Day 23: Yuma, CO to Arapahoe, NE (Monday, July 7)
Distance traveled: 110 miles
Personal running distance today: 10 miles
Total personal miles to-date: 175 miles
Today's dedications: Harold Konrardy and Ernest Herink
My running buddy: Matt
Weather: Hot, 90s
This morning started off in the best way possible. After sleeping in a pitch black room last night and getting a great night of sleep, the church prepared breakfast for all 50 some-odd runners and riders. The riders came back to the church to eat with us, which was nice to see them again.
After breakfast, both teams started packing up. The exciting news of the day (and for the rest of the trip) is that we now have a FOOD VAN!!! We acquired a mini van to take with us the rest of the trip. From now on, two runners each day will take the food van and spend the whole day driving around acquiring food donations for our teammates so that we don't have to do that after we've ran all day and are exhausted. It's going to be such a game changer!
Me, Alex and Stephen (one of the 4K staff members who joined us this morning and will be with us a few days) took the new van out for a spin. It features a back-up camera, but the back-up camera doesn't work if you have an object that's almost underneath the car...which I know now because I completely flattened Stephen's empty suitcase. STEPHEN IF YOU'RE READING THIS, I'M STILL SO SORRY.
After this episode, both the Portland and run teams made one big dedication circle. It was incredible to have such a large circle of amazing runners and riders, all dedicated to the same cause. We shared who we were dedicating our day to, then we split into our teams to have a cheer-off. Somehow, amazingly, the run team dominated the ride team with our cheer. I'm so proud! We took a big group photo of both teams, and it may be one of my favorite photos of the trip so far:
Distance traveled: 110 miles
Personal running distance today: 10 miles
Total personal miles to-date: 175 miles
Today's dedications: Harold Konrardy and Ernest Herink
My running buddy: Matt
Weather: Hot, 90s
This morning started off in the best way possible. After sleeping in a pitch black room last night and getting a great night of sleep, the church prepared breakfast for all 50 some-odd runners and riders. The riders came back to the church to eat with us, which was nice to see them again.
After breakfast, both teams started packing up. The exciting news of the day (and for the rest of the trip) is that we now have a FOOD VAN!!! We acquired a mini van to take with us the rest of the trip. From now on, two runners each day will take the food van and spend the whole day driving around acquiring food donations for our teammates so that we don't have to do that after we've ran all day and are exhausted. It's going to be such a game changer!
Me, Alex and Stephen (one of the 4K staff members who joined us this morning and will be with us a few days) took the new van out for a spin. It features a back-up camera, but the back-up camera doesn't work if you have an object that's almost underneath the car...which I know now because I completely flattened Stephen's empty suitcase. STEPHEN IF YOU'RE READING THIS, I'M STILL SO SORRY.
After this episode, both the Portland and run teams made one big dedication circle. It was incredible to have such a large circle of amazing runners and riders, all dedicated to the same cause. We shared who we were dedicating our day to, then we split into our teams to have a cheer-off. Somehow, amazingly, the run team dominated the ride team with our cheer. I'm so proud! We took a big group photo of both teams, and it may be one of my favorite photos of the trip so far:
We were also able to take a director photo for both teams. Alex and I were reunited with Max, whom we met at the directors retreat back in January. However, we had just met Aaron, the new director who took over because the other director had to quit before the trip started. It was so great to spend time with them!
Once we had all packed up after dedication circle, we headed our separate ways. I was really bummed to leave the Portland trip because we had such a good time meeting them and getting to know them. I'm sending them good vibes to have a safe rest of their ride!
I was on Team 1 again today, so we started from the host. We didn't start running until about 7:30 a.m., so it was already pretty warm out. Today I ran with Matt, which was really awesome. We got through the first 3 miles with relatively no problems, but then my hips started falling apart. Matt was so patient with me when we had to run the last two 2-mile chunks because of the immense pain in my hips. I'm pretty sure I had a lot of pain today because I stuck it out through all 13 miles yesterday. Tomorrow I may have to take it easy, so we'll see how things go!
Another milestone of our team today: we crossed into a new state! Today we made our way into Nebraska, but since we were in separate teams, we had to do our ceremonial selfie in half-and-half groups. Team 1 was looking good in the heat of the day, though:
I was on Team 1 again today, so we started from the host. We didn't start running until about 7:30 a.m., so it was already pretty warm out. Today I ran with Matt, which was really awesome. We got through the first 3 miles with relatively no problems, but then my hips started falling apart. Matt was so patient with me when we had to run the last two 2-mile chunks because of the immense pain in my hips. I'm pretty sure I had a lot of pain today because I stuck it out through all 13 miles yesterday. Tomorrow I may have to take it easy, so we'll see how things go!
Another milestone of our team today: we crossed into a new state! Today we made our way into Nebraska, but since we were in separate teams, we had to do our ceremonial selfie in half-and-half groups. Team 1 was looking good in the heat of the day, though:
When we finished running and drove to our host, the Arapahoe Christian Church, we went out to explain the main street in Arapahoe...which consists of only a handful of stores. I had to pick up a prescription at the Arapahoe Pharmacy, which turned out to be the BEST place ever because it also had a soda fountain and ice cream bar! I got the most delicious chocolate sundae with chocolate syrup, marshmallow syrup, whipped cream and a cherry for only 99 CENTS. It. was. perfect.
We all cycled through showers from some of the church parishioner's homes who had generously offered to let us shower there. We ate dinner together, and now we're all blogging, calling friends and family, getting our muscles rolled out and just hanging out with one another.
I'm looking forward to getting a solid night's sleep in the church tonight because I'm exhausted. It's already almost 9:00 p.m. because today we crossed back into central time! Yay! Tomorrow we're making our way to Fairbury, NE. It's going to be another long day, we each have to get 13 miles in, so we'll see how much I can get in before my hips give up on me. I'm definitely going to take it easy and give myself a break if I need it!
Run happy,
Natalie
I'm looking forward to getting a solid night's sleep in the church tonight because I'm exhausted. It's already almost 9:00 p.m. because today we crossed back into central time! Yay! Tomorrow we're making our way to Fairbury, NE. It's going to be another long day, we each have to get 13 miles in, so we'll see how much I can get in before my hips give up on me. I'm definitely going to take it easy and give myself a break if I need it!
Run happy,
Natalie