Posted by Gail Marino on September 10, 2004 at 15:43:00:
In Reply to: RACE ACROSS AMERICA-Louis Rodriguez updates posted by Gail Marino on August 02, 2004 at 09:02:43:
RAA DAY # 12 WEDNESDAY 6/23/04
Today started out in Mesquite, Nevada to St George, Utah for 49.7 miles with a cutoff of 14 hrs 12 min. Of course, Lou did not run today, because I convinced him to take a few days off from running, in order to apply the missing portion, of the healing potion, rest-rest-rest. I believe Graeme & Tracy took advantage of the day off, by doing some sight seeing. After we checked out of the hotel, we drove to the next motel booked for all of us, checked in & then drove the course for the day backwards. We backtracked the course, in order to catch the runners & cheer them on & offer our help if needed.
As we drove along the course, we were sorry that we were not able to participate, because it was such beautiful hilly course. The climb through the mountains were actually quite breathtaking, even through the tears, that I continued to shed for the next week. We were anxious for Lou to run as a journey runner, because he was still in the run, just not in the race & we could deal with this. The course ran along & through the borders of Nevada, Arizona & Utah with a 15 mile hill climb in Utah reaching about 4000 ft. We passed by Indian Reservations & I am sure that we saw a sacred burial ground.
We saw all the runners & cheered each & everyone on. They all had a look of surprise on their faces, when they saw us. They could not believe, that we would take the time, to drive along the course to cheer them on. Taka was last, so we concentrated on cheering him on. In the small towns, we were able to offer our pamphlets to all those we spoke to. At about 42 miles, we were in Santa Clara. We saw a sign that read, Herb Finder. We looked at each & said, why not. We were open to suggestions. It was a small town but when we walked in, it was not as we had pictured. It was a mail order store with computers & phones with a few offices & a back room with supplies. There was a woman & a young man, who were both very helpful. She entered on the computer Lou's symptoms & they offered us 3 different creams, 2 for healing & one for pain. She said, the cream for pain will either work or it won't. They gave us a good amount of supplies for $10. They were happy to receive our pamphlets & wished us luck. Of course we added these creams to our healing brew & perhaps, the power of positive thinking is truly so powerful because Lou was running again in a few days, or maybe this stuff really works. Anyway, we didn't care which one it was, we just wanted to get back on the road. Taka & everyone made cutoff. As you have read, these were the creams we shared with Taka to help him finish.
Till tomorrow. Lou & Agnes