Ben has produced a very good 12 minute film of our run, which can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8kTiR346Nk&feature=feedu
Chris blathers for a few seconds before the video actually starts, so just be patient- it's well worth it.
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Friday 11 November 2011
Unwinding in New Jersey
We are at Chris' sister's house in New Jersey for a few days rest before the flight home. We ran across in an 'official ' time of 79 days 22 hours and then completed the New York Marathon 15 hours later in 3.38 with a 12 minute negative split - We're pleased to have been able to taper for this event with only 288 miles in the previous seven days.
As you can imagine there's quite a lot of sorting out to be done and below are a few photos which summarise different aspects of the run.
Although we wore out the equivalent of about three pairs each during the run we rotated several more pairs on top of this in order to limit the risk of injuries or blisters.
A feature of any run across America is that there's a lot of 'stuff' to find by the road side. Here are most of the tools we came across. The favourite is the posh Italian kitchen knife - luckily we didn't need to explain that one to the cops as we ran down Highway 6 with it. The calculator was a well timed find as we had been trying to work out 1727 divided by 43 not four minutes before we came across it.
Licence plates from almost every state - I'm working on Nebraska and Joanna has waltzed off with the California one so I need to reclaim it..........
As you can imagine there's quite a lot of sorting out to be done and below are a few photos which summarise different aspects of the run.
Although we wore out the equivalent of about three pairs each during the run we rotated several more pairs on top of this in order to limit the risk of injuries or blisters.
A feature of any run across America is that there's a lot of 'stuff' to find by the road side. Here are most of the tools we came across. The favourite is the posh Italian kitchen knife - luckily we didn't need to explain that one to the cops as we ran down Highway 6 with it. The calculator was a well timed find as we had been trying to work out 1727 divided by 43 not four minutes before we came across it.
Licence plates from almost every state - I'm working on Nebraska and Joanna has waltzed off with the California one so I need to reclaim it..........
Monday 7 November 2011
Diving Into the Atlantic
A very brief clip showing the final moments of Chris and Steve's run across america, please keep watching this space for more to follow!
Atlantic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Saturday we started our run 10 miles west of Fort Lee, New Jersey. The stretch to the George Washington Bridge was one of the most dangerous parts of our run but the adrenaline rush of several near death experiences saw us carve out an impressive 7mph pace for this first section. We crossed the bridge and symbolically entered our last state at 178 Street on Manhattan.
Registration for the NY Marathon was relatively straight forward but connecting with the Press Office was a more eventful story. We ended up (in our sweaty running kit, obviously) on the 44th Floor of the Hilton amidst tables groaning under the strain of smoke salmon and avocados. Whilst more polite and very skinny Kenyan athletes held back, Steve ripped into the feast with unrestrained gusto in a bid to eat his own weight in food inside 20 minutes. Our story spread and by the time we took the lift back to the ground floor (to resume our run to Coney Island) Kathrine Switzer (NY Marathon winner, 1974 and the first woman to run Boston as a numbered entry) was asking us questions about our trip too.
So, on to Brooklyn via another famous bridge....
We arrived at Coney Island at 6pm just as the sun was setting - 79 days 22 hours for the crossing.
As billed, we dived into the Atlantic to complete our 3,100 miles journey. On emerging we realised that Jim Shapiro, author of 'Meditations from the Breakdown Lane' was there too. Jim's book had been the inspiration for our trip and so this was a very fitting end to it.
Ben, Steve, Chris and Julia on the Coney Island beach - too late for ice creams.
Chris with sister Sue
Chris with son, Tom.
Major thanks to Chris's niece, Felicity who made the celebration cake. Chris took no time to eat California, Oregon and Washington State.
And so the day drew to a close but we took heart from the fact that we now had four hours in bed before we needed to go to Staten Island for the start of the marathon.
So, on to Brooklyn via another famous bridge....
We arrived at Coney Island at 6pm just as the sun was setting - 79 days 22 hours for the crossing.
As billed, we dived into the Atlantic to complete our 3,100 miles journey. On emerging we realised that Jim Shapiro, author of 'Meditations from the Breakdown Lane' was there too. Jim's book had been the inspiration for our trip and so this was a very fitting end to it.
Ben, Steve, Chris and Julia on the Coney Island beach - too late for ice creams.
Chris with sister Sue
Chris with son, Tom.
Major thanks to Chris's niece, Felicity who made the celebration cake. Chris took no time to eat California, Oregon and Washington State.
And so the day drew to a close but we took heart from the fact that we now had four hours in bed before we needed to go to Staten Island for the start of the marathon.
Saturday 5 November 2011
And miles to go before I sleep
Well, 30 on Saturday to the Atlantic and 26.2 on Sunday to qualify for the Reese's Pieces in Central Park.
Anyone who can get to the boardwalk near West Fifth Street on Coney Island at 4.30pm on 5th November will be there to see us complete our 3,100 mile journey from sea to shining sea.
Despite the world looking strangely rotated the vital signs confirm that Steve's map reading is more or less on track.
A previous blog showed a dead Cadillac and here is one that is very much alive - somewhere in Western New Jersey.
Anyone who can get to the boardwalk near West Fifth Street on Coney Island at 4.30pm on 5th November will be there to see us complete our 3,100 mile journey from sea to shining sea.
Despite the world looking strangely rotated the vital signs confirm that Steve's map reading is more or less on track.
A previous blog showed a dead Cadillac and here is one that is very much alive - somewhere in Western New Jersey.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
The selected thoughts of Chairman Steve
For more nonsense read the blog at www.runacrossamerica.co.uk
144 to go
A couple of sunny days have helped progress after the dumping of snow earlier. Another day and a half in Pennsylvania and we should then be moving into New Jersey for the final onslaught.
We still plan for arrival at New York on Saturday afternoon.
Outside a music store in Bloomsburg, PA.
Not exactly Move in Ready - Gotta be a fixerupper.
Deer just before sunset, Whitehaven, PA.
We still plan for arrival at New York on Saturday afternoon.
Outside a music store in Bloomsburg, PA.
Not exactly Move in Ready - Gotta be a fixerupper.
Deer just before sunset, Whitehaven, PA.
Tuesday 1 November 2011
186 miles to go to the big dive into the Atlantic
We are now in Bloomsburg, eastern Pennsylvania. It's still very hilly.....I suppose it always was.
We expect to complete the run on Saturday 5th November and will be booking into rehab early the following Monday.
Steve used to be a ski instructor and sometimes old habits die hard.
Most of the snow has now melted and here's a 360 degree shot of the backroads we are following taking us through delightful villages and communities in this very picturesque part of the US.
Edging 7 mph downhill........
Dead Cadillac.
Evening shadows towards the end of a 43 mile day - confirming that we are headed in the right direction.
Sunday 30 October 2011
Punxsutawney Phil is on the critical list.......
..........and we can look forward to another 5 months of winter.
It comes as small comfort to know that the last time it snowed this heavily and early in Pennsylvania it was way back in 1979. We spent the day just about staying upright but with constant waves of spraying slush coming at us from oncoming vehicles. We managed 40 miles and were pleased to get through it all in one piece. We remain on schedule for the NYC Marathon on 6 November but this was a very tough day.
262 miles remain to that dip in the Atlantic.
We passed Brady and Ian fresh from a morning's garden work near (yes really) Snowshoe, PA.
Later in the day we passed a bar owned by Brenda who, taking pity on our bedraggled state, gave us both new gloves, free food, access to a wonderful fire and great company. THANK YOU!!
It comes as small comfort to know that the last time it snowed this heavily and early in Pennsylvania it was way back in 1979. We spent the day just about staying upright but with constant waves of spraying slush coming at us from oncoming vehicles. We managed 40 miles and were pleased to get through it all in one piece. We remain on schedule for the NYC Marathon on 6 November but this was a very tough day.
262 miles remain to that dip in the Atlantic.
We passed Brady and Ian fresh from a morning's garden work near (yes really) Snowshoe, PA.
Later in the day we passed a bar owned by Brenda who, taking pity on our bedraggled state, gave us both new gloves, free food, access to a wonderful fire and great company. THANK YOU!!
Saturday 29 October 2011
Phil the groundhog is shivering
Today we ran 43 miles in cold but dry conditions. Tomorrow 3-6 inches of snow is forecast. Yikes.
As the sign shows, we have now run through 9 states with 3 remaining.
As the sign shows, we have now run through 9 states with 3 remaining.
Fallen Fall fruit
Steve celebrating Halloween with some of his dedicated running mates en route.
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