Day 25: Fairbury, NE, to Lawrence, kS (Wednesday, July 9)
Distance traveled: 125 miles
Personal running distance today: 7.5
Total personal miles to-date: 172.5 miles
Today's dedications: Mary Blount and Grandmamy Carol
My running buddy: Mae and Tina
Weather: Sunny, 90s
We woke up to see a beautiful sunrise in Fairbury, NE. I was very sad we had to leave this sunrise because it meant we had to go to the worst city in the entire world…Lawrence, kS. Ew. The team drove out about 30 miles together, at which point we were able to get a team selfie at the pathetic-looking kansas sign.
Distance traveled: 125 miles
Personal running distance today: 7.5
Total personal miles to-date: 172.5 miles
Today's dedications: Mary Blount and Grandmamy Carol
My running buddy: Mae and Tina
Weather: Sunny, 90s
We woke up to see a beautiful sunrise in Fairbury, NE. I was very sad we had to leave this sunrise because it meant we had to go to the worst city in the entire world…Lawrence, kS. Ew. The team drove out about 30 miles together, at which point we were able to get a team selfie at the pathetic-looking kansas sign.
After crossing into this dreaded state, I was on Team 2, so we had to drive another hour or so to get to our starting point. The first few miles were just fine; everyone was able to get at least 3 miles in before the road got sketchy. The shoulders were big, but there were big semi-trucks speeding by, so we decided to reroute ourselves to some nearby country roads.
At first, we had some good gravel roads that traveled by creepy cornfields. We’re talking Children of the Corn kind of cornfields here. Who knows what was hiding out in those stalks…
At first, we had some good gravel roads that traveled by creepy cornfields. We’re talking Children of the Corn kind of cornfields here. Who knows what was hiding out in those stalks…
This worked for a while, but we soon found that Google Maps lied (again) and one of the county roads that we expected to go on for quite a ways dead ended in a field. We had already rerouted so many times, plus it was getting later in the day and the temperature and humidity were rising, so we decided to shuttle our runners in to our host in Lawrence and finish there.
I was running again with Mae today, and even though I ran with her a couple days ago, she and I still had a really good time running today. I learned a lot about her future career goals, and I know that someday I’ll be seeing her photos in National Geographic!
Since Mae and I drove first (as per usual), once again we got the short end of the stick and were only able to get in 3 miles of the 12 we were all supposed to complete before we decided to shuttle all our runners back to Lawrence. Somehow this always happens to Mae and me!
In another 45 minutes, we had reached Lawrence, the moment I was dreading most on this entire trip. It made my stomach churn to drive down streets clad in red and blue and fake birds wearing shoes (Jayhawks). I swore to myself I’d never come to this city, but only for 4K For Cancer would I actually go here.
We stayed at a really nice church close to their downtown area. We arrived, and Tina and I decided to try and finish up some miles together. We headed toward the campus, because if I’m in Lawrence, I figured I should at least see the dumb campus, so we started running toward kU.
We took a tour-de-kU and saw their student union, infamous Allen Fieldhouse, some Greek houses and lots of other various buildings on campus. I wasn’t too impressed with anything, naturally.
I was running again with Mae today, and even though I ran with her a couple days ago, she and I still had a really good time running today. I learned a lot about her future career goals, and I know that someday I’ll be seeing her photos in National Geographic!
Since Mae and I drove first (as per usual), once again we got the short end of the stick and were only able to get in 3 miles of the 12 we were all supposed to complete before we decided to shuttle all our runners back to Lawrence. Somehow this always happens to Mae and me!
In another 45 minutes, we had reached Lawrence, the moment I was dreading most on this entire trip. It made my stomach churn to drive down streets clad in red and blue and fake birds wearing shoes (Jayhawks). I swore to myself I’d never come to this city, but only for 4K For Cancer would I actually go here.
We stayed at a really nice church close to their downtown area. We arrived, and Tina and I decided to try and finish up some miles together. We headed toward the campus, because if I’m in Lawrence, I figured I should at least see the dumb campus, so we started running toward kU.
We took a tour-de-kU and saw their student union, infamous Allen Fieldhouse, some Greek houses and lots of other various buildings on campus. I wasn’t too impressed with anything, naturally.
We ended up doing 4.5 miles on our tour around campus. When I returned to the church, one of my friends from high school who went to kU, Ryne, had texted me to meet up for a drink. He picked me up and took me to a local beer garden for a couple beers as we watched the Netherlands/Argentina World Cup game. It was great to catch up with him and also meet his girlfriend while I was in town.
He dropped me back at the church where my team enjoyed a dinner provided by our teammate Katie’s mom. She was so generous to buy us all an amazing pizza/pasta dinner. Additionally, the local channel 6 news came to do an interview with our team, and somehow I became the spokesperson. So now I can say that I've actually been featured on the Lawrence news...wearing Mizzou shorts. See if you can catch them in this video.
After dinner, some of the 21+ teammates decided to hit up a local bar, The Bull. I was thrilled to have a couple Boulevard Wheats; it’s been so long since I’ve had this delicious Missouri beer! However, we were all pretty exhausted, so we got back to the church around 11:00 or so to head to bed.
Day 26: REST DAY – Lawrence, kS (Thursday, July 10)
Weather: Sunny, 80s
I woke up around 7 a.m. today, partially because a few other people were up and about, but also because I think I’m incapable of sleeping in due to 4K. Sarah, Mo and I had to drive Stephen to the airport because he was heading back to work at Ulman in Baltimore. He was flying out of the Kansas City airport, so we had gotten up early to drive him there, get breakfast, then drop him at the airport.
I was so excited to go eat breakfast at Succotash, one of my favorite KC breakfast spots. It’s safe to say we all really enjoyed our meal there. Then, we drove out to the airport and said our goodbyes to Stephen. Since Sarah, Mo and I were already in KC, we decided to do a little exploring, so I showed them around to some hot spots.
We went to the Plaza and walked around for a bit, going into a few shops here and there and grabbing coffee at Starbucks. We were mostly killing time, because then we went to Boulevard for a brewery tour at 12:30. I had actually never toured Boulevard, so I was equally as excited for the tour as Mo and Sarah were.
The tour was great; we had a really enthusiastic tour guide who took us on a great tour through multiple parts of the brewery. And of course, like any good brewery tour, it ended with a free beer tasting. Yum!
He dropped me back at the church where my team enjoyed a dinner provided by our teammate Katie’s mom. She was so generous to buy us all an amazing pizza/pasta dinner. Additionally, the local channel 6 news came to do an interview with our team, and somehow I became the spokesperson. So now I can say that I've actually been featured on the Lawrence news...wearing Mizzou shorts. See if you can catch them in this video.
After dinner, some of the 21+ teammates decided to hit up a local bar, The Bull. I was thrilled to have a couple Boulevard Wheats; it’s been so long since I’ve had this delicious Missouri beer! However, we were all pretty exhausted, so we got back to the church around 11:00 or so to head to bed.
Day 26: REST DAY – Lawrence, kS (Thursday, July 10)
Weather: Sunny, 80s
I woke up around 7 a.m. today, partially because a few other people were up and about, but also because I think I’m incapable of sleeping in due to 4K. Sarah, Mo and I had to drive Stephen to the airport because he was heading back to work at Ulman in Baltimore. He was flying out of the Kansas City airport, so we had gotten up early to drive him there, get breakfast, then drop him at the airport.
I was so excited to go eat breakfast at Succotash, one of my favorite KC breakfast spots. It’s safe to say we all really enjoyed our meal there. Then, we drove out to the airport and said our goodbyes to Stephen. Since Sarah, Mo and I were already in KC, we decided to do a little exploring, so I showed them around to some hot spots.
We went to the Plaza and walked around for a bit, going into a few shops here and there and grabbing coffee at Starbucks. We were mostly killing time, because then we went to Boulevard for a brewery tour at 12:30. I had actually never toured Boulevard, so I was equally as excited for the tour as Mo and Sarah were.
The tour was great; we had a really enthusiastic tour guide who took us on a great tour through multiple parts of the brewery. And of course, like any good brewery tour, it ended with a free beer tasting. Yum!
After the brewery, it was almost 2:00, so we headed back to the church in Lawrence, where we ate some Chipotle burritos we had gotten donated. My friend Ryne texted me and told me to meet him at another good local spot, Sand Bar, for drinks. I brought a few teammates with me and we headed toward it.
This bar was actually pretty awesome. We went on the perfect day, because on Thursdays, you can get a fruity cocktail for $5 in a pint glass that you get to keep. Plus, they decorate your drink with bead necklaces and little plastic toys. And refills were only $2.50! Needless to say, we really hit the jackpot and have souvenirs to show for it.
After that, we walked on Mass Street, their main drag through town, to check out a couple shops, especially consignment shops. I was able to pick up a World Wildlife Fund tie with tigers on it, which I HAD to buy to wear as I run into CoMo, of course! I needed a bit of Mizzou spirit in Jayhawk land, so I was very pleased with my find.
We headed back to the church, ate dinner, then went over to Ryne’s house because he let us do our laundry there so we didn’t have to find a Laundromat, which I was so thankful for!
Tomorrow you could say I’m a little excited because we’re finally going to make it to MISSOURI!!!! We’re heading to Emma, MO, a small town outside of Kansas City. But I still can’t stop thinking about the day after that (Saturday), because I’m running home to MIZZOU! Can’t wait to see friends, family and mentors there!
Run happy,
Natalie
This bar was actually pretty awesome. We went on the perfect day, because on Thursdays, you can get a fruity cocktail for $5 in a pint glass that you get to keep. Plus, they decorate your drink with bead necklaces and little plastic toys. And refills were only $2.50! Needless to say, we really hit the jackpot and have souvenirs to show for it.
After that, we walked on Mass Street, their main drag through town, to check out a couple shops, especially consignment shops. I was able to pick up a World Wildlife Fund tie with tigers on it, which I HAD to buy to wear as I run into CoMo, of course! I needed a bit of Mizzou spirit in Jayhawk land, so I was very pleased with my find.
We headed back to the church, ate dinner, then went over to Ryne’s house because he let us do our laundry there so we didn’t have to find a Laundromat, which I was so thankful for!
Tomorrow you could say I’m a little excited because we’re finally going to make it to MISSOURI!!!! We’re heading to Emma, MO, a small town outside of Kansas City. But I still can’t stop thinking about the day after that (Saturday), because I’m running home to MIZZOU! Can’t wait to see friends, family and mentors there!
Run happy,
Natalie