3/13/2015
After ten hours of sleep I woke up ready to run. My body needed the rest and I obliged. Every day had been thirty miles. On this day I would again shoot for thirty miles. Of course, I wasn’t sure if Mother Nature was ready to help me out. The moment I set foot outside the trailer it began to sprinkle. The border was only two miles away so a little rain would not deter me. A brief warmup trot took me across the river that separated Florida from Georgia. It was cause for celebration and the weather let me have that moment. It only let me have that moment.
After we got our photographs and Crystal and my mom took off for Kingsland GA. the rain began to come down a little harder. For a few miles I ran through scattered showers. Again I was lucky to have trees that sheltered me from some of the rain. I think the rain tightened my focus and I reached Kingsland. Funny that the moment I reached the trailer, the rain decided to stop. We decided it was a good time to consume our usual eggs and toast. The rain was quiet the entire time we ate. It led me to believe I was good to go.
Nature has a sense of humor. Again it began to rain when I stepped out. I valiantly pushed forward thinking I could outrun the downpour. It only grew in intensity. My vision was obscured. I could hear the sloshing inside my shoes. With every step my clothes grew heavier. Luckily I had learned from previous water damage to keep my cell phone inside a plastic bag. I was drenched from head to toe but I must have reached a saturation point. I became comfortable with the run. I was one with the elements and I started taking down the miles. I ran in puddles with no reservations. It was like being a kid again.
Miles outside of town I found Crystal and my mom lounging in our cozy trailer. They had parked next to a house that had been abandoned and had a tree growing from inside. I stripped off pounds of water logged clothes and took a deep breath. Like a cruel joke the rain stopped yet again. I decided it was a good place to eat lunch and take a nap.
I napped for a half hour then decided I should hit the road while the sun was still shining. The run from that point on was smooth sailing. I had changed out my drenched shoes for an old pair that were dry. The scenery from that point on was rustic. Although there were lots of run down shacks, every now and then a majestic plantation would pop up. On the fifth thirty mile day I needed to inspire my legs for the last few miles. I had met up with my mom and Crystal at the Waverly mini-mart but still needed three miles to go. The clouds threatened to drop rain on me so I started running. I was encouraged by the local kids that cheered me on. I had heard that Georgia was big on Southern Hospitality. I was beginning to see that.
The air was crisp for three miles. My lungs were grateful. Little mosquitoes and gnats buzzed around me when I reached the trailer but I had the good sense earlier to apply my bug repellent. They were rendered a harmless nuisance. The house Crystal parked next to looked like Dorothy’s place after landing in Oz. I had landed in GA.
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