Posted by Gail Marino on August 17, 2004 at 08:39:57:
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 65: Sunday, August 15
Since we left the west coast, we have been starting out with cool mornings. Leaving Hancock, Maryland was of course cool as we start our journey to Waynesboro, Pennsylvania for 39.2 miles with a cutoff of 11hrs 12min. Thats right, 39 miles, half a day or as Lou would say, a short day.
The run started out on hwy 144 east, then the runners ran along the C&O Canal, its a bike trail that runs to Washington but they will run on it for only 6.7 miles, then return to hwy 40 east. The trail is a nice change of pace for the runners away from highway running & corn fields.
On hwy 40, it is back to the hills, long rolling hills. Now that we are basicly out of the high elevation, Lou's feet are swimming in his new balance trail shoes. We haven't been able to find a store that sells running shoes since Denver. The lineup is usually fairly the same except for Lou & Olivier. They have been known to mix it up now & then, except Lou is banned from the 1st 3 spots.
Lou was hanging about a mile behind Olivier. Olivier was in the 4th position. With 2 miles left, Olivier asked me where Lou was. He said he would take his time so that Lou could catch him, because he wanted to run the last mile in with Lou, so that they can take a finishing photo together. They finished up the last mile together & crossed the finish line together. We were extremely touched by this. Of course I shot a photo of this also. I don't know if Olivier & his family have noticed that there hasn't been a photo of Lou on the runs website, since Lou has been injured. Or maybe they have. In fact, the only mention of Lou is occaionally on the bottom, his journey runner time. Except of course on July 4th, his time says, "not taken". It is as though we do not exist, but we are still here. Lou is the only journey runner to ever stay & finish. It hurts me to see Alan take pictures all day long of the runners along the course, but never has the camera in his hand when Lou is running by. I will be very surprised if the photo of Lou & Olivier crossing the finishline together will make the website.
Tomorrow will be another short day, 36.2 miles. Til then.
Lou & Agnes