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May 13, 2004
Who Stole the Sun?

While making our way through Friend Nebraska, support crew member, Zoe Alexi was given the above sign by a local woman. Thank you, whoever you are, from the entire TREK Team!      See more photos in our gallery

Lincoln, Nebraska  - It had to happen sooner or later.  Today was the day.  As if the solar system was thrown into reverse, we began our relay in summer like temperatures that ranged from 75-112˚.  Then we enjoyed a sunny springtime with temperatures between 60-75˚.  Today, winter made its entrance.  After enjoying a Nebraska Rib Eye Steak at a local eatery last evening, we were struck by the temperature drop as we headed back to the motel.  In the middle of the night, cannon-claps of thunder from a classic mid-west storm marked the start of a weather front that dropped the temperature to February levels.

Meteorologist, Dave D, warned us of temperatures falling below 40˚, rain, and wind blowing head-on at 30-40 mph resulting in a wind chill of 20˚!  Singlets were stored while long sleeve shirts, jackets, hats, and gloves were unpacked. Today?s assignment would be to run through the endless cornfields on Rte.6E from Holdrege to Lincoln, Nebraska, a total of 156 miles.

At breakfast, we had a surprise visit from Molly Taber, an Olympic Trials qualifier, trained under MVS?s Coach Fernando Braz.  Molly is an incredibly talented runner who, after a brief stint out West, is heading back to New England.  Having trained under the sometimes brutal work-outs of Fernando, Molly decided to take this opportunity to return the favor and accompany Braz on his first leg.  Breaking with tradition, Fernando?s group, the ?Moaners?, decided that the weather conditions were so bad that two rotations would be best ? a 10 mile, and then a 5.6 mile. Fernando and Molly headed out at a comfortable pace in the uncomfortable conditions.

Soon it was apparent that the ?hammer? was being dropped.  The casual 9?s accelerated to 8?s.  The 8?s became 7?s and there were a few 6:30?s clocked by the stunned support crew.  At the sixth mile, Molly remarked, ?I haven?t run in several weeks.  Are we going fast, or am I in terrible shape??

?No, you?re doing just fine?, answered a breathless Fernando.  71 minutes for ten miles into the wind?yes, she?s doing just fine.

Both groups of TREK USA runners found today?s task a bit more difficult than previous runs.  Certainly the cumulative mileage is part of the reason, but also we are beginning to face the type of climatic challenges that we anticipated.  We were spoiled by the good fortune of unseasonably mild temperatures, and even today we realized how lucky we are.  We received the following weather update from Dave D?Arcangelo at mid day:

?We should all be thanking our lucky stars that we are not two days behind and still crossing the Rockies.  The storm that is bringing the unusual cold to Nebraska has brought a late-season snowstorm to the Rockies.  Snow fell last night all the way to Ft. Collins and 5-10" inches fell above 9,000 feet.  Temperatures in the passes this morning are near 20 with wind chills around 10 and highs today at the pass level will only be about 30 with snow flurries.

Maybe Nebraska isn't so bad after all?.

Yes, we continue to give thanks for all the good fortune that has followed us.  We are also very thankful for all of our relatives and friends (old and new) who have followed us as we cross this wonderful country.  Please keep coming to our website, call us, or email us.  We appreciate hearing from you!

Tomorrow, we tackle another big day ? 170 miles.  We will leave Nebraska and enter our sixth state, Iowa.  We now are more than half way home, and we can almost smell the Fenway franks.  Keep checking the website for details about our arrival into Boston.  Plans are still under construction, but we can tell you that we will be at the Boston Stock Exchange at 9:30 AM on the 25th to ring the opening bell, and then we will be back to Hopkinton for a noontime start to our own running of the Boston Marathon?right into Fenway Park where the Sox will be playing the Oakland A?s.  We?d love to have as much company as possible.  Can you feel a ?sick day? coming on?