DAY 62: RACE ACROSS AMERICA-Louis Rodriguez updates


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Posted by Gail Marino on August 14, 2004 at 15:35:29:

In Reply to: RACE ACROSS AMERICA-Louis Rodriguez updates posted by Gail Marino on August 02, 2004 at 09:02:43:

Race update written by Agnes Oquendo, who is crewing for Louis Rodriguez, a participant in the Race Across America; see previous posts for details; Race Across America's official website: http://www.runacrossamerica2004.com.


DAY 62: Thursday, August 12

As a child, I  pictured the angels crying, as the rain came down heavy upon us. After hearing about my friend Mary leaving us so early and unexpectantly,  I know that this must be true, as we spent today in the rain.
     We awoke to a cool & rainy morning. The runners made their way starting from Washington, Pa. with a destination to Uniontown for 50.9 miles with a cutoff of 14hrs 32min. There were signs along the road that stated, no pedestrians. Thats probably why there weren't sidewalks for the 1st few miles. Taka was running well despite the weather conditions. After 18 miles, Lou caught up to Olivier and was moving along. The rain continued to come down throughout the day.
     At 26 miles Kaz's crew, Satoko told us that Olivier was in trouble. Then Oliviers crew told us that he was fatigued and had a headache. I can see a worried look on Darios face, (Oliviers father). So Lou told Kaz to go on, that he was waiting for Olivier, who was about a mile back. When Olivier arrived, Lou was playing his St Bernard act barking and carrying goodies around his neck in a pouch. It was the 1st time today that Olivier had a smile on his face. Olivier wanted to quit, he said he was too fatigued to run. But Lou would not hear of it. He ran with Oliver making him laugh. Taka was only about a mile behind them.
     As the duo ran through this dangerous road, a woman yelled out at them, I'm proud of you, then pulled up behind me to tell me the same. She was proud that the cause was breast cancer. Of course we found many mailboxes along the route. Lou is getting quite good at running and placing the pamphlets into mailboxes without interferring with his running gait.
     Olivier started to feel better & assured Lou that he was fine. So Lou went on his way. A dog came out of no where & started running with Lou. He had a collar on and was really a good dog but Lou kept telling him to go home. Lou said that he thought the dog may have been stunned or hit by a car & was disoriented & was probably lost. The dog decided to rest until Kaz came along & wanted to run with him. We were worried about the dog because traffic was heavy & then a store owner came out & said he knew the owner of the dog & took him in.
     Taka finished 56 minutes ahead of cutoff. Olivier finshed feeling better that he did. He & his family thanked Lou for helping Olivier finish. Dario told Alan what had transpired but Alan dismissed it as "stupid".  2 little girls were at the hotel waiting for the runners to arrive in order to have them sign their posterboards. It was cute.
     Sweet, kind, funny and gracious just barely describes Mary Conry. You will truly be missed. God Bless.
Lou & Agnes
     



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