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
