After the Run

Dang Bunny, After all that mileage you still look great!!! This is a photo taken just outside Portland by a friend who was going to drop Jed off on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cascade Locks, where he will hike for a little while before ending his journey and going back to Saranac Lake. Thanks Teresa for the pictures!!!

What if

I hope I will be able to post some pictures of Jed's finish at the Pacific Ocean, but currently he is on his way to the Pacific Crest Trail, to make up a few miles. He will be in an ultra wilderness area with probably no reception for his phone, so I will have to wait on picture mail till he is in a more accessible area. I am going to let him tell you how he felt at the finish of his journey.......


What if?
by Jed Brown on Friday, September 3, 2010 at 1:42pm

So, I guess this will be the last note on this trip at least for a while as they take too long to type. When I left Kansas City for the second time, with a bike in tow, I wasn't really sure of what was going to happen with my ankle. It was still hurting badly and never having really biked any distance before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I gave it a 50/50 shot in my head of getting better or getting much worse. Eventually my ankle felt good enough that I took the brace off and continued without it. One of the other things that I was slightly worried about, as dumb as it may seem was the fact that I hadn't ever ridden a bike before or at least since I was a kid. I left to go bike half way across the way country not knowing how to change a tire if I got a flat. When I think about that fact it does seem a bit ridiculous. Virtually anyone knew as much about biking and probably still does. The only thing I know about biking now that I didn't when I started was that I can bike 80 to a 100 miles everyday over mountains. I had the side wall on my back tire rip twice on the trip, so changing the tube would have been pointless because it would have immediately gone flat again. In these two instances I used my long tan legs to hitch about 15 miles into the closest town, which luckily in both cases had bike shops to repair the tires. Getting a bike trip started in the Rocky Mountains it turns out is a tough place to get acclimated to the abuse. The first few days were fairly rough on my legs and lungs. Biking up to over 11,000 feet by my fourth day wasn't necessarily easy. By the end of the first week I could do roughly a 100 miles if I wanted to a day. Things in general on the biking portion of the trip were much easier than the running portion and not just the physical side. I didn't have to sleep under bridges or in barns that the ground was covered in horse crap. I could actually make it to places a bit more hospitable. I was able to bike with a couple from England for a few days, where as before bikers would stop long enough to chat for a minute and take a picture with the lunatic trying to run across the country. At a KOA in Montana when I told the guy I had biked 97 miles that day he said "that's the record for here buddy." and then when I told him that I had run the first 2,000 miles he said "Geeze! 2,000 miles! Geeze! I got an award for running 500 in the military in six months. How long did it take you?" "Five months." "Geeze!" Ed was fairly impressed and I laughed at his reaction. I met a family in Montana that I hope to see again while hiking in Washington. I met my girlfriend in Sisters, Oregon over 3,600 miles into my running/biking trip and 2,000 into her hiking trip. Fairly sure that's the longest distance ever traveled for a date night. My last day of riding I was pumped to say the least. I drank a Red Bull and a 5 hour energy. I pedaled like a lunatic. I listened to the "Into the Wild" soundtrack and cried a couple of days as I rode. It wasn't the thought of the end that made me cry, but what I had put in to get to that point. When things were at their worst, I had summoned up my best and came out on top. I never gave up. I got to a mostly isolated beach near Florence, Oregon. An older guy took a picture of me standing in the water. I left the Atlantic alone, with no fanfare. I reached the Pacific alone, with no fanfare. Just a sun browned 31 year old man and a bike. I was asked a lot of "what if" questions before I left on this trip. The only "what if" I ever really cared about was "what if I never chase this dream." Everyday for months I woke up and chased it, until I accomplished it.

firstgiving.com/jedediahbrown

A girl worth running 3,600 miles for

It is FINISHED!!!

I am thinking that I will follow this post in a couple days......with additional thoughts and feelings, and perhaps a picture or two if your camera is co-operating again.
I have been thinking about this day for a long time. I am numb with happiness and my mind of course is kind of boggled. It's not that I am having a blank moment,.... it's that I have so many thoughts and feelings rocketing around in my head, I can't sort them into a reasonable train of thought. There is so much I want to say, but lacking the skill with words that Uncle Norm has, I often wonder if you will be able to get anything at all out of these words. They have really after all, been written for you. Perhaps all you have to glean from it is that I love and respect you. I am proud of you. You are everything and more than I hoped you would be. You have put yourself through the fire. In a small way, mentally, I have gone with you all the way. I was with you each and every night as I knelt in prayer asking our Father in Heaven for your safety and happiness. I know that you remained safe, though you suffered many pains and injuries. I think that you may have endured much lonliness and were tried to the max. You never gave up. I hope that will be the thought you will carry with you forever more. I hope just the knowledge of who you are and what you did will carry you through the future with the deep conviction that come what may.....you will always have what it takes to do what ever you need to do.
I pray also that you will know how many people have been uplifted by your courage and determination. You have been an inspiration to me. I love you bunny.

Forgot to tell my blog how you notified me today that your journey was completed.......two words.........

the beach!!!!!

BARNEY the BUFFALO

I would have put this in the correct time line, but since you just posted it recently, I am going to just tuck it in here before the conclusion of this blog. This picture is titled Barney the Buffalo. I laughed when I saw this. It's both funny and sad at the same time to me. This majestic fellow is just strolling along the highway

as though it's perfectly natural to be following you along as you make your way through Yellowstone. I can tell you Jed, that this guy is my most favorite character that you have met along the way on this journey of yours. The sadness is that he has become a tourist attraction, and I hope, (but wonder) if those who see him look at the beautiful creature that he is or if they just think he is there for their entertainment. I like to think of him without seeing all the people gawking out their windows at him.

Still, I am glad he prevails even with all the fluff around him. Kudos Barney!

YaTaHey!

My heart bursts with pride

You my son, have done what boggles the mind.....

Hey Jed, what did you do over your summer vacation? I know you worked insane amounts of hours to save money for something really big! I know you spent literally thousands of dollars of your hard earned money to do something really big over your summer vacation. I mean heck, taking a half year off work, spending all that money,.....you must have done something really fantastic, must have had a real blast!! Did you see the sights, or travel? Did you stay in exotic places, eat exotic foods, drink exotic wines? I mean, you must have really had a time!!!

Yes, you spent a lot of money... saw some sights. Heck, roads fell out from under you as flood waters rushed in. Got to see a tornado arriving in a town while trying to stay in one piece under a bridge. Got to sleep and run for days at a time in driving rainstorms with 45-50 mph winds to slap you along the way.....had 4 star accommodations in abandoned houses and barns. Got to see lots of critters, some not so friendly as they protected their junkyard territories. Felt the full fury of mother Nature as she shoved one torrential downpour after another in your face to get you to quit and go home. Then there was the blistering heat and convection oven wind of Kansas in mid summer. It hadn't been that hot for that long without let up in many a year. Exotic wines? Does rancid water from a ditch, drunk in a moment of desperation count? I would guess that one of the most miserable highlights was the seemingly endless stretches of lonely highways in Kansas with no one to know of your pain, your thirst, to encourage you to go on when it hurt to walk anymore. I think the Kansas/Colorado border is where your ankle finally ripped apart with all the extra weight of the water that had to be carried to fend off the delerium of temperatures that melted the bottoms of your shoes.
I was happy when you again reached the mountains of Colorado that gave you relief from the wretched heat, and at least gave you beautiful scenery to look at. I marveled when I knew you were traveling through the rugged territory in Wyoming, then Montana and Idaho, and finally into Oregon. What did you do for your summer vacation? You overcame everything that was thrown at you, and you did it with honor and courage. I know you wanted to be able to pass your goal of obtaining money to benefit the Jimmy V foundation for cancer research, but you did something more for those who are battling right now.....research will take time, but you have shown those who fight the battle of a lifetime right now, that you can prevail....even when the odds are all against you..even when others say you can't. If I can do anything in my life, I hope I can tell your story so many others can know the meaning of your slogan.........."taking the I can't out of the English Language....one step at a time."

I know you have a few more days left before you reach the Pacific Ocean....5 maybe, but talking to you tonight I am so happy. You told me you would make the town of Sisters, Oregon today and would be meeting up with someone you worked with....a special girl that you have grown to care for. That was such exciting news. After a little time together, you will continue your journey to the ocean as she continues her journey along the Pacific Crest Trail. I surely wish the time you can spend together is filled with happiness and joy as you share your experiences of these past months.

I feel the fire back in your voice as you realize how close you are to that day, very soon now, when you will place your well traveled feet into the ocean surf of the Pacific, 4,268+ miles from where you began.

You are incredible Jed, a man among men.

Almost there!

I can hardly believe that you have gone so far! I haven't posted anything on this blog for a while, and it seems like you have been rocketing along. While I am piddling my days away, you are still moving, and I sense that seeing the finish line so close, you have become infused with a new fire. Before I ramble too long, I want to put in a statement that Buffy wrote to all your followers. I am going to copy/paste it here if I can:

Here's what she had to say, and I cannot think of a better way to say it......
Hi and a big thank you to all the members of Jed's group! Thanks for the generous financial contributions many of you have made but most of all for the ongoing moral support, prayers, advice and good karma! Jed is halfway through Oregon and will likely finish within 2-3 days. Many of you may already be aware but he sustained a significant ankle injury as he neared the Colorado border. We picked him up and brought him to Missouri where we were blessed to have two wonderful physicians donate their time and expertise. Due to the injury the only way he could finsih was by bicycle. He really wrestled with that and made several attempts to push past the injury but in the end realized that doing so could cause permanent problems. Not too good when you make your living climbing mountains! I personally feel that running 2,500 miles and then biking close to another 2,000 in 5 months is nothing to be ashamed of - and that all of you who donated will be blessed in your willingness to help support cures for cancer. Thank you again, all of you and we'll let you know when he crosses the FINISH LINE!

news

it was good to hear your voice tonight Jed. I was thinking about you and wondering how you were. I got the message that you had two flat tires, and a slashed sidewall. I was afraid you might be forced to walk pushing your bike and carrying your gear, and I was pretty sure that would be extremely painful and damaging to your injured ankle. When you called, I could not bring myself to ask if you had to do that. At least you were in a town, and found a bike shop where you could purchase a new tire. I saw a post on facebook that someone had suggested you get Kevlar reinforced tires, and knew that you had started out already with them. Wyoming must have been a beast on those tires. I don't know anything about these kinds of things, but I have been told those are the best tires you could have had, so it was a big deal they went on you. I guess you can only prepare so much, and then life is just a crap shoot after that. Your voice sounded very good though, so I was much heartened by that. I also checked your fundraiser page, and saw that you got a few more donations. I hope you leave the page up a while after you reach the ocean. I believe we could just keep on keeping on with it for a spell. Maybe those who couldn't before might be able to help out sometime in the future.
I will continue to keep a blog for you till you finish this journey, but perhaps I will go on now and then, and continue your story. You know Jed, it's not just about this run, but about how you live your life, and how you inspire others to do better, and to never give up.

I think it was well said........

Jed Brown.... taking the "I can't" out of the English Language...
one step at a time.

I'm proud to be your mother. I love you Jed.

on the road again

Well, it's been a while hasn't it? I sent an e-mail to those friends who routinely ask about you to update things, but I just haven't had much time to update the blog. I guess it's about time I do that. Your leg healed as much as it was going to, and I know you finally decided to go on in spite of the pain. In truth, healing really is going to take a lot longer than either of us wants, but I know that even with the tremendous heat we have endured this summer, that a sudden storm can blow in at mountain elevations in the fall, so I am glad that you are on your way. Of course, I know that you are pretty qualified to deal with adverse weather and cold. I know that many times at work, you were out in the woods for days at a time with double digit temperatures below zero. I think that is in your genes. Our people were from many generations of those who thrived in cold climates, and you fit right in with that. I also know you love the mountains. That is hard to explain to some, but I know of that love. Missouri has been strange to live in. I've been here so long now, more than anywhere else in my adult life, and yet I always get the feeling that it should be soon time to go home. When I go to Uncle Rynd's house, it feels so easy....as though I am home, yet I am not. Wonder if I will ever be at home here? Wonder where you will end up living, or will you always be a wanderer? Hard to say. For now, home is where Roger is, so that is where I will be. If there is a time when I do not have him, it's hard to say where I would go.

I imagine you as you look up at the sky and those rugged mountains, with the great pines, and wish I had been young enough to accompany you on some of your trips. It's good when you don't have to travel alone. I see these things through your eyes, and am grateful that you are able to do this thing that calls you.

I remember once Papa telling me something when we were in the woods together. I found some forget-me-nots, and wanted him to see how pretty they were. I picked one and brought it to him. He told me to look at it and find all the pretty things I could. I described to him what I saw. He then said "look at it the first time for you, then look at it again for me....and find more...."

I remember one day after he had been gone for a couple years, I was driving west on 92 hwy into Kearney. I capped a little rise, and the sky exploded in front of my eyes into the most beautiful sunset I had seen in some time. I could hear his voice saying....."look at it again for me".......

I had to pull off the road as it was hard to focus through tears, but I looked and saw such beauty,.....then I looked again and saw so so much more. I think that is a good thing Jed. It doesn't have to be for me, but when you see the beauty that I know you are seeing, look at it once for you........then look again, and find more,...... for you for someone special in your life, or just to thank God for making it all. Be grateful for the beauty and wonder of the earth.

Life Goals

This was made by the unicyclist that carried Jed's pack for a while. He also spent some time with Jed, and did this "interview" with him. Jed as you will see, has a way of being easy and making jokes about nearly everything. I got a laugh anyway Jed. 

Well, in a book you can't watch the video that goes with this blog, so here's a picture of Sky, the unicyclist that carried Jed's pack for a number of miles to give Jed a break.  Thanks kiddo!

Bunny, forgive me for taking your post to put in here. I was going to try to write about the event that brought you back home for a while to get medical treatment, but somehow, I had a really hard time wanting to write about it. I think I will be able to do it later, when a little more time has gone by. Till then I will let you tell your own story as you have done here. I love you bunny. mom
(the photo her is one of the family who helped Jed on this day)

Why do moths fly into the campfire?

Saturday at 10:55pm
Anyone who's sat around a campfire in the summer for any amount of time has undoubtedly seen moths dive bomb into the fire. Why do people do the same? You know the outcome of the moth when it comes close to the fire. You are viewing this from an outside perspective. As oil flow into the gulf is that not a huge fire that the whole of society is flying into? Something that will undoubtedly burn us all in the end. The climber that dies on the side of a mountain unable to see their deteriorating state. Surely, if they could truely see what was happening they would turn back. Last Thursday I left Bazine, Ks. heading for Ness City and beyond for the day. I knew the day before something was wrong with my ankle, but as with all the other pains on this trip I say it's ok. By mile 3 on Thursday I knew that this wasn't going to be a good day. By mile 9, I was on the verge of crying. Partly from pain and partly because I knew that this type of injury had the potential to stop me. By the time I made it 12 miles to Ness City I was done for the day. I went to the city park to camp for the night and ran across a family biking across the country. I made it down the stairs at the park and sat down on a picnic table beside them. They asked me if I was ok. I was barely able to walk down the stairs and I'm sure that the pain was written all over my face. I told them that I was Ok. This is what I've always told people. They offered to the next town that had things that could help me take better care of myself. I at first turned them down, but in the morning I knew my ankles wouldn't get me there. It was apparent even to me. My ankles had taken me from doing 30 miles daily to barely being able to walk down stairs. Fast forward to today. My ankles really haven't gotten better. It still feels like someone is stabbing my left ankle with a knife. Today I looked into buying a bike that I could finish this trail in. Not the way I want to finish in, but the way I think that my body will allow me to finish it in. A 2,000 mile down payment on a dream to have it repossessed by bad ankles. There are no regrets though. I can see what the family at the park saw. A good man with a broken body.

more critters !

Ah bunny, this is typical of you. How many turtles have you helped across the road on this trip? You've rescued many of these little guys who wouldn't have made it without getting hit by a car. They may not know their lives were spared for another day, but God sees and records the smallest of these kindnesses. Just another reason why I love and respect you.

Back to your story

I guess I will back track a little. It's been a while since I have written. Sometimes I wonder why I am writing this, and then I remember it's really for you. Somehow, I know this is more than another one of your adventures. It's

as though it could be a turning point in your life. That can be very frightening to me. I feel it, yet want this trip to be just another one of your "walk abouts". I know in a way only a mother can know that there is much more to this journey than a personal challenge...much more than raising money for a cause dear to your heart.

I posted this photo to illustrate how you

can have your Jed sense of humor no matter where you are, or under what conditions. With a title of "Showdown with a Calf" , you made light of running along this incredible lonely stretch of highway. Knowing the terrain you ran through in Kansas, with the blazing heat that we have had this summer, I can't imagine laughing about anything, though the little guy does look forlorn.

Actually I was thinking.....he saw you...he instinctively knew that you were trying to escape Kansas.....he knew what his future as a Kansas cow would be...and in that instant, he made a break for the breach in the fence, and was wordlessly standing there begging you to take him with you.......

Either that, or he just came out of the pasture to wonder (if cows do such things) what the heck some ditzy guy was doing running along in all that heat in such a hurry to go to the endless horizon.

MOO-O-O-O-O..........

Highs and Lows

This will be a short post. Much like Jed's run, I have felt both extremes of emotion the last two days. Yesterday I was at work when I heard from Jed. He had checked his posts to his charity's page, and found a five hundred dollar donation from the one and only Dick Vitale, famous ESPN basketball sports announcer. You could have peeled Jed off the sky he was so happy. I think so happy in fact, that he was able to ignore the growing pain in his ankle. It had been bothering him all day, but he had 30 miles to go and was not going to let it do him in. You have to understand that in Western Kansas, you just don't stop along the way. It could cost you plenty to stop when you only have enough water to make it to that next town. He is carrying a lot more water now, to make it through the intense heat of July in Kansas. A lot more water is a lot more weight.......
Today after 12 miles, the pain was so intense he had to stop. I got a message from him. He found a pool in town, and he was trying to cool the pain in the water. With such limited resources, he is unable to stay in a motel, so must make do with what he has. Funds must be conserved as he has a long way yet to go. I could feel the discouragement in his voice. I am going to call a few people I know and ask them to include him in their prayers, putting him on their prayer lists at church if they are able. The white hot pain in his ankle has taken yesterday's joy and pulled the rug out from under it. I hope anyone reading this post would say a prayer for Jed that this will be a temporary set back for him. He has given his all. I love you bunny. I will pray for you, and keep a prayer in my heart continually for your recovery and health.

Just thought I would post some of the beautiful accommodations you've enjoyed during your travels. Abandoned houses and barns. All the amenities!!!

Well this looks familiar. Bleeding blisters. I rather had to chuckle at the "Jedness" of the post you ran with this picture.

Blister care......1. pop it. 2. drain it. 3. duct tape it.

4. carry on.

You made light of it, but I rememeber when I danced and had these same looking blisters. No easy task to put your shoes back on after you have taken them off. That was the hardest part. It took a while after you began to adjust to the pain. Pretty sure you walked and ran through a lot of the pain, though you'll probably never really say. I know many (most really) would have just quit. You have learned when to stop for a while, and when to go on.

the journey continues

It's the Fourth of July already. Deep into summer. I have had so many thoughts about you Jed. Usually I am nowhere near a place or time that I can record my thoughts. I am sure you can imagine much of how I feel at this point. There is not a minute that goes by that I do not wonder where you are, how you are...if you're tired or thirsty....

As mother, I want to fix anything that could possibly confront you. I don't believe I will mentally get over that feeling. I think it's part of the human condition. Some parts of me though, can step back and see this for what it really is. A story about a man among men.

I remember driving across Kansas some years ago, when we went out to see Maw in Arizona. You were little then. The air had gone out on the car, and we had the windows down, and were wiping you guys down with cold water that evaporated and kept you comfortable. The stretches of road were relentlessly long and uneventful, and the heat came up in waves from the pavement. I remember passing a grain silo, then going for what seemed like hours, seemingly to pass that same silo again. Of course it wasn't, but the terrain was so the same, that it was impossible to tell if you had made any progress. I remember reading on one of your posts how unnerving it was to run for six or more hours, and the silo in the distance didn't seem any closer than it had for the last number of hours. It was like that in a car! Can't imagine that same feeling on foot, knowing how much water you had left, and how far you had yet to go to have more of that precious liquid.

I will long remember the message, finally, from you that you had reached a point where you found a ditch with some brackish water trickling along, and how you fought off the revulsion of the smell and taste of it, just to have something wet to swallow. A while later, you knew from your maps that you would come to a bridge that had a shallow river running under it. At last, a place that would provide shade, with water to boot!

The bridge appeared, and as you put it, "in my heat induced delerium, I ran for the bridge, dropping off my pack and plunging into the river without thought."

You told me later that it was about 30 to 40 seconds later in that glorious water that you remembered your cell phone was still in your pants pocket.

The phone didn't take too kindly to that dip in the pool, and now you were without a means of communication, with a while to go before you would come to another stopping point, and still later till your friend Tony would be there at that next town, and put you up for a couple days. No way either to get the call from the television station that wanted to interview you for their news segment on people who make a difference. Worst of all, for me....was that period of time till you were able to get to another town to give me all this news. I must say, this was a crummy break, but the thing is, I have such faith in your abilities that I wasn't really worried. I knew that you could and would be just fine. I have learned to trust you completely.

http://www.kwch.com/videobeta/24902492-93a3-4af2-bebe-1d226b7979b5/News/Video-Man-journeys-across-America-on-foot

The link above is from KWCH TV in Wichita, Kansas.  An interview set up by the son of an old friend who was working for that news station.  Thanks Cliff Judy!

Heat, heat, and more heat

Well, the run has just been bumped up a notch for sure. It's Kansas, and it's deep into June....the heat has been turned up. Don't know if anyone could be really prepared for Kansas in the summer.

I have gotten word that the water is hard to come by, and you are regretfully planning on carrying a much larger pack so you can accommodate more water. It's funny, when I mention that to people, they say "oh that's great, then he can just carry a bigger pack and everything will be fine"....

Then that same person will whine and complain if they are for instance, carrying a sack of groceries a little further than they had planned. I remember when your brother was little. He was a big baby, and I carried him in a version of a cradleboard. When I first hoisted him onto my back it was a piece of cake. After a couple hours of carrying him, he had gained at least fifty pounds! Funny how that works.....so I don't envy you the bigger pack. I know you will need the water, but I also know it will add so much weight.

KC Star Story about Jed

In the June 16, 2010 issue of the Kansas City Star, Daniel Pauling did a wonderful story about Jed's Run Across America.  It appeared on the front page of the Sports section of the newspaper.  Of course being Jed's mom, I purchased more than a few papers that day. :-)

Back to KC....the long way!

After we dropped you off, Roger and I headed back to Kansas City. We were SO HOT, and I couldn't imagine you on foot, with that pack strapped to you in this blaring sun facing the endless terrain of Kansas in the baking, sweltering heat.

We were driving north on 71 hwy. when the car did a "Toyota" on me. The engine began to race, sounding as though it were going to blow right out of the hood......except that unlike the Toyota, I was not speeding up but slowing down.

"Uh oh Roger, I think we have a problem."......
"What's the matter?" He had been dozing, and didn't realize we were slowing down......
"I've got lots of engine, and no moving....I think the tranny just went."

We slowed down and got off the side of the road. I stopped, tried the gears.....almost nothing but reverse....... First gear was still working....a little.

We could see an exit ahead a little way. We pushed and limped her to the exit, then thankfully off the side to a little Conoco station. Under the hood was tranny fluid sprayed all over the place, and an absolutely finished transmission.
The blessing of cell phones made a call to a tow place possible, and after some trying, found someone who would tow us back 77 miles to KC.

THAT was a pricey tow! On getting home, we had to make a decision wether or not to sink the money into a rebuild, or just try to get another car. We were unable to figure out how to come up with money for another car, and decided to bite the bullet and instead try to come with 3 grand for a tranny replacement.
That was no small task either, but one way or another I had to have a car to get to work. If we lived closer to my job I would have just walked, but unlike Jed, I cannot just sprint the 15 miles each way to get there. Yuch! He does the equivelant of me running to and from work every day. How does anyone do that? Not so much for one time, but day after day after day, for about 8 months......not even the weekend off.....I couldn't do it. I could have never done it, even when I danced and was in great shape.
Well bunny, this will cut into the amounts I was going to contribute to your run, but sometimes we don't have choices. We just do what has to be done. And as you have taught me, you just get up after you are knocked down, and you continue on.

Rock on bunny!

Time to go

I couldn't believe time could go so fast, but it was time to take you back to the trail so you could go on. Funny, work days never go that fast....do they run in another paralled universe? The average work day lasts at least a week, and each day you were her lasted only a couple minutes.....how does that work?

I woke up at 2:00 am. Saturday. Jed wanted to get on the road by 2:30 - 3:00 so we could get to southern Missouri before it began to get too hot. The weather, in less than 2 days had turned to what felt like the "dog days of August". Temps of 92-95, with heat indexes in the triple digits. When there was a breeze at all, it felt as though you were in a convection oven. Geeze I hate the heat. I am a fall person. Give me a cool gloomy November day anytime. If it weren't for the fact that I love to garden, I could do without summer at all.

Well, we were loaded into the car and driving south toward the Joplin area. The section of the trail we were going to finished the Missouri distance, then headed into Pittsburg, Kansas, then west across the state. It was obscenely hot that day, and I was beginning to have a bad feeling about how the trip would progress for you through the state. Kansas is a challenge in the summer. You would think it would be easy leaving the mountain roads behind. Easy to run across flat land.....easy......except for the fact that now you are running in triple digit numbers, and the water stops are very few and far between. The towns spaced generously apart....no trees....no shade.....no nothing really. The first time you tagged in on your satellite posting I was relieved. There's something about that little message....Jedediah OK 8:10 p.m........
That little blip with the words OK really mean a lot to me. I try to picture if you have found a tree, a bridge, some water......

The days will get harder from here. Little do I know what will come soon.

Back in KC

Ok, I want so much to put photos on here, so I have an idea! I'll put the pics on a disc, load them onto Buffy's high speed, and access the blog there, so I can edit the posts and put the pictures in.
Most of the time by the time I can get one to load, I've been able to do a couple loads of laundry and lose my train of thought in the process.....

As we loaded Buffy's bike into ours, and you guys into Buffy's car, I was just so happy to know we'd get to have you at home for a couple days. Little did I realize how quickly they would go by. A whirlwind really. The next day we were scheduled to have our get-together at the English Landing Park in Parkville. I'd made some snacks, your dad had made up some cards for you, people were going to stop by to say hello, and the Kansas City Star newspaper was also going to drop by to do a story on your epic run across the country. Mother Nature also had a big surprise for us that next day.....

When I woke up, the skies were nearly black with clouds. What was this Jed? Did you bring the torrential downpours from Kentucky with you? I was beginning to think so. Roger and I loaded the car with snacks, watermelon, coolers with drinks, tableware, etc etc etc.....and hopped into the car to drive down to Parkville for the party. A short distance down I-35 the wind and rain began to beat on us so badly we had to pull over. It was impossible to see anything. We would wait a couple minutes, then try it again, only to have to do the same thing repeatedly before we finally found the sky pouring out just a barrage instead of a mini-typhoon. I was beginning to wonder if the park would get flooded out, as the rain had been pretty consistent these last few weeks. I remembered the flood of 1993 when the park and in fact most of Parkville itself was under water. Please don't let that happen today I thought. When we finally got to the shelter, I saw the newspaper reporter was just leaving after interviewing you. I was glad they showed up in such foul weather. I was equally impressed that a number of your friends braved the elements, some with their little ones in tow, to welcome you home for a few days. What great friends they are. I could tell how much they loved you, and how happy they were to be able to come in spite of the nasty cold rain. When I get the pictures transferred, I will post several of them. Well, no matter the weather, you were home, and for a while it was so fun just to see you, and know that you were happy spending time with friends. Hope you will get a chance to see all the people who wanted to come. The next couple days will be filled with sunshine no matter what the sky throws at us.

Almost home !!!

I believe that someone commented that after over 1,500 miles running, with few places to "freshen up", that things were beginning to "grow" from you. Ha ha!

catching up again

Ok, I am so far behind it isn't funny. I have been on here more times than I can count, trying to load a picture of you, Buffy and the little girls at the end of the Katy Trail in Clinton. I have a great video of you coming in, and with this slow speed dial up, I am sure I will not live long enough to load it. I'll write, then try to load the pictures later.
It's hard to explain how I felt when we came down to get you in Clinton. You have to realize that life is so much different when you're getting old. The anticipation of seeing loved ones is stronger than that of a child on Christmas Eve, waiting for Santa.....you look out the window a thousand times....convincing yourself that you really do hear the bells and the hoofs on the roof. That's what it was like. Buffy had of course gone down the evening before..to get a room, (no trail sleeping for her) and to ride that last 25 or so miles with you as you got into Clinton and prepared to stop your run for a while to visit us. As Ande was out of town, we had the little girls and prepared a little snack basket to take with us in the car. They were so excited to see "Uncle Jed", and to tell you the truth I was so happy they were here the night before we left. The time flew by with them here, their exuberation keeping me busy, and keeping my thoughts from running too far ahead. I hadn't seen you Jed, for a long time, and my mind was crowded with a jumble of emotion. Children outgrow their parents, but we parents never seem to outgrow the need to be who we always were to you. Funny how that works. In our hearts we know, but in our minds we tell ourselves we are indispensable, and we will always be a critical component in the lives of our children. In reality, we have prepared you so that you won't need us, then we ourselves have the problem letting go. I am doing pretty good I think really. I worry now, but I don't obsess. Don't laugh....it took a while to get here. Every now and then I see that little curly haired boy looking out the back window of the school bus transporting him to kindergarten, with a tear rolling down his face and his little hand waving goodbye. What you didn't see was the tear soaked face I wore into the house that day. I had to get my "calm face" on now, but as we pulled into the parking lot at the trail end, I didn't feel that way. We were early it turns out....imagine that!....the kids and I walked around a while, we threw the blanket out on the ground and had snacks....they were restless... You know how kids are,.. "Is Uncle Jed here yet?" "Is mommy with him?"

Roger's leg was hurting pretty good, so he sat under the shelter house, and I walked up and down a section of the trail with Ellye and Aeva. Old eagle eye Ellye found a mulberry tree, and I pulled a branch down and shared berries with them. We found a nickel, and Ellye invented a "shell game" out of trail dust and fine gravel to hide the money under a little mound, while we tried to guess which mound it was in. We played till they were quite dirty, then all of a sudden Ellye looked up and said "I see something! Maybe it's Uncle Jed and Mama!" I could make out a speck which continued to get larger, but I could not tell what it was. In time I could see a bike rider, who as she got closer, turned out to be your sister. A short distance behind, I saw a runner! I didn't have to see....I knew it was you! I ran back to the car to get my little camcorder while the little girls ran to meet you. When I got back to the trail, I got you running in with them. My heart jumped out of my body. You were home.

bittersweet

Well it's been a while since I wrote anything here, and I think I better get up to the current day. The photo you see here is of Jed cooking waffles at a motel where he stayed with his sister in Missouri. The town of Green Ridge is about 30 miles from the end of the Katy trail in Clinton, Missouri, and Jed's sister Buffy wanted badly to ride her bike beside Jed for the last 25-30 miles of his run on that trail. She packed up her bike, brought the little ones to our house, and started for Green Ridge from Kearney Mo. where she lives. Her husband Ande was away on a school assignment. When she got to the general area she found the trail, and not long after, she saw Jed running down the trail. She was pretty excited to see him. She packed him up into her car, and they drove off to the motel she had reserved for the night. After a much needed shower for Jed, he was taken out to eat, and eat, and eat. You burn up an obscene amount of calories running 30 or so miles a day. The next morning after a continental breakfast of waffles and more waffles, they set out for Green Ridge where Buff had picked him up. Parking her car, she unloaded her bike, hoisted his pack onto her own back, climbed onto her bike and they were off for the last leg of the trail. My husband and I planned on meeting them in Clinton with the little girls, doubling back to get her car, then making the drive back to Kansas City for a much anticipated reunion with the rest of the family. Excitement!!!

Crazy weekend

Saturday (yesterday), Jed was able to be interviewed on the Pat McAvoy radio show out of Lake Placid, New York. I am thinking that would have been a blast to have heard. Wish I had been able to hear that!

Later, around 3:30 this morning apparently, as Jed was trying to sleep a few hours before resuming his run, there were a bunch of drunks tearing around in cars. They continued with their bombing around till one of the cars literally exploded and caught on fire, burning completely up. Jed got it on video. Perhaps one of these days it'll show up on YouTube, or at the very least on his Facebook page. He had a moral for that story......don't interrupt his sleep, or your car may explode.

I hope he will have some uninterrupted sleep when he gets home for a day or two of R&R. He'll need it. He has come a long way, with a long way yet to go.

The really cool news?

One of the television stations here is going to do a story on him, as well as the Kansas City Star newspaper. I know he will welcome any help to raise money for the V Foundation. Perhaps in his lifetime a breakthrough will be made on cancer, and he will know that he did his all to assist in that cause.

Rock on bunny!!!

More crazy stories!!!

As Jed said goodbye to his St. Louis friend, he switched to the Katy trail to run to Clinton, so more of his friends and family could run a little of the way with him. He had a rough schedule of 25-35 miles per day he wanted to run. Now the crappy thing is..... he is running alone, without support....and it is HOTTER THAN HADES outside this first week of June. Nearly impossible to carry enough water, and run the distance he wants to cover each day.

Of course I don't know about other people, but I get pretty sluggish in the heat. I guess Jed wanted to take a break for a short time because of that very fact, but the other factor here is that it has been a horribly wet spring, and the mosquitoes are out in Biblical proportions......

A post on Friday said ...'the good thing about swarms of mosquitos is that you get to where you are going faster....it's impossible to take a break......'

And then later.....

"When it's close to 10,000 degrees outside with a billion percent humidity, a piece of watermelon is as close to heaven as you can get on earth."

Oh bunny, hope you actually got to have a piece of that melon, and didn't just have to fantasize about it....

In Missouri

Once in Missouri, a friend retrieved Jed and had him spend the day for a meal, some welcome conversation and a real bed to sleep in. Thoughtful person that he is, Jed washed the unique trail run odor off himself in advance. After a day of 35 miles running on only 4 hours of sleep, I bet it felt pretty invigorating. Dang ! Looks like nature's perfect jacuzzi.

Coming home

Ok, this is pretty close to evening, and I don't know if you can see the sign on this photo or not, but it says MISSOURI STATE LINE....Jed had a two word comment with this photo he posted on the internet. It simply said "Homeward Bound".
This simple comment caught me kind of off guard. Why should that be? Well, for some time now, Jed has been a traveler...a vagabond if you will. He wants to drink in life, and not just taste a smidgen of it. I recall clearly one evening he stopped out to the house, a Friday I think. He had been telling a friend of his about the Boundary Waters area in northern Minnesota where he had gone to school. A cold, wild place. A wonderful place. A place that was a good 13 hour drive from our house. With a smile on his face, he told me that as soon as he got off work he was going to pick up his buddy and take him up there. They'd go out tracking wolves in the Superior National Forest, perhaps get to see a pack along with other beauties of the north woods, eat, and be back home for work Monday. Friday to Sunday night!!! I was exhausted just thinking of it, but they did it, with him driving both ways. When he decides to, he can do just about anything. On another occasion, he grabbed his brother and set out to see the Badlands and Mt. Rushmore. Once they were there, they continued on to the Pacific coast, then to Arizona with its many sights and down to Texas to relive the days of the Alamo, before turning northward and coming back to Missouri.......or the time he was working with Chef Will (spelling?) at the Elms Resort and hearing from the chef about a fabulous crab shack in New Orleans. You got it, with a rattletrap of a car, and very few dollars in his pocket, he set off for Louisiana to taste of the flavors of that crab shack. Coming back, he side tracked through Graceland with it's Elvis lore, then to St. Louis and the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses. When he got home, he had a shaggy face, a lean look, and 50 cents in his pocket. Good thing the car didn't need another tank of gas. He had decided having gas money to see the sights was more important than a meal or two or a place to lay his head. At night he just slept on the ground, and ate occasionally when it was absolutely necessary to keep going. Self discipline? IN SPADES !!!

He has been so many places. Seen so many things.....so when I saw the post "Homeward Bound", it hit me with a force that he calls this place home. I don't know why I thought that....perhaps because I know Missouri isn't his favorite place....he has seen such beauty, such grandeur, and yet the word "home" looked so absolutely beautiful when I read it in his post, that it brought me to tears. It conveyed a feeling that spans time and place. It brought the most important things in life to the forefront of my mind. My family.....my friends....my children and grandchildren.....that is 'home', and I believe that is what he saw when he put his foot on the bridge that spans the Mississippi River
and brought him into his home state of Missouri. When all is said and done, when the trail finally is finished, we always come home.... in our minds or in our hearts, home is where we love...and where we are loved. I love you Bunny. I'll see you soon.

Pain and Fatigue

Jed says pain and fatigue are his faithful companions......I'm sure they are. I was doing some weeding in the garden today....it was hot and it didn't take long to wipe me out. I came in from my yard work feeling like I had been chewed up and spit out. Thought about the last post I read on Jed's site....."34 miles in 92 degree heat..." YUCH!!! I have never been a summer person. I like fall and winter. It is sickening to me to be hot. Can't imagine running in it. Of course I am not 31, I'm sure I would have been better at things then, but even so,...I would be wimping out you can be sure.
I also don't like to be super hungry and have no way to get food. When I read that Jed was brought to tears at the sight of a Pizza Hut on the horizon, I did remember a day long ago when I was so very hungry. It had been days since I had eaten, and I had really gone past the hunger point to the point where food was hard to eat without getting ill. I remember and never want any of my children to be hungry, but I know he is. I'm not sure how many calories you burn up running 20-40 miles per day, but I think it would be hard to eat enough to maintain weight at this rate. I think my son will be pretty thin by the time I see him again. After thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, Jed took a bus back from Katahadin in Maine to Kansas City. I remember clearly going to the bus station to pick him up that day. My husband and I were so excited to go get him that evening. When he emerged from the bus, he was shaggy and wan. I threw my arms around him for a hug. They went too far around. I felt as though I could have circled him twice with one arm. That was a little over two thousand miles......this will be over four thousand. I pray he will be able to eat more this time around, or I will be taking a twig home for a little R&R before he returns to the mountains where he works changing lives. A phrase was coined concerning Jed. It is TAKING THE "I CAN'T" OUT OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE...ONE STEP AT A TIME.

When I am not feeling well, am tired or discouraged....I remember..and say "I can do this." "Yes, I can!"

Thank you for that Jed. Thank you for showing me I can. mom

Right Back at Ya Governor!!

I absolutely LOVED this message from Jed, so I re enter it here:

"Met the Governor of Illinois today. He gave me his business card, and I wrote my charity website info on it and gave ir right back to him."


I wonder, governor, what you thought about that....? Maybe you should go to the site, and lend a hand. That would do more good than public relations. Have you ever watched someone die from cancer? I have. Have you ever loved a little three year old child who is battling brain cancer? I have. Perhaps one less latte, one less soda pop, one less fancy dinner or show or new suit. One less beer or martini at lunch......who's to say what the turning point will be in the search for a cure. Isn't it worth something? Isn't it worth the sacrifice of something, anything you won't really even miss in a day?

Jed is running...daily...through rain and wind, pain and hunger. He is doing it on his own dime. No one is driving along behind him to feed and shelter him at night as they do with so many runners. So, Governor, if I could will it to be so, I would make the image of Jed stick with you till you went to this site and sacrificed just a few dollars, so a life might be helped. And to anyone else out there who might read this.....please do the same.

www.firstgiving.com/jedediahbrown

God Bless this Country...and God bless all who have the courage to do what others only dream.

Finally, out of Kentucky!

Well Jed,...I know you were so glad to finally get out of Kentucky. From what I have heard, I don't think I would have any desire to go through rural Kentucky on foot. I am grateful you are out of the area. I had family who lived in Kentucky many years ago. I always thought it would be a beautiful place to visit, but now I am not so sure. Things have changed. All I can think of now when I think of the state are charging pit bulls! For whatever reason, the trail seems to go through more difficult places than an average person would want to contend with. Perhaps I will pass on a visit to Kentucky. Most of this leg of the state was pretty unpleasant for Jed with a few exceptions. The weather was pretty bad through here. I think he was waterlogged most of the way. That's a rotten feeling...being wet all the time, especially your shoes. I try to imagine myself running day after day, wet...hot...tired and in pain most of the time. In Sebree, Kentucky he finally got the pair of shoes I was able to send to a General delivery along the route. I was stressing about getting the shoes to him on time, knowing he was moving fast, anxious to get out of Kentucky and into Illinois. I was so glad to see his message that the shoes had arrived and he was just in time to get them at the post office and finally get out of the duct taped ones they replaced. His uncle, my brother, sent an additional pair that are sitting on my dining table ready to give him when he reaches Missouri. He should be ready for another pair by then. With any luck, he will not have the problems from here on in that he has experienced so far.

I always thought I was strong inside, but I cannot even fathom the inner strength he has. I read a post from him just recently that said "Dreams are for those who lack courage to make them a reality."

Once someone told me that I had courage......I am pretty sure I do not know the meaning of the word.....but you do Jed....you do. I love you. mom

sad day

It was good to talk to Jed today. He is in Sebree tonight. Staying at a church hostel for cross country travelers. I think he will be able to get his shoes tonight or tomorrow morning. I'll be grateful for that. Don't feel much like writing tonight. Our dear little Maltese dog Lady died today in my husband's arms. She had a really bad heart from birth. We, of course knew that, and is the reason why we took her. We knew no one would want her with that defective heart. We wanted her. She became like a little child to us in our old age. The vet's prognosis of not living to see her first birthday was outdone, but she didn't quite make it to number 2. Our little granddaughters were planning a "burthday party" for her. They were going to spend the night and let her sleep in bed with them, and lavish her with kisses and pats on the head. She'd have loved it. Good bye little dog. We loved you so.

My thoughts travel to Jed again. Good night my son. May heaven's angels travel with you all your tomorrows.

hey there lonely boy

I would blah blah on, but Jed's caption for this photo he took of himself says it all.......the caption?

"She was lonely.....I was lonely.....what else can I say?"





Jed, you can always find a way to laugh, and to make us laugh too.

Woot!! Woot!!

Whew, Jed put up a post today. He has run his first thousand miles! I have to tell you, that is really hard to wrap my mind around. Even in the days when I was in great shape dancing, I know I would never have been able to do this much. A thousand miles. The post mentioned that he had merely another three thousand to go. My feet are hurting in sympathy. I want to find more ways to gather support for this run. I did get word today that the Kansas City Star wanted to do a story on him when he gets to Missouri. I have not been able to contact him to let him know they are interested. but I am excited about the possibilities this could have to spread the word. I can only hope that the more people who know about this, the more who may find it in their hearts to donate to the foundation who will be the benefactor of this incredible journey. If any of you read this post, and missed the link to the page to donate,.....please go to www.firstgiving.com/jedediahbrown . If you have a dollar, it would help. The year Jed was born, my father lost his battle with thyroid cancer. Jed never got to know him, and yet is so much like him in so many ways. The mountain man part of Jed is somehow my father living on. When my oldest brother was only six years old, he died of lukemia. Just a few short weeks before Jed began his run, a dearly loved uncle died of lung cancer. That same uncle's wife is fighting cancer right now, just two months after losing her beloved husband to the ravages of the disease. Jed has known a number of people he really cared about that fought and are still fighting this disease. He has done well, and in the words of the V Foundation, he NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVES UP. God Bless you for this Jed. I am more than proud of you. I have told you before, and I tell you again, you are my hero.

The Kentucky Hilton!

Well, here is the Bunny at his hotel room for the night....an abandoned farmhouse somewhere in rural Kentucky. I am looking at his shoes, hoping that the ones I ordered for him will indeed get there in time. Supposedly they are guaranteed for tomorrow. I believe they will be there. I know the ones he has on here are pretty shot, falling apart. They were good enough shoes, but the miles and constant soaking has shredded them. As someone who works on their feet, I want him to be well shod for this run. I pray they arrive on time. I was touched by a post today that Jed made. I have told you of the really discouraging things he has faced in his run, and of the good things also. The pit bulls, the harassing policemen and their dogs, but also of the kind and generous firemen in Virginia, the laughs he has had along the way. Today's post was another vote for the basic goodness and trust of still many in this harsh world. Jed posted that he came across a man named Francis Whitfield. Mr. Whitfield opened his wallet and gave Jed 20 dollars to support the charity Jed is running for. He never met Jed, hadn't a clue who he was, but gave him the money and said good luck and God bless. Later, he received another 20 from a Maggie Love. Same thing....they didn't know of Jed, just wanted to help. A little further on, Jed met a unicyclist along the trail. They HAD heard of each other, and the cyclist carried Jed's pack for a few miles so Jed could run awhile without it. If you've ever carried a weight for a time, you can appreciate how much that meant. Jed is right....he will see both the good and the bad that is America. I thank God that today, concidentally the Sabbath, Jed found the good that is still everywhere in her. To all you that have lent a hand, shared a smile, a meal, an encouraging word, and to all those who have sacrificed a few dollars or many dollars, I thank you. If evil prevails when good men do nothing,...... then good prevails when we, as a nation, as a friend or just a stranger do something good. It matters not the size of our deed, it just matters that we do. Mr. Whitfield, Ms. Maggie Love, firefighters, cyclists.....all of you out there....God Bless You and keep you for your generousity.

catch up!!!

Hm-m-m, It's been a few days since I have updated things. This photo is one Jed posted along the trip. He said he was racing lawnmowers. He called the other day. It's always such a relief to hear his voice. I try to discern how he is feeling by the sound of his voice. I could always tell when he was little, but now that he is this man I sometimes wonder if I can tell anymore. I was thinking he seemed strained, but doggone it, he absolutely never loses his sense of humor. I think he could smile and crack a joke, no matter how bad things were, so it's a little harder to tell how he really is than for most people. He never really complains. I found out later when I was talking to him, that he was running in basically shredded shoes. He didn't really say, but I imagine the constant wetness along with the hundreds of miles, really took a toll on the shoes. As was typical, he planned to take care of things himself by ordering a pair online from a local library using his debit card no doubt. The shoes were to be sent to a general delivery PO he had chosen along the way that holds packages for people traveling along the TransAmerica. The money was paid, the extra shipping charges paid, to insure they would arrive prior to Jed's arrival in the town. I'm sure you can imagine what did happen....no shoes. He waited around a couple days for the critical shipment which never arrived. He finally called to see if I could order him a pair online, and have them express shipped to yet another town about three days away. Oh no, I wasn't going to stiff him with no shoes. My husband drove over to where I work, met me there just as soon as I clocked out, and we drove to Dick's Sporting store in the Zona Rosa center near here, and I bought the model and size he needed and shipped them myself. I did not trust sending them from Excelsior Springs. They botch up our mail all the time. Couldn't take that chance. Roger and I got up early the next morning, and drove to Kearney to mail them from that Post Office.

The minute I walked in the door, the girl saw the box and said "How's Bunny doing?"

That brought a smile to my face. She's never even met him, but knows him and follows his adventures and trails like a devoted fan. I took her some fliers that I had made, she's so sweet. She was going to put them up in the break room, and try to spread the word.

There are so many good people in this world. Wish more people focused on them instead of all the negative things we hear in this world. Well, I have a plug for some of those people........JED YOU ARE AWESOME!!! EMPLOYEES OF THE KEARNEY MISSOURI POST OFFICE, AND ALL THE FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS OF THIS CAUSE, YOU ARE AWESOME TOO!!! I SALUTE YOU.

Toro! Toro!

Ok everyone.....the pit bull stance!! You know bunny, it's just a teeny bit possible those dogs thought you were loco, and afraid to charge in case it was contagious. At any rate, I am grateful they didn't decide to tag team you and have wabbit stew for dinner.

By the way, Lady wants to come along to serve as guide dog and guard dog......no, not for the other dogs, to guard your snacks!

landslide

I must say Jed, anyone who can keep a smile on their face after bleeding blisters, shin splints so bad you didn't want to stop cause it hurt so much to start again, and then day after day running in the pounding rain........well, if that doesn't take the "I can't" out of the English language, I don't know what

would. This is a section of the road that just plain gave way after the days and days of drenching rains that have plagued Kentucky and Tennessee. You make it look so easy bunny. I know better. God speed. You of all people I know have learned the meaning of Never Never Give Up. You really are my hero. Love you, Mom

shelter for the night

Got a phone call from Jed about an hour ago. He was just outside a town called Bryantsville, in Kentucky. He thinks (hopes) he is out of the snarling dog country. He told me he'd never seen anything like the country he had just run through. It seems the more "stuff" people had piled outside their houses, the more pit bulls they had to guard it. Since Jed isn't someone who attaches too much importance to "stuff", I think he was wondering why the need for guard dogs when no one would want the things being guarded. Of course in life there are always more questions than answers anyway. Who can know what motivates others? I've never figured people out, and at this stage in my life I no longer want to. At any rate, Jed is out of Appalachia rural mountain areas. He is now traveling across farmland. A lot easier on the legs, and a welcome break from the daily encounters with man's best friend. Bet Jed will never want to own a pit bull, what do you think?

Anyway, he called, and that has made my evening this Sunday very nice. I usually kind of dread Sundays because I realize that the next day I have to go back to work. Today, the phone call and his post on Facebook made me smile again, and realize that what I do on a daily basis is such a drop in the bucket compared to what he is doing, that I begin to feel guilty about even thinking blah thoughts about my tomorrows.

The post this morning was "what do we do today Jed?" "same thing we do every day Pinky, try to hoof it for 25 to 30 more miles."

The phone call was more informative. Weather conditions are horrible. Flooding, a glitch in the road. (there had been a landslide that took out part of it.) and relentless pounding rain. His shoes are soaked, his clothes and socks are soaked through. If you are a runner, you know wet shoes and socks are the enemy of a runner. Wet feet will, in short order, tear slabs of flesh off the feet, that's pretty much it in a nutshell. The temps are about 60 during the day, and I figure pretty cool at night. Last night, he was going to go a few more miles, and had just passed through a tiny town, when he heard the sirens go off for a tornado warning. He sped up and found a bridge. He ran down into the ravine, and tucked in under the bridge to wait out the storm. He decided it was wiser to remain in place, so he just slept there for the night. Probably wasn't the driest spot, but safer than out in the open. Tonight he had gone about 25 miles, and came across a barn. On investigation, he found it to be dry and filled with tobacco. A good warm, dry tobacco barn....sounded like a good place to spend the night. That's where he called from. He was going to get his sleeping bag out and put his clothes out to dry as best as they would. The plan is to try for a town that has a laundry somewhere so he can dry the wet pairs of socks, the shoes, and wet clothes. He's ordered another pair of shoes, and they have been shipped to a town that's about 2-3 days from where he is now. By the time he gets there, they will be at the post office waiting for him. Dry shoes will be a treat! You can't get much more than 500 miles or so out of a pair of running shoes, when it is time to replace them. Every time I know he is getting a delivery at a post office, I want it to have homemade cookies in it.....I just can't give up the mom in me.
In a few weeks, he will cross the border into Missouri, and there will be so many of us who are going to take a couple days and either go see him, or run with him for a few miles. The only thing I wish is that more people knew about this run. He is giving up so much for this cause of raising money for cancer research, and I can't help but think that if they knew,more people would go the his website and donate. I am doing my best to get the word out, but should you read this blog for some reason, please tell others about it, that they might consider helping him raise money for this great foundation.
I know this is a rough year for families. I have been worried about my own job, and I'm not getting any younger, but I have decided that to give is indeed more blessed than to receive, and I feel that when I give to help others, God will help me, so I can continue to render this assistance. I have often prayed for ministering angels to stay close to my loved ones, to watch over them, and to help them. I also think that sometimes we can be those "earth angels". We can be our Savior's hands here on earth to help those around us. I want to be a pair of those hands.

God Bless you and your families, and God Bless you Jed, for this heroic effort.
I love you more than I can ever say. mom

The funny bunny

Ok, what is so funny about this journey is reading Jed's posts daily (or there about). The way they are presented reminds me of a family dinner we had one year at Thanksgiving.....
Dinner was over, the dessert consumed and dishes done. We had a couple games my daughter brought over. One of them was called "Survivor." Since it was basically a multiple choice game, we all thought we would play, and those of us who are "game challenged" would have at least a small chance of winning a couple rounds. If any of you have played this game, a particular scenerio is read and then the player has a choice of decision A, B, C, etc. You get the idea. Well each time you get a question right, you get to go again. We started around the table. Jed was sleepy, so he did not join us at the table, but rather lay reclined in my husband's Lazy Boy type recliner. Question after question was fired out. We were all duds. You would think that we could get at least one crummy answer right.....but no.....
Then it was Jed's turn. Question #1....correct...Jed, you get to go again. Question #2....correct....Jed, you get to go again. It began to get sickening, he knew the answers to all the stinkin questions! We couldn't stump him. Even the really bizzare hypothetical situations. He always knew what to do! It drove us nuts. We were really hoping he would fall asleep, and just when we thought he was....there would be this pause, and he would answer one of OUR questions. Agh-h-h-h!!!

So now, fast forward to his Facebook posts...he is writing them just like the game cards in that game, but this time, it is really funny. The choices are true to what is really happening on the trip to him. I'm going to put a couple down....

Adventure survival Question # 2....2 snarling pit bulls are running at you. You have 15 seconds to decide what to do:
A. shit yourself
B. turn and run back the way you came
C. quickly climb a tree
D. pull your umbrella off your pack, use it like a shield, yell F---you at the top of your lungs and then get ready to kill with your hands the first one that tries to attack you.

then there's always the short posts....."as I ran past an old man this morning he said, 'son you look like you're on a mission this morning'....I said that I'm on a mission every morning"

and this morning's post....Adventure Science Fact #1...Carpenter ants don't sleep as evidenced by the fact I was sleeping on a superhighway of them last night and they ran across my legs all night. Tiny massaging ant feet. Yess!!!

And so this goofy bunny hops along the bunny trail, and I sign off for now.