Posted by Gail Marino on August 04, 2004 at 08:46:12:
In Reply to: RACE ACROSS AMERICA-Louis Rodriguez updates posted by Gail Marino on August 02, 2004 at 09:02:43:
Up to the minute update written by Agnes Oquendo, who is crewing for Louis Rodriguez, a participant in the Race Across America; see previous posts for details, and check out the reports and photos of the Race Across America at their official website: http://www.runacrossamerica2004.com -GM
RACE ACROSS AMERICA – Day 53: Tuesday, August 3
The runners started out today from Tuscola, Illinois to Rockville, Indiana for 57.2 miles with a cutoff time of 16hrs 20mins or 10:20pm. It was extremely foggy with poor visisbilty. Lou starts out in the back with Taka as usual. For the 1st 2 miles Olivier is in the 2nd position. Lou stays with Taka for 3 miles then moves up a little becuase Taka has it under control. At 6 miles Taka is in front of Don & holding.
I found many mailboxes along this highway. Don made it a point to tell me, that if I put anything into peoples mailboxes in Texas, they would shoot me. Well I suppose he is right but I'll take that chance in hopes that out of the thousands we put out already, maybe we helped save a life and or educated another.
By 12 miles, Lou caught up to Olivier, who was in the 4th position. Lou comes up behind Olivier and is doing his St Bernard bark & throwing little rocks at him to wake him up. Olivier starts laughing, and they run together with Oliviers father throwing rocks at both of them. It is a sight that is not common in any race Ive ever seen, but it is a long day and they must humor themselves, and I get to watch. By 16 miles, Lou catches up to Russell then starts walking as not to pass him, in order to obey his journey runner rules. So lou walks until Olivier catches up to him again. Then Lou catches up to Russell again at 24 miles and has to back off again. I know that Russell has to know that this is wrong to have a runner come up to you and expect them to walk so that they won't pass you, but he won't go against the grain. So Lou walks again until Olivier catches up to him again. Lou caught up to Russell twice in one run and walks in between, something is wrong with this picture. Actually Olivier enjoys the cat & mouse game because it makes him run faster to catch up to Lou. Sort of a speedplay. Seeing the two of them together is like watching Casablanca. Lou plays the same cat & mouse game with Taka.
The fog was replaced with hot humid 90 degree weather. A local reporter stopped to take pictures of Lou & Olivier in Newman. Then a trucker stopped Lou & I because he is attempting his 1st triathalon & wanted some tips. Then a man stopped me by saying, "can I ask a stupid question"? He wanted to know about the runners. I told him about the race & that Lou was running for breast cancer. He had skin cancer & lost a few family members to cancer & now takes care of his nephew. I have learned that the only stupid question is the one not asked.
Well today was a long run and Taka finished in the dark so we went out to give him a bicycle light because it was dark & dangerous out there. Tomorrow is 50 miles. Til then.
Lou & Agnes