Day 37 of the run across the USA 2025

The overnight spot was as good as it gets. Thanks again to Greenville Free Methodist Church for allowing us to park there. 

Despite an 8/10 sleep, I needed an extra hour which meant setting off at 0700. To make up for the late start, I hoped to push on to at least 13 miles before taking a break. 

I was again without a hard shoulder but there were so few cars on the road it didn’t matter. 

I made it to Pocahontas and took a right turn over the interstate road. Unfortunately, I missed a right hand turn and continued down the road. It took me half a mile to realise my mistake. 

I was able to get back on the intended route but I’d added an extra mile. While I was gutted about that, it was only my second navigation error in 955 miles. 

The traffic was very light. That was stark contrast to yesterday. I made it to Grantfork after almost 14 miles. Alan had walked down to accompany me for the last mile. I had a couple of sandwiches at the break and a 30 minute tactical snooze while the rain subsided. There were quite a few grey squirrels in the vicinity. 

When I went back out again, I was presented with a lovely road with a massive hard shoulder. Where was that when I needed it in recent days?! 

The next 6 miles to Marine were an absolute slog. It didn’t matter too much. I just had to keep moving forward. 

I was excited to meet Zoe and her owner Cathy (apologies if I got the spelling wrong) just outside the RV meeting point in Marine. Zoe was 7. I didn’t feel too homesick when meeting Zoe as I’d managed a video call with my Órlaith just a few hours previous. 

I had some pasta and a wrap before setting off again at 1615. The next section was along the Madison County Transit Heritage Trail. I assume this section from Marine used to be a railroad. 

I contacted Alan to meet at the next trail / road intersection. I managed a further 3 miles before calling it a day. I didn’t feel well at all. All that I could think of was a cool shower and bed. Just as I finished the rain started pouring down. It was absolutely torrential. If I hadn’t made that error earlier in the day or decided to stop when I did, then I would have been caught in it. I would have been on the section of the trail with no roadside support. 

I think a combination of heat and humidity coupled with three previous days of attacking the miles was to blame for today’s slog. As has been the case recently, good days usually follow bad. I hope that’s the case tomorrow. 

I’ve tried my best to get to St Louis by Friday. I’ve fallen about 19 miles short. 10 of those were lost on Wednesday due to the torrential rain. 9 were lost today. 

Thanks to everyone who has made a donation to St. Benedict’s Hospice. The £19,000 barrier was breached today at https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025

TUNE OF THE DAY: Bloodline - Alex Warren 

Finally, it has been a privilege to dedicate day 36 and 37 to the memory of Liam Mitchell. He’s a man along with his family who will remain in my thoughts for many years to come. 

 

Day 36 of the run across the USA 2025

The overnight “camping” spot was the Walmart Car Park in Vandalia. It was quite noisy so a decent sleep wasn’t possible. It was also red hot. It wasn’t the worst sleep on this tour but would get no more than a 6 out of 10. 

Alan drove me back to the previous days finish point at Brownstown, Illinois. Full of painkillers, I set off on the warm and quite light highway 40 at 0600. I wondered what had happened to the forecasted rain. It was overcast with a lot of moisture in the air but no sign of the downpours that plagued me yesterday. 

I was slightly amused by the sight of the cafe in the small town. There were a few cars outside. 

It was only 1.5 miles to the breakfast stop for porridge. It was a Dollar General car park. The reason for the early stop was to allow Alan to go off and do some RV chores. 

I set off running and started a live video on the Run Geordie Run Facebook page. I wanted to explain that today and tomorrow’s miles were dedicated to the memory of Liam Mitchell. There’s more on that later. 

I felt very emotional recording that video. So much so that I started to build some pace while I thought about the humbling responsibility that had been placed on me. 

Alan meanwhile, went to a nearby RV campground to fill the RV with water and dump the waste. It cost 10 dollars which isn’t too bad a price. 

As I ran through Bluff City, I started to feel hungry. I sent Alan a message and he found a safe place to pull over.  

I got to the 8.5 mile point and had a couple of chicken sandwiches with crisps. Delicious. 

I was soon back out on Highway 40. Alan’s next task was to find a laundromat in Vandalia. 

The beauty of the lower temperature (25c) and cloud cover meant that had a much further range and needed less roadside support. 

While Alan did his first ever laundry (he’s 68 by the way), I made my way through Vandalia.  

I passed a few statues and such like. There’s never time for sight seeing so I took a quick photo and went on my way. I’ll look it up when then run is finished. 

Highway 40 crossed the interstate at the 12.5 mile point. As I looked to my left, I could see an accident. Little did I realise that it would impact me further down the line.  

For the next 5.5 miles Highway 40 ran parallel to the interstate road. I could see the huge tailback of traffic as a result of the accident. One car wound the windows down and all the occupants waved and cheered. That was where the good feeling ended. 

It became obvious to me during those miles that a lot of traffic had opted to use Highway 40 to avoid the tailbacks on the interstate road. There were a huge amount of HGVs as well as regular cars heading my way all of a sudden. The bigger problem was that I had no hard shoulder to run on. I spent a lot of time stepping off the road and running on stones. It was all very risky. One misstep or a trip and I could have ended up being hit. 

At one point, an elderly couple pulled over beside me with their car horn blaring. The gentleman had his hands in the air. I stopped for some polite conversation but he drove off. 

I met the RV at the 18.2 mile point. I was exhausted. It was probably the quickest that I’d ran since day one. I had some chicken pasta and a 30 minute tactical snooze. 

When I got back out running the traffic was even worse. Sadly, there was also a lack of a hard shoulder again. 

The good news was, as I predicted, that once I got past Mulberry Grove things improved. It was this junction that the interstate traffic joined Highway 40. 

Typically, a good hard shoulder appeared and the traffic was very light. 

I got a message from Alan to say that a train was heading in my direction. Sure enough, 5 minutes later there it was. I started a Facebook live video on the Run Geordie Run page and attempted to get the train driver to “beep his horn”. I’m pleased to report that I was successful. I was so giddy that I forgot to count the number of wagons. 

After a further 7 slow miles, I met the RV in Greenville (27 miles for the day). I had a snack of cheese and crackers and had a good 15 minute rest. 

I felt very tired when I went back out. I even took the walking poles for some support. At the 29 mile point a lorry pulled over beside me. The driver handed me a bottle of water. I thanked him and told him that I was on my way to California. His massive truck was in the middle of Highway 40 and I just managed to get a photo before he drove off. 

That very kind gesture had a transformative effect. I ditched the walking poles at the side of the road (knowing that we’d be driving back this way to the overnight stop). I put the “build pace” playlist on the iPod and started to do exactly that. The final 2.75 miles flew over. I was able to finish the day on 31.75 miles just as light was fading and at a bit of a landmark (a road sign).  

So all in all, a tough day rescued by attacking when conditions allowed. I was very pleased with the trademark quick finish too. Hopefully, there will be more of them to come. 

The overnight stop is Greenville Free Methodist church. The caretaker has kindly given us permission to stay in the car park. For once, it’s miles away from the interstate and any main road. I’m not ruling out any train sirens though. Currently, at 21:53, it’s very quiet. This could be the best spot since the church in Knightstown on day 20 something. 

The day ended with Alan cooking up an absolute feast. Along with the usual omelette was sausage and bacon. The pudding of strawberries went down very well too. I’m definitely eating more in recent days. 

TUNE OF THE DAY: Now or Never - Joe Bartley. Newcastle fans may know Joe from the busking he does opposite the Sir Bobby Robson statue before every home game. This is his debut song. 

As I mentioned earlier, days 36 and 37 are dedicated to the memory of Liam Mitchell. As a reminder, I wrote the text below at the end of April, before the run started. 

"Liam was just 36 when he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in November 2022, a devastating shock to his wife Ruth, their children Alex and Ethan, and the rest of his family. 

Known for his fun-loving, kind-hearted nature, Liam was a popular figure in both his personal and professional life. He was incredibly active, working as a Fabrication Supervisor and walking up to 20,000 steps a day. A devoted Newcastle United supporter, Liam regularly attended games with his son, bonding with fellow fans in the stands. He also enjoyed socialising with friends, making regular trips with family to Northumberland, where his sense of humour and love for dressing up (often as Elton John) shone through. 

Just three weeks after his diagnosis, Liam was told his cancer was already at Stage 4, with palliative chemotherapy as the only option. His health rapidly declined, and after complications including pneumonia, he was referred to St Benedict’s Hospice. Initially hesitant, Liam soon found comfort in the hospice’s compassionate care and homely atmosphere. The team helped him manage pain and enjoy special moments with his family, including a trip to see Newcastle play, celebrating his 37th birthday, and even having beer through his feeding tube. 

Despite the heartbreakingly short time between diagnosis and his death in March 2023, Liam’s final weeks were filled with love, laughter, and the support of a community who clearly adored him. 

The run across the USA will mean many things to many people. I can tell that is the case from the messages I receive and connections I make. Some are interested in the physical challenge and adventurous side. To some there is a deeper meaning. 

Liam’s memory, along with those of many others, lives on, in some small way, through the run across the USA, offering a powerful way for people to reflect, connect, and find comfort in shared remembrance. Each mile honours loved ones lost, creating a moving tribute that brings solace and strength to those left behind. 

The words honour, privilege and responsibility spring to mind. As well as raising vital funds for St. Benedict’s Hospice, if I can bring just a small degree of comfort to people in whatever way, then it’s all of those words and more.” 

The comments that I received from Liam’s family as well as others today were as touching as they were humbling and motivating. I’ll finish today’s blog with some of them. 

Laura Mitchell - “Thank you for dedicating some of your run to my brother Liam. He's such a massive miss by all of us every single day. We could never begin to thank St Benedict's enough for the outstanding care they gave him in his final weeks, keep going on your journey!!” 

Christine Cummings - “It has been lovely to watch your journey across America and thank you for dedicating this wonderful fundraising event to my son in law Liam Mitchell xx” 

Maria Watson - “My Nephew Liam Mitchell So Very proud of Him. Thankyou” 

Glynis Lynn - “Thinking of Liam also, a fellow NUFC supporter. This is what every day of your run is about Mark, helping those when they need it most…….. The support it gives cannot be measured xx”   

Laura Burrage - “You’re doing fantastic! I watch your lives and we can’t thank you enough for all your hard work and dedication to such a great cause. Thank you especially for dedicating days 36 & 37 to Liam” 

Laura Mitchell - “Hi! Im Liam's sister and just wanted to say the biggest thank you for what you're doing. Means the world to us all x” 

and the final word today from Liam’s wife Ruth - “ The Newcastle Liverpool match wasn’t the best match we could have went to but it was dedicated to Bobby Robson which Liam loved. Sung his heart out as much as he could. And despite the result he loved every second of it as he never thought he would get to see another match. All down to St Benedict’s x”.

If you would like to donate, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025

Day 35 of the run across the USA 2025

What should have been an opportunity for a good sleep last night simply wasn’t. A combination of very warm overnight temperatures, the noise of distant trains and the nearby interstate saw me have an uncomfortable and disturbed sleep. 

I got out just after 0600 in overcast and cooler conditions. My first mistake of the day was to forget my hi viz vest. There was a lot of traffic on Highway 40 west of Effingham. The hard shoulder disappeared at various points. I also had to make way for farm traffic and the line painter passed by too. It made for a tricky start to the day. 

I made it to the RV at the 3 mile point for porridge. Once that had been digested I got back out again. My second mistake of the day was to forget to take painkillers at that break. I had been distracted by looking at the changing weather forecast. Thunderstorms were due from noon all day according to the MET office.   

I made it to 8 miles and a large can of beer was waiting for me. It had been so slow going. I knew I’d have to find something extra to minimise the potential damage to mileage today. The skies in the distance were already looking formidable. 

I didn’t have any food or even a snooze at the beer can (there’s a sentence you don’t often get to say). I passed Alan my backpack and the walking poles and set off to try and build some pace. 

The miles started to fly by. The pace was in line with the proximity of the dark clouds in the distance. The darker they got, the quicker I ran. 

Alan played a blinder in the motorhome, driving forwards every two miles. He stood by the roadside and handed an energy bar or a drink. It allowed me to consistently move forward and build pace.  

I made it to St. Elmo at the 16 mile point by noon. That was when the heavens were due to open. 

I was only 200 meters away from the RV when there was an almighty downpour of rain. By the time I reached the RV, I was wet through. 

If it hadn’t been for the rain then I’m certain that I would have continued running and got into the 20s of miles before stopping for lunch. 

Unfortunately, there was no sign of the rain dying down until 5pm. I took the opportunity to have a shower, get something to eat and have an hours sleep. 

While I was sleeping I heard the intensity of the rain drops lessen on the RV roof. I got up immediately, put my running shoes on and off I went. That was about 2.30pm. I was gutted that I’d lost so much time but running in the rain on these roads didn’t feel safe to me. 

It was slow going again unfortunately as I’d lost all my rhythm and momentum. 

At the 20 mile point I got a call from Alan from up the road. He could see another bout of torrential rain drifting towards my direction. He drove back to pick me up and we waited on a side road until there was a break in the weather. That wait was 45 minutes unfortunately. 

We had a discussion to potentially call it a day given the forecast. I was determined, however, to give it a go. 

I went back out at the first sign of a break in the weather. It was still 25 Celsius so wearing a rain jacket and hi viz vest made things even warmer. 

I managed to run a further 1.3 miles before the mere was another downpour. I messaged Alan to pick me up. I simply didn’t feel safe on the road in torrential rain. Given that there was no hard shoulder, I felt I was a risk to the oncoming traffic as well as myself. 

The image below was the finish point for the day. 

While it had been a frustrating and disappointing day there were a few positives to take. Firstly, the teamwork between Alan and I was really good today. We had a good plan to get some quick miles in and it paid off. If we do more of this in the weeks ahead then I think there will be some big mileage days.  

Secondly, given my 2 stone weight loss and increased fitness, I’ve shown over the last 3 days that there is some decent quality running starting to appear here and there. I can’t flick it on like a switch unfortunately. What I can do though is try and get my mind and body on the same page so to speak. When they work in unison, then that’s the dream ticket. 

Oh! The other positive is that I ran through the 900 mile point today. I almost forgot about that. 

The day ended in what should have been the days endpoint. It’s a Walmart car park in Vandalia, Illinois.  

We were in need of supplies so I helped Alan with the shopping. The big purchase was a cooked chicken which I had some of in 2 sandwiches with a bit of mustard. They were absolutely delicious. I couldn’t resist getting a picture taken with Deb’s favourite snack. 

To spend an hour in Walmart was tiring but the first bit of normality I’ve had for a few weeks. I even treated myself to my favourite shower gel - Dr Squatch (coconut). I’ll use that whenever I’ve had a good day of miles. Otherwise, I’ll be on the cheap stuff. Now there’s an incentive. 

TUNE OF THE DAY: (Here comes the) Rain - The Cult 

The fund for St. Benedict’s Hospice is approaching £19,000. Thanks for the continued donations and messages of support (even the anonymous ones!). If you would like to donate, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025

Day 34 of the run across the USA 2025

What a strange old overnight stop. Not the church parking lot. That was perfect. It was the very nearby railway line and the three huge trains that went past at various parts of the night. Not only were the trains noisy as they made their way along the tracks. The train horn sounded loud and proud at all times of night. It was almost as if the train was just 6ft away. Personally, I didn’t mind it and I was able to get straight back to sleep. 

I set off at 06:14 on the now very familiar highway 40. It was the warmest start to the day for a very long time. It was also unusual to start in daylight thanks to the time zone change yesterday.  

After nearly 5 miles, I made it to Greenup where I had some porridge in the RV. 

Today’s strategy was meant to be a slow start and I’d attack later in the day. However, I felt really good at the 7 mile point and decided to put my foot down. 

I stopped briefly to take a picture of a historic bridge - Cumberland County Covered Bridge. I found out later from Alan while he was doing some sightseeing that this version of the bridge was built in 2000. I was surprised that the bridge took the weight of the RV. 

There was a vehicle painting the lines on the road. It went one way painting the edge and centre lines and the other way later on painting the other edges. I had to bob and weave around it but it didn’t slow me down. 

I made it to the RV after 14 miles having used all available energy. I’d also ran out of water after 9 miles. It was blisteringly hot (30 Celsius) and my hydration backpack looks to have only a 4 mile range in this heat. It’ll be even less in the weeks ahead. 

I was really pleased with the effort I’d put in but did wonder if I’d gone too soon. 

Meanwhile, back in the RV and I had 2 peanut butter bagels and a 20 minute tactical snooze. I’d intended to have 30 minutes but I was keen to get back out there again. 

The wind had picked up considerably when I got back on Highway 40. I made it to Montrose, Illinois after 18.5 miles. I got my backpack refilled with water and got back on the road straight away. 

I battled a strong wind and scorching heat for the next 5.5 miles. Once again, I ran out of water and had to called Alan back to Teutopolis for a refill. I decided to have some pasta while I was there. That should have been enough energy to see me to the finish line. 

At the 26 mile point, I was thrilled to see a train. In my excitement, I forgot to count the number of carriages but it seemed to be well over 200. 

At approximately 27.5 miles, I ran out of water again. Alan was already at the 33 mile finish line point in the RV so I decided not to call him back. 

As I approached mile 30, I felt pretty dehydrated and decided to get the RV to come back for me. I made it to mile 30.1 and called it a day. 

As I waited for the RV to arrive, I felt pretty unwell. Thankfully, Alan arrived 5 minutes later and I got a drink straight away. 

I think the recent cooler weather has made me complacent with hydration. I would even go as far to say that I’m out of practice. Anything around 30 Celsius and the RV has to stay in closer proximity. Once the temperature gets over 30 and closer to 40 then an even stricter plan will be needed. 

We drove to a park that Alan had scouted out and got permission to stay at earlier in the day. It’s called Evergreen Hollow Park and about a mile and a half from the train tracks. Although, I can still hear them in the distance as I write this blog. 

It’s now 96 miles to the outskirts of St. Louis. The dream of reaching there (and the end of Highway 40) by Friday is still very much alive. 

There have been some tremendous donations to St. Benedict’s Hospice today viahttps://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025

The current total is £18,855.32. Thanks to everyone who has donated so far. Incidentally, the overall total amount raised for St. Benedict’s Hospice smashed the £170,000 barrier today. I received that news as I ran through Effingham. Although feeling dehydrated, I also felt very grateful for the incredible kind support. Support that stretches back many years from so many people. 

There are numerous tunes of the day as music played a huge part in getting me through the miles today of all days. 

TUNE(S) OF THE DAY: The Railroad - Goodnight Texas. This one is a nod to the overnight trains that literally shook the RV on 3 occasions. 

Get a hold of yourself - Chesney Hawkes. A pace builder. A title that reminded me to take charge of my own destiny. Nobody is coming to help. It’s down to me. 

Save the day - Boyzlife. Another inspirational pace builder which is a nod to the support team as well as Donna back at HQ. “You’re my saviour when I’m not ok, not all heroes have to wear a cape” sums it up.  

Gold - Myles Smith. Another pace builder with a jolly good beat that was in sync with my footsteps today.  

More to lose - Miley Cyrus. This one came on the iPod when the overall fund for St. Benedict’s Hospice smashed the £170,000 barrier. I’m not sure what the song is about but it seemed very fitting at the time from a musical point of view.

Day 33 of the run across the USA 2025

There was a knock at the door of the RV on Sunday night at 9pm. It was a police officer asking why we were parked in the school parking lot. 

Once I explained the situation (and gave him a leaflet) he said it would be ok to stay overnight as long as we were gone by 0600 on Monday morning. He was a nice guy and very reasonable indeed. Pretty much like every police officer I’ve ever dealt with in the USA. As it happened, we were away by 0530 to drive just a few miles to the start. 

I said goodbye and thanks to John at 0600 and started the day’s journey. John then drove to St Louis to handover the RV to the incoming Alan. Despite being scorching hot yesterday, it was a chilly start. I used my rain jacket for warmth and was heavily laden with water and a bit of food in a large laptop backpack. It wasn’t ideal, but given that I’d be unsupported until the afternoon, it was a must. 

It was only 1.5 miles to the Indiana / Illinois state line where I stopped to take a couple of photos. 

The next few miles in Illinois were no fun at all. I had a very small hard shoulder and some of the drivers passing by showed me various hand gestures. They weren’t offensive but these people clearly weren’t happy to see a pedestrian at the side of the road. 

After 11 miles I made it to Marshall, Illinois. It seemed like a nice little town and I was pleased to see people waving at me. It was by this time that the temperature had really cranked up. I seemed to cope well with it. 

Once out of Marshall, I rejoined the main highway 40. There was the same small hard shoulder but the traffic was so much quieter. 

I stopped at 14 miles for a bagel and some water. I was running low on the latter which was a concern given the temperature. 

I had my last drop of water at the 18 mile point. I pushed on to Martinsville as quick as I could. I’d either meet the RV there or there would be a shop to get a drink. 

The 4 miles it then took to get to Martinsville saw me feel very dehydrated. 

At 22 miles as I reached the outskirts of the town, Alan arrived in the RV. I drank quite a lot before eating some pasta and having just a 20 minute tactical snooze. 

I took my hydration pack for the next section to Casey. The temperature continued to rise but it didn’t seem to impact me too much. 

I gave a decent account of myself on that 6.5 mile section. A couple of ladies in a swimming pool applauded and waved as I ran past. I reached Casey much quicker than I expected. It was one of the nicest towns I’ve seen so far on this tour. 

It had the world’s largest rocking chair. It would have been rude not to have my photo taken with it. 

A couple of ladies (Chris and Rachel) stopped me to ask about the USA run (they’d spotted the details on the back of the my running shirt). They said that they would pray for me. I’ve now got quite a few people doing the same along this route. 

As I left Casey, I had to do a double take as I thought I spotted Donald Trump relaxing in a front garden.  

The final 5 miles out of Casey and back on Highway 40 were rapid (in USA 2025 terms). I had to cross the road a few times to let farm traffic pass by. It didn’t cause a problem as the roads were pretty quiet. I had stupidly forgot to take a bottle of water so it was another thirsty period of the day.  

I made it to the 33 mile point at a convenient stopping place for the RV. However, it was nowhere to be seen. I think Alan had gone in the wrong direction to find me but arrived soon after. At least I had a load of flies to keep me company while I waited. 

We attempted to find a safe place to stay down the road in Greenup. There were no decent options despite driving round for 20 minutes. I suggested that we went back to Casey. 

We arrived at Westside Church of Christ on the outskirts of Casey. I explained the situation to a very nice lady called Janet who was busy watering flowers. She made a phone call to “the elders” and handed it to me. I explained the situation again and the very nice man on the other end of the phone said that it would be no problem at all to park overnight. Janet said that we could fill the RV with water too which was a huge bonus. Alan set about putting about 12 gallons in using some bottles. 

It’s now 124 miles to the centre of St Louis. I have set myself a target of Friday to get there. Today’s 33 miles have given me a fighting chance. The weather over the coming days may have a part to play but I’ll be going all in to get there on time. 

TUNE OF THE DAY: White Horse - Chris Stapleton. This is a tune I had on repeat as I approached Casey. The music, together with many people waving, made me feel pretty good about myself. 

A huge thank you goes to those kind folk who have sponsored me today. The charity fund is fast approaching the next milestone of £19,000.

If you are following the journey and think my efforts are worth a donation, please donate:  https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025