Route 40 will “escort” me for days

 General  1 Response »
Aug 302011
 

On time at 5 a.m. at cool 15 degrees Celsius I left the campground, which is only a few meters away from the historical Route 40. This road will now “escort” me the next days. I ran with speedy steps facing the sunrise. Today again I had good legs. It is just such a huge difference to run in pleasant temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius or hot 40 degrees. :-)

My two “angels” surprised me today. After having a drinking break they drove 6 miles, parked the mobile home on secure terrain and put on their jogging shoes and advanced me running. I already recognized them from far as they were wearing their fitline shirts :-)
Together we returned to the mobile home where I had a snack and on I went. After another 20 miles  I reached our destination – a Walmart in Springfield/Ohio. Not long after us our three surprise guests arrived there too. Now I will have supper and then my well-deserved night rest.

See you soon
Achim and Team

 Posted by at 2:35 pm

It happened!

 General  No Responses »
Aug 292011
 

Start today exceptionally at 5.30 a.m. as our night was even shorter than usual due to the late arrival of our visitors from Germany. But depite the short night I realized already after the first kilometres that I had super legs today. I ran 1 – 2 miles more in the same time than the days before and that on a continuous basis. Today had been drastically different from the days before. Unbelievable, I met more than 20 people during on my route:-). I continued on Highway 40, always towards East. Briefly before I arrived at our campground, I crossed the border to Ohio. I am curious if at least Ohio will have some variation for me? Now it’s time to sleep.

See you soon
Achim and Team

 Posted by at 1:51 pm

Nothing new from Indiana

 General  No Responses »
Aug 282011
 

Short report: Start 5 a.m.: road – all the same; people  – none; sun – hot; mood – fine but a little tired; storm Irene – only from the news, daily stretch – worked off;

Ah and by the way …. Today my visitors from Germany arrive ;-)

Everything else tomorrow – in a new episode “Hello Gemany, life from America” :-)

Ah: photos – none.

See you soon
Achim and team

 Posted by at 1:37 pm

Where are all the “Indianas”

 General  1 Response »
Aug 272011
 

Start, guess when…. Exactly 5 a.m. A pleasant coolness (about 18 degrees Celsius) gave me wings. Briefly before breakfast another shooting was scheduled for a new episode of the cult series “Hallo Germany – life from the States” ;-) After we finished the shooting successfully and had our breakfast I continued with quick steps. Always on Highway 40 towards East. Straight roads again, partly without a necessary shoulder. At this stage a big thank you to the American drivers and especially to the truckers, as they change the side of the road or even stop as soon as they get to see me.  Very considerate!!
And by the way, what had been striking me for a while; almost nobody is out neither on the roads nor in the villages. Some villages look like ghost towns.  Where are all the Indianas ;-) . This was catching my attention already in other States.

The last 20 km Markus was joining me and we finished together at our destination. Again a campground, again located on a lake. Now I only have one day until Indianapolis. I am looking very much forward to that, as I will be expected there.

See you soon
Achim and Team

 Posted by at 8:50 pm

Indiana, here we are!

 General  No Responses »
Aug 262011
 

We left our campground on the lake at 5 a.m. and I ran further on my way towards East Coast.
The last 30 miles in Illinois were the same as the first – no special highlights. At about 1 p.m. I passed the border to Indiana and reached the time zone in which I started  back then (Eastern Time Zone). A few weeks ago we had 9 hours time difference to Germany. I continued parallel to Interstate 70 that leads to New York.
The temperatures were nicer to me today, only a little below 30 degrees Celsius. And so I ran with speedy steps and finished at today’s destination. One thing was missing– the sheriff, at least today ;-) .
Conclusion: About 3500 km are lying now behind me. For sure the hardest I ever ran!

See you soon
Achim and Team

 Posted by at 12:24 am

Some Change

 General  No Responses »
Aug 252011
 

After a little rain during the night, I hoped for a slight cooling down.
I started at 5 a.m. with less humid weather and some wind, which stayed with me the whole day – great!
My „friend“ the sun was with me rather fast too and joined me the whole day as well. My “friend” the head wind helped making it a bit more bearable. The route today was very monotonous and dull once more. Endless long straight roads barely any curves or other variations. Ah, yes, there she came… the variation, siren wailing – again. I thought who wants to teach me a lesson now? But then the windows of the car opened and not a man looked at me but a red haired beauty in uniform. She smiled at me and asked: “Are you ok”? I answered: “Yes”. (What a pity, I hoped she wanted to invite me.) I explained what I am doing and she wished me a “good run” to NY. Then she diappeared as fast as she came. Was she for real ??
And I continued lost in my thoughts and finished at a campground close to Interstate 70 and Highway 40. Thanks to the owner of the site, she offered us to stay for free, when she heard about the project. Highly appreciated!

See you soon
Achim und Team

 Posted by at 8:48 pm

Almost everything „as usual“

 General  2 Responses »
Aug 242011
 

Start as usual 5 a.m. with already extremely humid temperatures. After three miles I was already soaked. Heat and extreme humidity have joined me continuously on my way to New York City.

There is nothing to be mentioned about the route apart from another encounter with a sheriff. Somehow they obviously all want to learn to know me.  He gave me strict orders where and how I have to run on “his” road. On the right side of the white line – NO. Left to the white line – YES. He demanded an ID from me. I can only give you a wet tissue. Funny, he didn’t react on that; he obviously does not understand German ;-) So I followed his instructions as he continued to control me out of his “ambush”. Without any further events I reached today’s destination a campground, beautifully located on a lake.

A far more annoying event occurred today. It is almost impossible to believe what some people seem to be capable of. As you might have noticed, today our website was off the server for quite a while. Though it’s beyond believe but it very much looks as if somebody manipulated it and deleted the whole website. I am speechless. What kind of a person is capable of doing this?
A big THANK YOU to Norbert Sparding who put in a nightshift and got the problem sorted out. Now everything is back online.
See you soon

Achim and Team

No Call ;-)

 General  No Responses »
Aug 232011
 

Today we stayed with the local Fire Department in Centralia, as our friends, the fire fighters invited us for a snack there. The Captain of the fire department offered us to stay overnight including electricity. We spent a nice evening amongst the fire fighters and handed over the Flag of Honor. They really appreciated it. Afterwards I was allowed to put on the helmet of the captain; fortunately the fire brigade was not called ;-)
The following day we said good bye to our friends as our routes will be different from now on.
Again I started at 5 a.m. As tired as I felt myself, as “tired” was the route. I continued until I reached our destination for today, a campground close to the Interstate 70 between St. Louis and Effingham/IL.
Otherwise there was nothing to report. Again a day that took me closer to the final destination   .

Fellow Runners

 General  No Responses »
Aug 222011
 

We left our campground in St Louis again on time, at 5 a.m. The Missisipi seperates St Louis into two States, Missouri and Illinois. Thus I passed the border after a few kilometer  and found myself in Illinois. My route led me on Highway 161 towards Centralia/IL.  At about 9 a.m. I had a big surprise. I heard somebody shouting: “Germany, Germany”. When I turned around I realized it was my friends, the firefighters again, Scott and “Frank Zappa”. Always good for a joke, they took off their bike shoes and ran a few 100 meter barefoot with me. In front the big camera car from where everything was filmed. We joked around a little before they left for their own mission. With good legs and sun in my heart (and on the sky) I continued and arrived in Centralia in the late afternoon. We’ll see where we find a place to stay.

See you soon
Achim and Team

 Posted by at 8:18 pm

Our Friends – the Firefighters

 General  No Responses »
Aug 212011
 

Start a bit before 5 a.m. After a small confusion about the route we found a nice side road towards St. Louis. Our friends, the firefighters surprised us when they sent a text message informing us that they are in St. Louis and asking about our location. We spontaneously decided to meet with them. When we arrived in St Louis in the late afternoon we made a plan for supper in a nice restaurant – Lafayette Fire Company No. 1.

We spent a real nice evening which ended at 8.30 p.m. At that time we went to bed – dog-tired.
Sorry for the delayed report – no internet!

See you soon

Achim and Team

 Posted by at 9:54 pm
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