Posted by Gail Marino on October 15, 2004 at 08:14:02:
In Reply to: RACE ACROSS AMERICA-Louis Rodriguez updates posted by Gail Marino on August 02, 2004 at 09:02:43:
RAA DAY #49 FRIDAY 7/30/04
It is a drizzly, slightly cool morning as we leave Hannibal, Missouri & off to our destination Pittsfield, Illinois for 35.3 miles with a cutoff of 10 hrs 5 min. Because of the weather, visibility is poor & the runners must run over the Mississippi Bridge at 1 1/2 miles. The crews are unable to aid the runners for the 1st 3.6 miles & as I drive over the bridge, I can see Lou right away because of his reflectors on his jetblue vest. The runners are running single file over the bridge with Lou just in front of Kaz & Taka.
Once in Illinois, we are traveling on Hwy 106 East. The course is fairly flat surrounded by corn fields. By 9 am, it is about 65 degrees. We are waiting for a package from the American Cancer Society to replenish our supply of breast cancer pamphlets but once again, Mary tells me, I didn't get mail. We know that on these shorter distances Taka does much better, so after 10 miles, Lou moves up a little but stays close enough for Ryota to drive up to us if he needs us. We hand out some pamphlets throughout the day as we are stopped by people interested in talking about their personal experiences with cancer.
We passed through some small towns until we reach Pittsfield. The last 2-3 miles are run through the busy town with quite a bit of construction going on. Kaz catches up to Lou & for the last 2 miles he hands Lou an American flag that he has in his vehicle & they run the last 2 miles together with both of them next to each other & each carrying the American flag. It was a nice site to see them running through the town. I did take a picture of them crossing the finish together with their flags. Olivier finished in 7:31, Lou & Kaz in 8:19 & Taka in 9:37, almost 30 minutes before cutoff. Till tomorrow. Lou & Agnes