The sun is shining this morning but it is pretty cold, maybe 40 degrees. I am heading out on the bike soon. The documentary crew is doing some interviews with me and my support team today. Since we are moving forward to NYC over the next few days, they want to know how we are feeling and what we are thinking. I think that this documentary is going to be truly surprising. We set out to make a film about two guys running across America. Instead Kevin Kerwin and his team are filming so much more than that. America is in the midst of such a unique period of time right now. The election, the economy, jobs, fear, healthcare. There are so many things happening and so much emotion. There is fear but there is also optimism. This film will show all of that and it will be amazing.
I have been keeping track of some random thoughts and observations. There are many more but most are not fit for public consumption. Here are a few.
-I wish that I invented the curved shower curtain rod (The Arc) that’s in all Super 8 Motels.
-Chuck says it’s okay to smack another guy on the butt as long as you say “good game” after.
-Road kill is never pretty-especially moose
-Honesty may be the best policy but it can still cause problems
-My kids are the best kids in the world
-Lying on the bed in a moving RV is not particularly comfortable but it is fun
-Talking on the phone while riding a bike at night is a bad idea
-Happiness and fulfillment in life are not guaranteed
-Girls do fart
-One should never try to use the bathroom while the RV is in motion
-Toenails are for sissies
-One should always buckle up when Robert is driving the RV
-Rented vehicles should be driven like they’re stolen
-”I didn’t have any corn” (FB from Austin Powers)
-Cereal is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner
-Running down the highway with a bike helmet on looks really silly
-Stopping every mile makes for a long crossing of America
-Iowa is not really flat
-Yellow corn is for cows
-Running 70 miles per day is really hard
-ATandT and Verizon have equally bad coverage everywhere it’s important for us to have communication
-Americans are more fearful than hopeful right now
-Gas prices are much cheaper in the midwest-$2.57 in Indiana yesterday; $2.39 in Ohio today
-Lying down in the road is not a very funny practical joke (why is it called a practical joke anyway?)
-Using GPS routing is not always shorter or easier
-A flat bicycle tire in the rain with no cell signal is not a good thing
-For some reason, I curse a lot more during these expeditions than I do at home. I don’t know why.
-Green smoothies are much better than I thought they would be
-Kids are much more forgiving than adults
-I miss my friends Ray and Kevin and I miss Africa. They changed my life.
-Crew people should never be taken for granted
-As we travel east, drivers are less patient and less willing to share the road
-I wish I had invented wheels for luggage
-If 9 good things are happening in my life and only 1 bad thing, why am I always focused on the 1 bad thing?
-When a group of people spends all day every day together, bodily functions are always a big topic of conversation
-I have been told that a man doesn’t actually become useful until after he turns 40. I think this may be true.
Finally, for all the kids that we visited at New Haven Middle School yesterday, Chuck is not 50 years old. He is actually 40 years old and yesterday was not his birthday. I was just joking but thanks for singing to him anyway. His real birthday is August 11th. I also want you kids to know that yesterday was one of the best days I have ever had because of you. Thanks for welcoming me to your school and for wearing your Run Charlie Run t-shirts. I had a really good time and will hope to see you all again someday.
See you along the way.
Charlie
“Robert” is a code name arbitrarily given to any officially-sanctioned runningamerica08.com crew member or participant who drives, albeit safely and in compliance with all local, regional, and federally applicable motor laws, an RV as if it were a much much smaller vehicle.
Obviously a name coinciding with an actual crew person would be demeaning and open up a plethora of liability issues.
Thanks,
Joe the Plummer
Comment by K Marx — October 25, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Hi Charlie - can’t wait to read the book you HAVE to write from this journey or at the very least put together a great stand up routine! Totally with you on the curved shower rod - fantastic invention - don’t you just hate when the curtain liner wants to stick to you.
Have Brett and Kevin joined you on the road yet? Where in NYC are you planning to finish - still City Hall steps downtown? Keep me posted on date and time - you know I’ll bring a huge crowd to celebrate with you! It is Saturday and right now Caroline is up over Boston College
see you soon, BLE
Comment by Betty Lyn — October 25, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
Thanks for making me smile with your incredibly deep and incredibly true observations. This expedition has not been at all what you thought it was going to be when you first started…but it has touched many people and had a great deal of meaning to you and to many probably more than originally intended or if things had unfolded otherwise. Keep strong til NYC and keep having fun. BTW - you are right - girls do fart, but they try really hard not to in the middle of yoga class!
Comment by Debbie — October 25, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
Girls do not.
Your gasprice is cheaper, period. Swedes pay around 6USD for a gallon.
(That “saying” goes for women, never heard that about men.)
kram /e
Comment by Elisabeth — October 25, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
“Girls do fart”… I’ve been trying to prove that statement to my husband. He refuses to acknowlege that. Haha!!!!
Almost done!!!!
Take care!
Comment by Dina (Charlie's sister) — October 25, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
You made it to the Super 8 in Mansfield?? That’s only about 30 miles west of Wooster, where we live. Amazing!
Comment by Denise Parker — October 25, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
Charlie,
Isn’t it amazing the things noticed when running? I’m Josh and work at Off n’Running and just wanted to let you know that reading your blog has been very inspirational. I am in my last season of competition at UNCG. Somedays it gets hard to keep motivation but then I realize that you and Marshall are out doing something to get in 60 or more miles and realize that my 75 minute run is not that bad anymore. I also worked at a weight loss and fitness camp for children this summer and think you being out spreading the word about the childhood obesity epidemic is a great thing. I have often thought about how great it would be to journey across America on foot or someway other than car and plane and now know that it is possible to do. I was talking with Emily from the shop today about doing it this coming summer and finishing in San Diego at the camp I worked at with those great kids. Good luck on the rest of your journey and I will continue to read and hope to meet you once you return to Greensboro.
Josh Wyatt
GO SPARTANS!
Comment by Josh Wyatt — October 26, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
OK, let me get this straight…Chuck says it’s okay to smack another guy on the butt as long as you say “good game” after…is this the same Chck with the hot tub….:-)
You’re right on about the issue of healthcare…47 million Americans are without healthcare and you can count me among them…A story I will share with you one day…
Some of my observations that you may enJOY…TOP TEN ALA LETTERMAN (drum roll)
1. The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.
2. If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
3 It has recently been discovered that research causes cancer in rats.
4. Always remember to pillage before you burn.
5. The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was.
6. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
7. If “clothes maketh the man” then it follows that naked people have little or no influence on society.
8. Indecision is the key to flexibility.
9. There is absolutely no substitute for a genuine lack of preparation
10. Did you know that Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark? (Hence, the light bulb)
L., Joy
Comment by Joy Taylor — October 26, 2008 @ 7:03 pm
Hey Charlie,
I spoke with Rebecca today. She is in Chesapeake. I wish I had the time (and money)I would pick her up and meet you at the finish line.
The whole gang in Atlanta, wish you good health and GOD’S speed. We love you.
Bob McConnell
Comment by Bob McConnell — October 27, 2008 @ 10:30 am
Charlie, hope you’re doing well. The seventh graders here at Central Middle School wish you well and wish they could have run with you. We did a little run on Friday in your honor. Keep it between the ditches.
Comment by Steve Frazelle — October 27, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
A fun read, Charlie. Sounds like your voice
:)
Comment by Tamara — October 27, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
Hi Charlie! We are still following you! Looks like you are having some BAD weather! The kids want to know if your bike is rigged with all-weather tires, snow proof? The students of Sidney Elementary have collectively logged 791 miles so far. That puts us right around the Colorado/Nebraska border. If we stay on track we should be near Sidney, IA by the end of this week or so! Keep on going! We will too!
The kids wanted to say this:
Keep going….don’t stop to chat too long with the crew!
P.S. We told Marshall no stopping for snowball fights! The same goes for you!!!!
Take care!
Comment by Mrs. Wehling and Students at Sidney (IA) Elementary — October 28, 2008 @ 9:58 am