Day 63 of the run across the USA 2025

This blog starts on Tuesday night. Deb and Thomas had put me in a motel with air con. If you’ve read yesterday’s blog then you’ll know that I was in a bad way. Meanwhile, they were out doing chores including laundry, refuelling the RV and a shop at Walmart. 

I was back out on the road just after the sun rose at 07:10. The aim was to get close to Dodge City, some 34 miles away. It would require the second highest mileage of this tour to be successful. 

I was bitten by flies twice within the first mile. Thankfully, the support team were on hand to drive up the road. I quickly put on my tracksuit bottoms and a base layer. It’s not the best from a comfort point of view but at least the flies were subsequently kept away. 

I made it through Kinsley and the landscape changed dramatically. All of a sudden there was a vast open space with far less trees. I could see for miles in all directions. 

At mile 6, a man called Alex pulled over in his truck and asked if I was ok. I told him about my journey and he handed me some cherries, an ice cold bottle of water and 20 dollars! I think he thought that I’d fallen on hard times. I gave him a leaflet and thanked him for his kindness. 

I met the team for a wrap at the 7.5 mile point. 

It was good to offload the bag of cherries. Mind you, I’d eaten quite a few of them by that point. 

I got back out on the road and went past another huge silo in Offerle. 

I was joined by Thomas who’d replenished my hydration pack. He commented on how long and straight the highway 50 roads are. 

There were a couple of unusual sights. There were more planes on a train. 

There were also more wind farm blades on trucks labelled “heavy load”. 

Thomas and I made it to mile 16 where Deb was waiting in the RV. It was time for another delicious wrap. It was accompanied by home made seasoned wedges which were absolutely tremendous. So much so, that I forgot to take a photo. 

I got back out for the next session of the day near Spearville. The sun was now head on and beating down. Once again, such a simple thing as sun block was having the desired effect. It’s been a total game changer these last few days. The groggy feeling that I get at that time of day just isn’t there now.  

While Deb and Thomas waited up the road at the water result point they saw a man shadow boxing on the nearby railroad. It was another random sight for the day. 

I was going ok until mile 22. The side of my right foot started to ache, as it has done in recent days. It then started to ache even more. I started limping and the miles ticked by very slowly. 

I got to a stony hard shoulder section. As soon as I stepped on both feet started to tingle in a painful way. I tentatively got to the other side and carried on. 

I met the RV for a water refill and some food at the 25.5 mile point. I was in a lot of pain. 

After 10 minutes I told the team that I’d had enough. “I’ve lost the will” I said. 

I’ve somehow got to find a way to squeeze those last few miles out every day. There are physical limitations and I’m in pain. However, there is a mental barrier too. I’m digging deep every day. I simply must find a way to dig even deeper. The team are doing absolutely everything possible to support me. It’s down to me to find something extraordinary now. 

TUNE OF THE DAY: The Big Country Theme - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 

I'm pleased that the fund for St Benedict's Hospice is now close to £23,000. Thank you to those that have donated, there is still time of course for anyone that hasn't yet had the opportunity. If you think my efforts are worth a donation, please visit my JustGiving page:

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Day 62 of the run across the USA 2025

The overnight spot outside the Country Store in Macksville, Kansas was a decent one. It was pretty quiet and there was a breeze eventually in the night I think. 

I got dropped off up the road at the point I finished at last night. I set off at 0649. Given how tired I felt I knew that I was in for a tough day. I’d averaged just over 5 hours sleep each night for 5 of the last 7 nights. I’ve seen many times on this tour and others what sleep deprivation does. So yes. I knew today would be tough. 

I really don’t remember much about the first session of the day. I said hello to some goats and spotted a ranch entrance. That pretty much sums it up. 

I struggled to get going and relied on the walking sticks (as I now call them) for support and balance.

I was constantly pestered by flies. They were biting my arms and legs. Flies are one of my worst nightmares. Instead, I’d happily settle for a Kansas tornado any day. 

I eventually made it to the RV at the 8 mile point where Thomas had made a wrap. It was very good. 

To combat the flies, I decided to wear tracksuit bottoms and a long sleeve base layer. I knew I’d cook in those, but it would keep the flies off. 

I set off again and I seemed to move even slower. As long as I was moving forward, it was progress. 

At the town of Lewis a nearby train was transporting plane hulls. I wasn’t quick enough to take a photo but Deb was thankfully. 

At the 13 mile point near Lewis, a police officer named Zane, pulled over to check if I was ok. Somebody had “called it in”. I explained the situation and handed over a leaflet. 

He went on his way down Highway 50. He returned moments later with a really cool memento. I was really excited to receive it. 

The meeting with officer Zane had a positive effect. A rush of adrenaline followed and on began to move a lot better. That lasted a couple of miles. Thankfully, I made it to the RV at the 15 mile point. A wrap and a tactical snooze followed. The 30 minutes of light sleep weren’t the best. The RV was roasting hot. 

When I got back out onto Highway 50, I felt exhausted and groggy. Nevertheless, I was determined to move forward. 

I could hardly focus on the road ahead. My head was bowed as I shuffled forward. It’s no wonder someone had rang the police earlier! 

I got to mile 18 and Thomas came out of the RV to refill my hydration pack. I told him that I wasn’t sure how much further I would get today. My thinking was that if I could get a sleep in the RV (as hot as it was) then I’d get back out and perhaps get to 25 miles. 

Thomas said that he and Deb had a plan to book a motel and get me some air con and an early night. I didn’t take any convincing. I said I’d get to 20 miles and we’d end the day there. Thomas was full of encouraging words and I felt properly supported. It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.  

The incentive of a good nights sleep in a cool room did nothing for my speed but I managed to meet the team at the 20 mile point. It was a day saved in many respects. 62 days of sleep depravation is summed up in the photo below. 

TUNE OF THE DAY: Survive - Lewis Capaldi

Thank you to those people that have donated this week and when times have been tough. It's been great to read the donation notification emails when they arrive, they really do make a difference (as does the donation of course!).  If you think my efforts are worth a donation, please visit my JustGiving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025

A final, and continued, thanks goes out to my main sponsor Chapman Ventilation for their continued backing. 

Thanks go to kit sponsors Vigon, Hadrian Healthcare, Hays Travel Cramlington and D-Line too. 

Thanks also go to Active Edge, David Fairlamb Fitness, Doors and Floors Direct Limited, The Big Optician and Hylo Athletics. 

Day 61 of the run across the USA 2025

Day 61 started at 0300 with Deb scurrying to shut the RV door and windows. They’d been left open to allow the nice breeze through. The issue was that we were now in the middle of a storm! It was some breeze! Oh how we laughed! 

At 0600 the storm had stopped. I looked outside of the RV. The sky still looked angry to me. 

I started running at 0627 a few miles west of Sylvia, Kansas. The rain started within minutes. There were also flashes of lightning in the vicinity. I was far from happy! The RV came to pick me up. We sat it out for an over an hour before the sky cleared a bit. 

When I got back out, the temperature was as cool as I'd been in for a long time. 

I made sure that I said good morning to the local cows. They jogged alongside. It was good to have some company. 

Today’s ranch sign offering was pretty decent. 

Possibly as a result of the recent rain, I noticed hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny frogs. It was a challenge to keep side stepping to avoid them.

At mile 9, I reached the town of Stafford where I was supposed to meet the team for food. I was going so well that I decided to push on for an extra few miles. 

After a couple of quick bonus miles, I had a really nice wrap at mile 11. While the team had been waiting for me in Stafford they’d met some really nice people at the City of Stafford office. My bonus miles had cost me the same opportunity. We’d all been gifted some nice Stafford t-shirts. All was not lost however. I decided to forgo my tactical snooze and we drove back so I could meet them. 

We met a really polite young lad outside the city office. His name was Ian. He was “dead canny” as we say in Newcastle. Deb gave him a Run Geordie Run T-shirt. 

I met Deana Eisenhour and her staff in the city office. We had a brief chat and it was a real morale booster to hear their good wishes. More kindness shown in Kansas. 

We drove back to the point where I’d finished running and I got back out into the now scorching Kansas sunshine. 

Apart from the long straight Highway 50, there were some more cows to talk to and a few oversize loads to give plenty of room too. 

I had another bite to eat at mile 18. Thomas and Deb are certainly feeding me well on this tour. 

Before going back out, I applied some sun block. I didn’t realise it would be so bright on my face. Deb was in hysterics and thought I looked like a Smurf! (^DA - the injected humour worked a treat then! Another colour still to come...)

I was accompanied by Thomas for the next 7.5 miles. I’m not sure what the passing traffic made of us!  

As the sun lowered in the sky, the Smurf-like sunblock was working a treat. 

I made it to Macksville, Kansas at mile 29. I handed my backpack, cap and sunglasses to Deb. It was time for some pace I felt. 

I started building the pace up. The slightly cooler conditions were in my favour. Miles 30, 31 and 32 passed by in the blink of an eye. 

I had plenty left in the tank but I decided to end on 32 miles for the day. We drove back to Macksville where Deb and Thomas had found somewhere to stay overnight. 

The now usual routine of Cherry Active, massage, shower, massage, feet elevation left little time to write the blog. Although I made time and its lights out at 2315. 

I should mention that I burst through the 1500 mile point today. I’m more than half way across Kansas. In fact, it’s only around 160 miles to Colorado. 

I’m aiming to be back out running at 0630 tomorrow! 

TUNE OF THE DAY: Vengabus - Vengaboys. A bit of cheesy pop music to start this evening’s pace revolution. 

The charity fund for St Benedict's is now edging closer to £23,000. If you think my efforts are worth a donation, please visit my JustGiving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025

*all data reconciled