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Dunn’s Daily upDates (September) September 1 - Friday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 136 of 200 Location: Bismark, ND Road Finds: 1 cent at about mile 24 1/2....I didn't think I was going to be blessed by the Penny Angel today, but as the old saying goes: "good things come to those who wait". Comments: Month number 7, city number 13. (A pop quiz: What were the other 12 cities? Carlsbad, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Boston, Nashville, Cincinnati, Neuhaus in Germany, San Diego, Duluth, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, and now Bismarck). No wonder I'm slowing down....that's a lotta places to "have been" already this year. And speaking of slowing down, today was 5:13. It seems as though I'm falling more often on the "up" side of 5 than I am on the "down" side. Oh well. My excuse for today is the-first-day-back-after-13-days-off syndrome. We'll see how that plays out tomorrow. This course and this city brought back a flood of good memories this morning. It was 7 years ago last weekend that I met Elaine for the first time. I met her on a Saturday afternoon at the Black Hills Marathon Packet pickup; ran the first 5 miles of the marathon the next day with her; and began pitching woo at her at the finish line. That activity lasted all of the next week, and then I dashed up here to run 2 more of my 104, and then sped back to Spearfish, and Elaine to say our first "good-bye", before I went back home again to Indiana. Anyway, a lot of those "love at first site" memories came back to me this morning. Plus memories of the course unfolded before me as I ran it again today. It's actually quite a scenic course. Beginning in a park on the banks of the Missouri River for the first 3 miles, then a short stretch of "civilization" before heading out into the countryside. (I'm going back out this afternoon to plant some jugs of water since there are no 7 elevens in the countryside....thank God.) Many new homes on the course....most of them on the "upscale" side. Couple of interesting things about today’s' run.....the turn around loop is a stretch through an addition called Bird dale, and as I approached the area, I began to hear the singing of birds...which I took note of. (no pun intended). And then, as I started around the loop, in Bird dale, here came a bird dog who decided to accompany me around the loop. A shiny, Irish setter type dog. Friendly as could be, and eager to run. Once we were out of the loop, (as I often am these days) I realized he was "out of his territory" so I stopped running and rather commandingly suggested that he GO HOME! He went. I hope I didn't offend him, and he's waiting for me again tomorrow. Another kind of eerie thing that happened was this: I have this borrowed phone from Dakota Communications here in Bismarck, and I've not got it completely figured out yet. I was expecting a call from the local NBC station "around" 10 AM, so at sometime shortly after 10, I decided to check the ring volume......at the same time that I was pulling it out of my fanny pack....it rang. It was Darin from his mobile phone, checking to see where they could find me. I guess what I'm trying to get across here is that except for my sore legs, and my slow time, my beginnings in Bismarck have been both beautiful and fun. One last thing....I'm in the process of changing my focus from "ME" to "thee". (Thee in a generic context, meaning others....I want to do more to encourage others to run, instead of focusing all my energy on Jerry. Post run.....I went to Y; showered and Jacuzzied; got my phone working and came home. (I'm about to fall asleep at the keyboard....time for a nap. More tomorrow. Jerry *** September 2 - Saturday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 137 of 200 Location: Bismarck, NorDakota Comments: Due to technical difficulties, the long version of today's update is lost in cyberspace. Suffice it to say.....slow; wet; sore quads; diminished motivation; but I by God 's Grace did it. More tomorrow. Jerry *** September 3 - Sunday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 138 of 200 Location: Bismarck, NorDakota Road Finds: No money, but as with every other day so far I've seen lots of rabbits around mile 4; deer between 7 and 9; pheasants at 10.??; and at least 3 or 4 formations of geese. Plus an occasional canine, up for a short run. Comments: Hard start today. I sat in the truck until 6:06 before I could get myself on the road. This persistent aching in my quads a real bummer. It takes me about 3 miles to get 'em loosened up, and then by about 10 or 11, each step becomes less than comfortable. It's becoming ever more important to keep my "head" in this project, just to get me through this period of physical stress. "Gutting" it out everyday is not all that much fun. Finally had a couple of companions on the road today. One happenstance, one who was looking for me. They both came near the end of the run. First guy was a big North Dakotan type. 52 years old, been running about as long as I have. Owns a car dealership here in Bismarck. Has a current inventory 250 autos...and proud of it. (Seemed nice enough, even for a used car salesman). Second guy I had met at the Y on Friday. He met me at about 23, and "ran" me to the finish. Or I guess more accurately, I used him to keep me running instead of my usual walking at the end of the day. He's run 6 marathons. His being a 3:32, in Minneapolis. He's run 5 others, always after the sub 3-hour mark....but "was never disciplined enough to accomplish it. I trained correctly, but could never run a smart race". He told me about the local "ultra dude". An older gentlemen who regularly does 30 mile training runs. We discussed the transition that a lot of us have to make from "racing" marathons to "running" marathons, and how much more difficult that is for some, than for others. We generally had a good time.....I was just so happy to have him show up and unknowingly activate my ego, which forced me to run those last 3 miles. (I did walk the one short hill just after mile 25, and he DID walk it with me). So it turned out to be a pretty good day. 6 more here in the Land of Lawrence Welk. *** September 5 - Tuesday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 139 of 200 Location: Bismarck, North Dakota Road Finds: This is a find from day one here in Bismarck....it is a small skeleton type key. I had very positive "vibes" about coming to Bismarck, and to find this key the first day symbolized for me that some unexpected opportunities would "open" up for me while I'm here. One of them may happen today. I spotted the GOT MILK search mobile parked in the lot of the adjoining hotel, and I'm in the process of making contact with them. GOT MILK......MORE MILES PER GALLON. AMERICA'S MARATHON MAN. Sounds pretty good, huh? Look for me on a billboard someday soon. (Hey, it could happen). Comments: My choice to take a day off yesterday paid off. Not in running time, but in ease of completion. My quads only whispered today....no screaming. I'm looking forward to tomorrow because it will be 140, and I always like those days that end a zero. Not much to report today....I guess I'm focusing on Friday nite when Elaine arrives, victorious from Tupelo. This reunion will be especially sweet because it was 7 years ago this week that were "falling madly in love" with each other. (Well, me with her at least, I think it took her a little longer to tumble.) She heard a good line down in Tupelo. One of the other marathoners said: "everybody thinks I'm crazy, and I just have to do one of these every once in awhile to prove it." *** September 6 - Wednesday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 140 of 200 Location: Bismarck, North Dakota Road Finds: No money again today. (These North Dakotans are afraid to bend over and pick up loose change....none left for me. I did find my usual rabbits, deer, pheasants, geeses, horses, and today a dog. A Huskie, just like the one I want to get next year. Comments: I felt strong most all the way today. My excitement was looking forward to meeting Bill Bauman, the race director, out painting the miles on the road. I didn't get to him until a little past 23, but the anticipation of "something" new on the course was apparently enough to keep me goin'......I haven't been able to put a 4 down for the first number of my "running time" for quite a while. I spent most of the afternoon dealing with electronics......I went to STAPLES and purchased a printer, (have needed one for about 4 months, after giving our old one to Elaine's daughter Erin). After two trips back to the store...that's 3 total.....they finally got everything straightened out....at 4 PM. There went a nap, and a relaxing afternoon. Oh well, this 200 IN 2000 thing IS my business, and I've got to keep it up and running. *** September 7 - Thursday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 141 of 200 Location: Bismarck, North Dakota Road Finds: Still can't find any money here. I think it's because only about 2 blocks of the entire race course are in an area where there is pedestrian traffic. Oh well, it's more fun spotting critters than coins anyway. Comments: I schlogged through another day. The running part of the day wasn't all that exciting but the rest of the day has be great. Quick story. The book I'm going to write will be called "A Lean Horse Runs A Long Race". The name was handed me by an old farmer I stayed with when I ran across the U.S. in '91. At the time, I just filed it away, knowing that someday I would use it. When I moved to South Dakota, right into the spiritual heartland of the Dakota Sioux, I began to wonder how I could get the name bestowed on me by the Native Americans, (Indians). When I ran my 2 marathons here in Bismarck in '93, I was aware of the International Native American Powwow that was being held here. That was cool, but I didn't give it any more thought. This year, as I prepared to come back to Bismarck, and knowing that the Pow-Wow would be happening again, I began to give serious thought to figuring out a way to get my name. OK, so when the reporter and the photographer come out the very first day to shot a story for one of the local TV stations, I relate to the reporter how I would like to have this name....lean horse, and did he have any ideas. "No, but Dwayne here, the photographer IS native American, maybe he does." Dwayne: "Mr. Gipp, the President of the United Tribes of America is a friend of mine, and if anyone could help you, he could." So what do I do? Well, not being at all reluctant to ask for what I want, I called Mr. Gipp's office. After the 3rd call when I was told he was still in a meeting, but that his assistant was going to give him my cell #, and he would call me on his way to his next meeting. I waited 3 days. No call. 2nd day I drove out the United Tribes Technical College, just to check out the grounds. I spotted the Admin. offices. 4th day: I drove out, politely made my request to Elsie, Mr. Gipp's assistant, and 10 minutes later I was sitting in a conference room with him and one of his associates. Result: they would consult with "the name giver guy", (well, something to that effect) and would let me know. Now, back to today's series of syncronistic occurrences. After picking up a copy of a video tape at the same local station where Wayne works, I spontaneously stopped in a place next door called IMPACT....it looked like a good place to buy Elaine a birthday gift. (That's today, by the way. And she'll be here tomorrow.) Anyway, I picked out a one of the "list-type", long skinny posters, and this one is titled "How to be succulently wild women". Then I saw this small, framed print of a woman, rather native american-ish, and it seemed like the perfect compliment to the poster. As the proprietor of the store began to tell me about the local artist who had done the original....in he walked. She introduces him as Wayne Pruse, artist and head of the art department at United Tribes School. I begin to think about asking him to consider doing a logo for me, relevant to my new name to be....Lean Horse. Just then, the Lady says: "aren't you the guy I saw on TV the other night? The one who runs all those marathons?" "Yes." "I thought I recognized you, you're so LEAN." I swear to God, she said that. Well, that clinched it. I asked Wayne if he would consider the idea of doing my logo. Result: probably one of his students would love to do it. "In fact, I already have a couple in mind that would be excellent". To use a rather dated phrase: I walked out of there completely "blown away". I must be doin' the right thing here this year. And there has to be a plan greater than my own. I just have to keep on keepin' on, and look for the signposts along the way. Which reminds me, if you haven't read The Alchemist.....get it! I wrote a term paper back in seminary entitled: "Let Go and Let God". How often do I have to be reminded before it becomes a natural habit. Later Jerry *** September 8 - Friday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 142 of 200 Location: Bismarck, North Dakota Road Finds: Willy worms.....I forgot to mention the Willy Worms. They've all been coal black with an auburn ring...striking. 5 live ones, and 2 squished ones. And lots of squirrels. I forgot to mention either of these creatures the other day when I was listing wild life sightings. Comments: I felt "great" today. I did a fair amount of walking, but mile 9 was a 9:50. Mile 20 was a 9:56, and mile 25 was a 9:50. So I felt like I was motorin' again. Good press in the local paper today....I autographed a few at some of my regular "pit" stops. After the run, and a shower, I spoke to a group Middle school kids at the Shiloh Christian School. The race directors' wife is the PE teacher there. I did okay. It was a good training session for me. Elaine arrives in a few hours.....man I wish I had a little more energy. There is a small group of us that are starting an hour early (officially) in the morning, and I have told the race director to announce before he sends of the other runners, that the first male and first female to catch up to us will get a $50 bill from me...IF, they stop and give Elaine a hug and wish her Happy Birthday. Should be fun....Elaine knows nothing about it. Tomorrow's report may have to wait ’til Monday. Later Jerry *** September 9 - Saturday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 143 of 200 Location: Bismarck, North Dakota Road Finds: I found myself running with my favorite running partner....Elaine. Even if she didn't get in until 11 the night before, it's still always great to look over and see her running next to, or ahead of me. This was her 16th official marathon of the year. Comments: Race day in Bismarck. About 150 marathoners. 8 of us took an hour early start...officially sanctioned by Bill Bauman, the race director. There were a number of 50 Staters there...since Bismarck it the only marathon in North Dakota, at least until next year when there will be a new in Minot....wherever that is. One of the 50 staters was Kirk Richardson, from Marysville, Kansas. He spotted me at about the 14/12 mile mark, and spoke to me in passing, and then we chatted at the awards ceremony later. What a pleasant surprise. In 1991 when I ran across America, I spent a couple of nights with Kirk and his family in Marysville. He told me that as his way of celebrating finishing all the states, he and his wife were going to France to run the marathon in the Bordeaux region, where every aid station is stocked with the local wine, and by the end of the race....if you make it that far....everyone is having a very good time. I congratulated him on his achievement and told him I was jealous of his trip to France. There were 2 other very interesting characters there. One, a 15 year old boy from Mississippi whose claim to fame is that since the age of 10, when he ran his first marathon, Saturday made his 91st. I last saw him in Salt Lake City, and Elaine had seen him last Saturday in Tupelo...so he does get around. And the other character was Ray ???. He's on his 5th time around the states. So I had competition for the "weirdest" marathon runner of the day. Elaine did quite well for just having run a marathon the Sunday before. And as I mentioned earlier.....didn't get into Bismarck until 11PM. We tooled along together, as we always do, and got 'er Dunn. I had driven from Spearfish to Bismarck, so after the race, and the awards ceremony, Elaine and I had a pleasant drive together back home. I got to spend one night in my own bed, and then left again on Sunday at 11 for Dayton. Later. *** September 11 - Monday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 144 of 200 Location: Wright-Patterson Air Base, Dayton, Ohio Road Finds: No money; no trinkets; no mind shattering revelations....knotting. Comments: When I arrived at the Hope Hotel and convention center last night, Tom Fischer and has wife Sandy were sitting on a bench out front, ready to take me on a tour of the course...which they did. So this morning, when I began my run at 0600, (gotta use military/international time now, at least for this week) I was glad to have been shown the way in daylight. One good thing about pre-dawn start though; I couldn't see the very long, gradual hill ahead of me. I really haven't met a marathon course that I DON'T like, (except Las Vegas), so to say this is a pretty nice course actually means very little. But it is...a flat, somewhat scenic trip around Wright-Patterson Air Base, which is 5,800 acre complex of buildings, airstrips, maintenance facilities and the Air Force's largest museum. The finish area is a .2 of a mile run in between a bunch of vintage Air Force aircraft....really quite unusual. I have a very nice room in the Hope Hotel, located just outside gate 12A...compliments of the Air Force. I have keys to 2 gates on post, so I can traverse the course w/o having to have any special duty personnel take care of me. (I guess the fact that I'm a veteran, and a really trustworthy and likeable guy convinced the General that I was OK to have a key. so anyway, here I am in yet another city; yet another hotel room and yeta, yeta, yeta. (or is that yada, yada, yada....I guess it depends on your ethnicity). *** September 12 - Tuesday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 145 of 200 Location: Wright-Patterson Air Base, Dayton, Ohio Road Finds: Eureka! A dime...found in the short "off base" section of the course, on the campus of Wright State Univ. Comments: Really a tough day mentally. I did a considerable amount of walking again today, a lot of that time thinking "so what if I only do one every other day, that would still give me 175, and that's pretty awesome. But 175 ain't 200. And if I've made it this far and still physically able to continue, I'm not gonna let my mind keep me from my goal". I vowed to myself before I started, that even if I had to walk the whole 26.2, I would. I don't see that happening, but if it does...so be it. there's also the possibility of using the 21 days after my scheduled 200th on December 10th, in Tampa, to make up any days I miss between now and then....But my mind is ready to be done when I cross that finish line, so I guess I just "keep on truckin'". I sound like I'm whining, and ya know what? I am. Or I was. I'm finished now. I discovered today that each of the gate houses that I pass has bottled water dispensers, so now I have two additional "aid stations" on the course. I have the canteen at mile 7; gate house at mile 11; camp ground at mile 16; gate house at mile 19 +; and gas station at 23. Plus a picnic shelter with a pump at mile 24.5 if necessary. I think getting rid of Knight, oops, that's COACH/MR/KING/LORD knight, at I.U. is going to be a positive thing. The REALLY great coaches have also been gentlemen. And no one I know of has ever used that term to describe MISTER Knight. Enough said. *** September 13 - Wednesday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 146 of 200 Location: Wright-Patterson Air Base, Dayton, Ohio Road Finds: one penny, on the overpass where 488 crosses the interstate. Comments: 6 AM, sitting in my car. 6:05 AM, still sitting in my car. 6:10 AM STILL sitting in my car, trying to get my head into the game. Up drives another vehicle, parks a few feet away, guy gets out and I can tell he's a runner. I pry myself out of the car, say hello, and walk over to the start line with him. It's still quite dark, but the full moon is magnificent. We begin running together...at my pace, and I find out he is training for his first marathon. His name is Larry, he works "admin" for the base fire dept. He hangs with me for about 5 miles and then "about faces" and I go on my merry way. Just what I needed this morning.....God alwaya provides, if we just make an effort. I told Larry that if he waited for me at the finish line I would autograph his race number. He thought that was a "cool" idea, and said he would be there. Later this morning, (much later) Tom Fisher, the RD drove by; stopped and backed up, and introduced me to his passengers. They were visiting Brass, out on a tour of the course. They came upon me at a time when I was walking, which didn't do much for my ego, but hey....I walk a lot in the last few miles these days. Then I got a call from SSGT Campbell, the journalist for the base newspaper, and he said he was going to meet me at the start line tomorrow morning.....so there's my motivation for day #147, and then I only have one more day "solo" before Saturday's race/event. I'm hangin' tough, but some mornings it's a real battle in my head to get goin'. Later *** September 14 - Thursday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 147 of 200 Location: Wright-Patterson Air Base, Dayton, Ohio Road Finds: Another fruitless day. Comments: My time was a little bit quicker today because I had some running partners. Staff Sergeant Camp and Lt. ???? met me at the start line, and did the first 1.5 miles with me, which got me off to a little quicker start than usual. Then at mile 6, just as I reentered the air base, Mark Petre met me and ran 13.2 miles with me. We had a pleasant 2 1/2 hour jaunt around the outer perimeter of the air field. I still did some walking, but not quite as much as I have been doing when I'm alone....peer pressure you know. Well, at least "companion" pressure, I really don't have any peers......oops, there goes that ego thing again. Mark is part of a relay team on Saturday. He is running the 1st leg, and then being support for one of his buddies who is doing his first marathon. Mark is somewhat like me in that as he trained for his first marathon, the Flying Pig 2000, he read some books, checked out some training schedules, and then trained alone and ultimately accomplished his goal. He hadn't run more than about 4 miles since May, so he was a bit concerned about how he would feel today, but I've already received an email from him, and he's trying to decide which of the fall marathons in New England he should do. (I guess I'm contagious....ALRIGHT!) Another interesting thing happened today. At mile 22.8, just after letting myself back on post with the key given to me by the race director, I was stopped by security, and asked a lot of questions about "how", "who", "why", yada yada. Things were finally cleared up, but not until I had written a statement explaining the answers to the how's and who's and why's. When I spoke later with Tom the race director, AND, retired head of security for the base, he was a bit irritated about the whole thing, but I just looked at it as a way to take a 15 minute break. I try not to waste a lot of energy being angry.....it never proves to be very fruitful. Always something new and exciting in the life of America's Marathon Man. *** September 15 - Friday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 148 of 200 Location: Wright-Patterson Air Base, Dayton, Ohio Road Finds: one cent. And once again, off base. I have noticed how free of litter the entire base is, so maybe when the troops are doing "police call", they pick up loose change too. Comments: Just for a change of routine, when I got to the half marathon mark today, I did an about face, and came back to the start line, instead of continuing on around the airfield. And as luck would have it, on my way back I ran into Patrick, The Stick Man. No, he's not skinny like me, he sells a product called The Stick, and I see him at almost every marathon expo I've been to this year. I didn't know until this morning that he is a runner. We ran together for over an hour, and had great conversation....nice guy. Other than that the morning was uneventful. I'm eager for race day tomorrow....primarily because it will be the beginning of a 13 day break...one of the longest of this year. And I need it. I plan to get "psyched up" for the final charge toward 200. October's schedule has me doing 20 in the first 22 days of the month. So I'm just going to savor the days off, and enjoy being at home with Elaine. Run Happy! *** September 16 - Saturday 200 IN 2000 Day Number: 149 of 200 Location: Wright-Patterson Air Base, Dayton, Ohio Road Finds: 10 cents...1 coin...a dime, of course. Comments: Arrived about an hour before start time. Looked around for Baron, my new running buddy for Indy, but couldn't locate him....(hope you did okay today). Part of the opening ceremonies was to have 5 members of an Air Force jump team parachute into the starting area. All of them hit right on target...pretty impressive. Even more impressive was the fact that they all ran the marathon too. I made contact with Lt. Seydel, the reporter from the AIRMAN, and we arranged a location to get some photographs out on the course. I also did a quick TV interview with channels 2 and 22, here in Dayton. At about mile 2 I hooked up with 3 airmen from a base in Florida who were all doing their 1st marathon. They had read about me in the SKYWRITER, and thought it was kind of cool to be running with me. We hung together until about mile 9 where there is a short hill, which I walked and they didn't, but I did see them again at about 15. I passed them at this point in the race, and since I was having such a good day, I was able to get in a few minutes ahead of them. It was also announced at the starting ceremony that Don McNelly was in the field of runners, but I never found him either. He is 79 years young, and holds the world record for most marathons done after the age of 70....well over 200. I first met Don in January of '93 at the 5th of my 104 for that year. I really would have liked to have seen him today....but there's always another race. At 12 miles I started running with a lady named Connie. She was running her 6th marathon, and was trying to "erase" a bad run from back in May at the Flying Pig. We kind of pushed each other a bit along the way, and she ended up with a PR....and I ended up with a better time than I've had the last few weeks. I think part of the reason I was able to push myself a bit harder today was I knew that I had the next 13 days off....if I want. Plus, the weather was just perfect. Plus, there were OTHER RUNNERS, and SPECTATORS to keep me distracted and motivated. All in all it was a great day, but boy am I happy to be headed home to Elaine, my own bed, my yard, my truck, and even my "honey dew" list. I'm not scheduled to run again until October 1st, when I will begin running the Twin Cities Marathon course, so I will sign off for now, and will resume again in a couple of weeks. I'm at 149, and will open in Minnesota by marking the 3/4 mark, or 150 down, and ONLY 50 to go. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers, and look for me on the roads of America. Don't Limit your Challenges....Challenge your Limits. ***
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