What's a Crawaddle, So far so Sunburned - Mental Health?

To update the run, (finally I was able to get connected to the internet) as of yesterday, Saturday evening, May 24, 2009 in 7 days of running, I completed 171.25 miles of running, which due to the shin splints resembled more of a walking stride than running. Actually, I have named that type of stride the Crawaddle – part crawling, part running with a lot of waddling thrown in for good measure. :)

This morning we start out for Indian River, our last stop before the Bridge, but first the support crew needs to freshen up a bit, so it looks like we’ll be getting a late start today, which is not all that bad since Babee’s constant growling kept me up most of the night. (Our room is situated right by the back entrance of the motel and she must have heard all the comings and goings throughout the night)

Physical Health: Still bothered by the shins splints, and a small blister developed on my outer left heel and the legs are feeling very tired. And to top it off the back of my calves are sunburned. I guess SPF 30 +plus isn’t strong enough when your outside for 7 plus hours daily. Yet, I still feel great considering this is my first undertaking of this type of endurance event. I know I am not an elite athlete and probably never will be, so I am all the more amazed at their endurance experiencing what I have so far…

Mental Health: Just a tad off, but you already knew that didn't you? :)

A more complete update will be submitted after the run and upon returning home. So to keep you interested here are a few pictures of what I have seen and witnessed over the last week.

Day 7 - Starting out from Mouont Pleasant MI (after 2 days healing for shin splints)

Jill - Our wonderful Hostess /Sponsor at Comfort Inn

Day 8

View from our room at Harrison MI (Lakeside Motel & Cottages)Budd Lake

Day 9 Or Where Am I Now?

Comeon Babee, We got a ways to go...

End of Day 9 Run

Or what is my wife

trying to tell me?

A Special Thank You; An Additional Thank You; 4 days = 104 Miles = Shin Splints; A New Beginning; Pictures of Day 3 & 4 of the Run

A Special Thank You: Shari, you not only opened up your home to us for the evening (plus a great supper & breakfast) you also touched our hearts. Lydia and I thank you for your generosity and love. We will most definitely keep in touch – God Bless.

An Additional Thank You: Leslie - Your generousity was overwhelming. My wife Lydia and I thank you for buying our supper tonight (Bennigans - Comfort Inn, Mount Pleasant, MI). God Bless you and yours...

4 days = 104 Miles = Shin Splints: Over the course of the first 4 days of the run I ran a total of 104.05 miles, averaging out to 26.01 miles per day, (just about 4 miles short of each days goal) However, the ravages of the last 8 miles of the first day took its toll on my right shin. Although I ran 30 miles on day two, each succeeding day the miles fell sharply: Day 3 = 22.97 miles and Day 4 – 21.54 miles. Shin Splits have set in. To make certain that I fulfill my promise to my Little Buddies, I am now for the balance of day 5 and all of day 6 taking a rest, staying off my feet and icing my lower leg for 15 minutes on and a half an hour off. This leads me to:

A New Beginning: As any warrior knows the war is not always won by staying constantly engaged with in the enemy. At times, winning is the result of employing delaying tactics, retreating and employing a new battle plan. And this is precisely where Ol’ Gj finds himself right now.

Due to the injury mentioned above I lost approximately 50 miles on foot, which to make schedule cannot be regained. So to minimize the risk of a more severe injury and possible failure Gj has reformulated the running plan. That is after the rest period I will begin anew from Mount Pleasant, MI. Each day I will run/walk as many miles as I can from the hours of 8am to 5pm. Should increasing pain be experienced I will stop running, rest and attempt to continue on. If the pain still persists I will call it quits for the day and have Missus Gj drive me to our next scheduled place of lodging. It is not wise to win a battle for the sake of glory, just to loose the war. We will complete the run before us

Since I cannot reach 330 miles running/walking on foot , I will attempt to cover as many miles as I can. So far, 102 miles have been run.

Pictures of Day 3 & 4 of the Run:

The Result: Icing the Answer

Courage is not defined by those who fought and did not fall, but by those who fought, fell and rose again.-- Unknown.




I SHALL NOT QUIT TILL THE CURE IS FOUND




God bless,



Gj

The Run: A quick update

Just a quick up date for days 1 & 2 of the Run. I will provide an in-depth report at the end of the journey

Day One Mileage - 29.5 + miles

Highlights -

Met and ran with Megan Gruenberg (I really hope I have the spelling correct as forgive me if it is misspelled) and her family. Thank you so much for the card and present guys. It was really asurprise to have it give to us when we checked into the motel for the night...you sly stinkers I love all of you.

Thanks goes out to Pastor Tucker at the Country Side Wesleyan Church. WE really need your facilities and your offer was greatly appreciated and as was your prayers for us.

Linda - just outside of Petersberg. We are praying for your complete recovery, God Bless you.

Peterburg Road got the best of me..leading to an injury - I am icing the ligament or tendon (whatever it is - it is sore) now... Plus a stone hit my toe and bruised it deeply - pictures follow.

Day 2 Milage - 30 miles

Highlights -

Connie fighting cancer (your husband told me as I ran by) Our prayers are with you

John At Lodi's (I think that is the right name for the food market if not I will correct) Food market, Thank you for allowing us to use your restroom but more importantly THANK YOU FOR THE UNSOLICITED DONATION of $100.00 - GOD BLESS YOU.

There is much more....but I will save that for the official report.

Now for the Pictures

Day 1

Day 2 - just a couple as I am tired more later :)

Good Night and God Bless -

Till later,

Gj

Newest Sponsor - Folks if you're ever in the Mount Pleasant , MI area, please stop by our newest sponsors hotel, "The Comfort Inn & Suites University Park" Just click on the link below Tell them that Grandpa John sent you :)

Countdown to the Run: T Minus 010:14:10 and counting....

Till later I am off and getting ready for the run...see you soon..

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”
Morrie Schwartz

God Bless

Gj

COMFORT INN - A NEW SPONSOR

Just short note to all of my friends and followers of our journey:

In response to an email I sent to the Comfort Inn North manger of Toledo OH., seeking a nights' lodging for myself, support crew (and BaBee) early yesterday afternoon I received a call from her. Ms. Greer was happy to inform me that she had made reservations in my name for kick off eve night and they were even more than happy to accept Babee along with us.

Folks, I can't tell how much such generosity means to me. Not only does it save a lot of money but reflects highly on the values Comfort Inn upholds and to reflects to the community. When traveling, please be sure to book your lodging at any one of the Comfort Inn's along your way, especially if traveling through Toledo, OH. North. Please visit their website by click on the picture below.

Thank you Rhonda. My Little Buddies and I are forever grateful for yours' and Comfort Inn's generosity by helping us raise awareness of childhood cancer.

Grandpa John

Continous Forward Momentum; Scoundrels in the Neighborhood.

Continuous Forward Momentum: As time marches quickly toward our destiny which begins May 15 at 8am, I gratefully give thanks to the family of Mitch Butler (my Special Little Buddy) for providing me and my support crew (Missus Gj) with nightly lodging for almost half of our journey:

Ken and Nancy Federspiel (Parents of Amy Butler)

Shari Eby (Amy's aunt)

Andrew Butler (son of Doug & Amy Butler)

Their support and love is overwhelming and accepted freely. I pray that I am worthy of the task before me..

Scoundrels in the Neighborhood: While I was out of town for a few days with my son who is home from Iraq for two weeks R & R, UPS delivered a pair of Spira running shoes which were donated by Spira (one of our sponsors) in support of our cause. Well, I guess temptation was just too much for someone as they were purloined from my porch over the weekend before I came home. I immediately contacted Spira to make sure that they were indeed delivered and they were and..much to my surprise, Spira is sending another pair out, which should arrive by Tuesday of next week. I cannot thank Spira enough for their generosity. Folks, please follow the link below to their website. A company with such high values surely deserves our business and support.

"Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means." Leo Buscaglia



May You Rest Peacefully in His Arms Now & Always

God Bless

Gj

New Sponsor; Verified first 100 miles; Emails Sent

New Sponsor: Well, not exactly, several months ago, I called Connie of Connie's Celebrations, located at 6195 Lewis Ave, Toledo OH and asked if I could use her parking lot for the start of my run on May 15. After a little explaining, she most heartily said yes...How wonderful because unknown to me is the fact that her parking lot is right on the Michigan / Ohio boarder line. Coincidence, maybe, I choose to believe that a guiding hand with much greater power than I was at work here.

And, today, I had the opportunity to meet this wonderful lady, to be sure a very hard worker. Connie's truly is a celebration with a wedding chapel (a most beautiful one to be sure)and hall & catering wedding and all occasion cakes , retail store and much more. Please visit her web site by clicking on the picture below within our sponsor section- thanks.

Gj & Connie

Here are a couple of pictures of Connie's work to whet your appetite:

Verified First 100 miles: Missus Gj & I travel the first 100 miles of our upcoming run and found the planned route to be very beautiful, but one which will also be very challenging with numerous hills and dirt and gravel roads. In fact one section is half marathon in length and it's all loose gravel on what could be called a one lane road, more so a path used by the farmers to access their fields. With just a couple of wrong turns, the route so far is an easy one to follow. Here area couple of pics of the journey

Island Lake Road / Lake - Not really sure what lake this is but it is very beautiful.

Babeee..Hey! How did our Sweetie get in here?

Village where we'll stay on the second night

Emails Sent: This morning I sent emails to city and village officials of Milan, Stockbridge and Lansing Mi. Within these emails I asked for there assistance to help raise awareness of Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Childhood Cancer awareness by proclaiming the months of May and September as awareness months respectively. Over the next few days several more cities and villages along the running route will be notified....Never EVer QuiT! - Gj

"Love Can Make You Do Things That You Never Thought Possible"

Phil Collins

Till Later, God Bless -
Gj