flight to SLC, which was uneventful (thank goodness).
Tomorrow I catch the Greyhound bus to Vernal. A 7 hour plus bus ride. Oh joy. After that the Relay. Not sure what time I will be starting on Friday, but I am guessing sometime in the morning.
I am so ready to run. I am running for a better understanding and cure for MS. Let’s do it!
Stay tuned.
Well, here I go. My epic running event of hope, love and gratitude begins now.
I’m on the ferry heading to the mainland where I will take a bus, a train, another bus, and a plane to Salt Lake City where I will be spending the night. Thursday morning, May 23, I will be taking a bus to Vernal, Utah where I will join the MS Run The US Relay team. Were I will run somewhere between 165 and 170 miles in 7 days.
Friday morning I run. I will run for those who can’t run or walk. To honor those fighting MS and other diseases. I run to show we can do all that we can.
Clark
For running the 6th segment of the MS Run the US Relay, a total of 165 to 170 miles all in 7 days, I have chosen Brooks Running Glycerin 10 as the shoes to carry me along.
For most of this year I have been wearing Brook’s Pure Flow 2, which I have really enjoyed. I have found that my feet would feel tender and sore after a 10 plus mile run. With my segment daily average to be around marathon distance I needed a shoe that could provide my feet protection and cushioning from the pavement. The Glycerin have proven to me to be that shoe.
Here are some things I really like:
1. Fit. The 10s are built true to size and they come in 2E, which is really nice. I tend to like a wider shoe and toe box. The shoe is very flexible in the forefoot.
2. Feel. The overall feel of these shoes is plush. Very cushioned, but not soft. The uppers hug the foot, but in a gentle way. Very comfortable shoe in all regards.
3. Cushioning. These shoes protect me from the hard pavement. I wore them in a 50 mile race on crushed gravel and the 10s did a great job. My feet didn’t hurt when I was finished. Which was nice. I feel like they do a good job in cushioning and they don’t feel soft or squishy.
4. Quality. Like all Brooks products that I have owned and wore, the quality of this shoe is excellent. A very good product for the price.
While I am running my 170 mile running segment, I am taking two pairs of the 10s, planning on alternating them from day to day. What is nice for me is knowing that my feet are going to be protected and that the Brooks Glycerin 10s have my back.
