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May
19, 2004
Is
That the Citgo Sign?
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Not
quite ... but getting closer
See more photos in our gallery |
Independence
Ohio -
We
awoke this morning to cloudy skies that,
according to Dave D?Archangelo, would burn off
later in the day. The cool temperatures would
rise from the mid-50?s to the upper 60?s ?
a very nice running day.
Even better was the prospect of running a
relatively light day.
Ron Kramer, our relay director, informed
us at our 6:00AM team meeting that we would only
have to cover 98 miles.
Additionally, the following day shapes up
to be less than 100 miles as well.
The
timing couldn?t have been better.
We are all beginning to feel the strain
of accumulating miles. Zo? Alexi, our massage
therapist, has been working overtime in her
efforts to keep us on the road.
We know that it is in the final quarter
of the event that diligence is critical. Proper hydration, stretching after we run, using ?the
stick? to roll out the aches, and a good
night?s rest are all the things that will help
keep us running.
Today?s
run was from Freemont to Cleveland. Group 1 took
the first half of the course and was treated to
much of the same rural countryside that was
enjoyed during yesterday?s run.
To shake things up a bit, they decided to
each run one leg of 9.8 miles. Fernando, apparently, couldn?t get enough with just one
leg, so when Bob Lussier stepped out of the RV
to complete his duty, Fernando volunteered to
run with him. Dave Leonard, sensing a party,
joined them as well.
It almost looked like a TREK USA
mini-marathon.
Dave
McGillivray spiced his day in a different way.
One of the questions he is often asked about his
first trip is if he was ever delayed by a
passing train.
The answer had always been ?no?,
until today.
Dave was stopped in his tracks by a
locomotive pulling a 118 car train.
Growing impatient by the moment, Dave
nearly went over the edge when the train
stopped. He
began peering under the cars, contemplating a
dash beneath the stopped train.
Behind him was a waiting school bus
loaded with kid?s heading home.
The shouted encouragement for him to,
?Go for it!?
Our leader, however, could hear the voice
in his head of relay director Ron. ?Safety
First!? is the message we hear every day. To
the disappointment of the students hoping to see
a running massacre, Dave waited patiently for
the train to pass.
In
the meantime, Group 2 headed up the course 49
miles where they were treated to the first
sights of Lake Erie.
The route took the team along the shore
of one of the Great Lakes that is bordered by
spectacular homes and beautifully manicured
parks. The further along the shore the team ran, the grander
the homes became.
The landscaping complemented the
spectacular views, the cars in the driveways
were the expensive European variety, and people
who owned these Bella Vistas were clearly of the
?upper crust?.
We runners tried to look as dignified as
possibly in their neighborhood.
For Josh Nemzer, the job became more
difficult.
As
Josh ran effortlessly through his leg, it would
be clear to anyone that he is a finely tuned
athlete, much like the finely tuned Jaguars
parked in some of the driveways of these homes.
His pride, however, took a hit when one
of the local feathery friends decided to make a
deposit on our poor running team mate.
It?s hard to maintain dignity with bird
?droppings? dripping off a shoulder.
Soon
we left the shoreline and Cleveland opened
before us.
It is a beautiful city with a rich
history. Founded in the 1700?s it has earned an honorable place in
our country?s development, but for some of our
team, it?s real importance is that it is the
home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
What
struck the team, however, is that Cleveland is a
terrific old city, with a contemporary attitude.
In many ways it reminded us of Boston,
and that, of course, made us think of our
remaining time on the road. We have just five
days left before we will find ourselves running
into Fenway Park.
We are straining our eyes to see that
familiar sign that probably won?t really be
visible until the 25th.
But we know that Citgo sign will be there
waiting for us to finish the Boston Marathon
course. We
hope lots of you will be there too!
Five
days.
Tom
@TREKUSA.org
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