A relatively great nights sleep was had last night. The shade the RV was parked in helped lower the temperature. My window was pointing east meaning I fell asleep shortly after 2100 watching a lightning storm in the far distance.
A more realistic 0630 alarm was set meaning I set off to the east of Archie, Missouri at 0700. I had a banana just before I set off. The plan was to have breakfast in Archie.
It was very slow going and without painkillers (I decided to have them later in the day) the foot pain I started with was exactly the same as when I finished last night.
At mile 4 I made it to Archie, Missouri. I could see the RV parked outside a Dollar General. It was awkward for me to get to so I sent a message to say I’d meet a little further down the road for breakfast.
As luck would have it, situated “a little further down the road” was a restaurant called Mama’s Kitchen. It had the tagline “Hometown Fixins”. Now I may be British, but even I know that means a bumper breakfast.
I ordered 2 eggs (easy over), hash browns (proper ones, not like the rubbish we get in the UK), bacon and toast. Oh and I had about 4 cups of coffee.
The girl serving me was very attentive. I didn’t catch her name but when I told her about my journey, she asked if I’d heard of Mimi Anderson. Indeed I had. In fact, I was contacted by her about 10 years ago for advice about running across the USA. Coincidentally, Mimi had been in Mama’s kitchen when she ran in 2017.
After another round of toast and some painkillers, I settled the bill, left a leaflet and I was on my way again.
Much to my surprise, I received a good luck message from Alan Shearer.
The video I received from St. Benedict’s Hospice really made my day. I was touched by the messages of the staff and volunteers and some patients too if I’m not mistaken.
I soon found myself on the A road to Drexel. That was where I’d be leaving Missouri.
A little way up the road, a tractor was cutting the grass. The driver stopped to let me past. I had a brief word with him about my journey and thanked him for stopping. He was called Mike.
His counterpart lorry was slightly behind him and he blocked the traffic to allow me to get past.
I was stopped 3 times by a guy called Gerald soon after. He asked where I was headed firstly. The second pass was a request for a photo. The final pass was to offer me an umbrella. I politely declined his kind offer. “What if it rains” he said. He asked how old I was was. When I said 53, he replied “I’ll be danged”. A classic American phrase. I think I’ll start using that one when I get home.
I met the RV at the 14 mile point for a good drink of Powerade and some water. It was absolutely boiling hot out there.
A few miles before Drexel, the police chief, Bill Downey Jr, stopped by to wish me good luck. If these were to be the final miles in Missouri then they were very kind and supportive ones.
The support came in all forms as a herd of cattle rushed over to see and stare at me at mile 17.
After 18.5 scorching hot miles I made it to Drexel. I found out that Alan had spoken to a couple of police officers and some locals while waiting for me. The police chief said that he’d contact his counterpart in the next county to make him aware of our presence.
While in the RV, I looked at the route ahead. It was obvious that my planning was to take me back on stones. After a few quick calculations and looks at Google Maps, I found a slightly longer route on regular roads. It was 93 miles to Emporia, Kansas where I hoped to be by Sunday night. After that, I’m on Highway 50 (again) all the way to Dodge City.
After a sausage sandwich, plenty more to drink and some Cheez-Itz, I got back out into the baking heat. It was 31 Celsius.
I headed through the main road of Drexel and I heard what I thought was a train behind me. It was in fact a truck with a horse trailer that had a punctured tyre. It stopped ahead of me. A little later I could see a lady, who appeared to be a bit stressed, leading a horse down the road. I asked her if there was anything I could do to help. She explained that her horse had a sore stomach and she was taking it to the vet who was “a few blocks away”. I think she was trying to keep the horse moving forward to prevent it from collapsing. I felt so sorry for them both. I kept looking behind at her and eventually I saw her turn off to what I hoped was the block where the vet was.
Just as I was leaving Drexel, I got talking to a man called Travis and his family.
They wished me good luck and I no sooner had I left Drexel, I found myself in Kansas. There was no welcome to Kansas sign so the Missouri state line sign would have to do instead.
There was a lot of traffic on the main road. I was given a lot of room thankfully.
After 23.4 miles, once again, the painkillers had worn off and the pain in my feet became unbearable.
There was a double whammy of feeling pretty unwell again at the end today. Now it’s taken 50 days to realise why I think this keeps happening. This is the first east to west run that I’ve ever done. That means that the sun is directly in my face at the hottest time of the day (around 5pm). It’s a completely different dynamic that I first noticed back in Pennsylvania some 40 days ago.
A rethink of strategy is needed. Particularly as there is a heatwave approaching. There are a lot of parameters; amount and quality of sleep, timing of painkillers, my unsupported range, when to eat, when to rest, get out earlier, run later into the night, when to soak my feet and what in. It’s a repeat of Kansas 2011. Although, the foot pain is off the scale now compared to back then.
The foot pain means that I’m not moving quickly enough. That in turn makes for slower miles and longer days.
I’m pinning my hopes and dreams on no more roads made of stones and an improvement in my feet. I mentioned the other day that when Deb rejoins the team at the end of the month she’ll be able to help sort my feet out. By that time, looking at the long range forecast, we’ll have a right old fight for survival on our hands.
It all adds up to a seemingly impossible dream. But one where the dream of running coast to coast across the USA in 100 days, is still alive. Somehow.
TUNE OF THE DAY: The Impossible Dream - Andy Williams
At the time of publishing this blog, the charity fund is just £40 away from £21,000 thanks to some great donations yesterday (and of course in the 49 days prior!).
Please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025
