Posted by Gail Marino on September 29, 2004 at 08:41:58:
In Reply to: RACE ACROSS AMERICA-Louis Rodriguez updates posted by Gail Marino on August 02, 2004 at 09:02:43:
RAA DAY # 15 SATURDAY 6/16/04
Today's run starts out in Pipe Spring, Arizona (4900 ft) to Mt. Carmel Junction, Utah (5200 ft) for 37.4 miles with a cutoff of 10 hrs 41 min. The course runs past the Parry Lodge ( our motel last night) at the 20.3 mile mark. Lou took the last 4 days off from running to rest, I can be persistent at times. So we decided today would be a good day to jump in the run & test the achiles, but why get up at 4 am today when the course passes by the motel anyway. The Parry Lodge in Utah is a nice place, that is a tourist attraction, because Gunsmoke & other tv shows & movies were shot here in town. The stars stayed at the Parry Lodge & each room was named after a star. We stayed in Dean Martin's room.
I believe that Graeme was at the start. We waited at the Parry Lodge until the runners passed by. As a journey runner this was allowed, because Graeme & Lou's time didn't count toward the race, only as a personal triumph, so they can run either all or part of the course as they choose. After the 3rd runner passed by, Luc, then Lou jumped in a few minutes later. Lou carried his backpack, in order to remind himself that he is take it easy today. When Alan & Mary saw that Lou was running, they said that was smart to start from the motel, but they were concerned because they hadn't seen Graeme or Tracy since the start. We later learned that they drove to the Grand Canyon to sight see.
It felt good to be back on the course running. Normally, Lou never takes a day off from running. So the last 4 days were, as if I held captive in a small cage, a mountain lion. We met a 21 yr breast cancer survivor from Texas, sightseeing on the side of the road from her camper. And 2 women in a van made a u-turn in order to talk to us about breast cancer & how it has touched their lives. So being out here today felt right physically & emotionally for us, but being able to help spread health & peace of mind for these women today & everyday, is much more gratifying that is indescribable. For many women having breast cancer is a secret kept, because people will talk or look at us different & a part of us has died on the table, as well as the femininity & the ugliness left behind from cancer. But being able to talk to someone who has been there, either personally or through a loved one is comforting. So our presence is a reminder of forgotton appointments, reinforcement of early detection, a sympathetic shoulder & a lesson that no matter how healthy you are & how well you take care of yourself, we are all vulnerable to cancer & early detection is the only guarantee to survival.
For Lou's 1st day back from injury, he ran 17.1 miles, & possibly helped someone survive. Till tomorrow. Lou & Agnes