The Details

When Ryan decided he was going to run from Brown to Tufts, I immediately offered to be course aid. Ryan didn't want any support that would involve a vehicle in his journey. After lots of different suggestions, he decided that, if I happened to be visiting friends where I could run to meet him, it wouldn't violate the spirit of his run. Conveniently, I happen to have good friends who lived roughly eight miles off Ryan's course.

So Sunday I left the house a little after 5:30 a.m. heading to Medfield, MA. It was a beautiful day for a run or a drive for that matter. I wondered if Ryan got off on time (he planned on leaving at 6am). I didn't have to wonder long; he called at 6:10 asking if I were online to check something for him...He didn't realize that I was already in the car. I don't even remember what it was now that he wanted to know, but I don't think it was anything really important. If it were, he could have called home even at that hour! But at least I knew he'd set out on schedule.

I got to my friends' house a little after 8:30 and quickly checked in with Ryan. It sounded like I had time to change into my running clothes (proudly wearing my Trail Monster tee), have a cup of coffee and visit a bit before setting out. Time flies talking with fun people you haven't seen in a while. Pretty soon I needed to rush out. I had my Fuel Belt on with two 8 oz Gatorades for my run, a pouch with my cell phone, credit card, cash, and my map, a second pouch held a disposable camera (I'll post some pictures if any turned out), and a pbj in a baggie safety pinned to the back. I think the ease with which I adjusted to it bouncing off my butt makes me have to rethink my protests about wearing a sloshing CamelBak.

I hadn't gotten a half mile down the road (a very pretty, very twisty road with no shoulder) when a characteristically friendly golden retriever appeared in the middle of the road. She was very happy to see me and pretty sure she should accompany me. I tried being stern telling her to stay, then to go home, and then tried to just ignore her and run. Nope. She was definitely gonna follow. I looked at the beautiful houses that were along the road and didn't see anyone looking for her. There was no way I'd let my dog loose if I lived on this windy road. Ok, I called my friend and he said he'd come rescue me. When I went to put my phone back in my pouch, the map fell out and the dog grabbed it. It was entirely in her mouth. Evidently she didn't know the "drop it" command either. I tried to pry my way into her mouth, but needed to get my phone in the pouch to have two hands for the job. Her owner must keep treats in a pouch or pocket because she immediately focused on the pouch and released the map. I grabbed for it, but so did she. A tug-o-war, of sort, ensued. I got a good chunk of the map, but it was too soggy to be legible. OK - a new plan - using the fact that she obviously thought I had treats, I got her to sit. With her behaving for the treat, I was able (even without my glasses!) to read a tag on her that had a phone number and name. I called. It turned out that we were now right in front of Bonnie's house. My friend and her owner converged on us at the same time. I showed Mike my ruined map. Bonnie's person said I could come in and print out a new one, but at this point I was worried about time. I thought I could remember enough. As I set off, Mike yelled out, "Left, left, right, left!"

There really were no flats, but no big hills either. I guess I'd say it was rolling hills. It was a beautiful run. My only issue was that the longest part, maybe about 6 miles was along a pretty busy state route with no shoulder at all. I got to a fork in the road and wasn't sure which way to go. I called home. When I told Rick that a dog ate my map, he just said, "Huh?!" "Really. I'll tell you the whole story later. Where am I? and is it where I should be?" It took Rick a little bit to answer both questions. I just had to back track about a quarter of a mile and take the other road of the fork. Back on track I called Ryan. We figured he was a little bit back from our course intersection, but I would just run back to meet him. About 1.25 miles onto his course, I went into a Cumberland Farms and bought him a 20 oz Gatorade. As I got back to the street, I saw him heading toward me. I took out my camera and snapped of few shots.

He didn't have anything near as interesting as a dog eating his map, but he did have a few stories to tell. He liked the path he had followed earlier this summer when he'd run from a friend's house in N. Attleboro. I guess coming straight from Providence he ended up on a piece of route one that was like being on Rte. 495. In fact, he thought it had to have taken a wrong turn so got off at an exit and ended up on Rte. 495. He looked at the sign there and realized that he was indeed on Rte. 1. He was also very happy the Patriots didn't have a home game cause he ran across every one of the entrances to their parking.

I ran with him for about 2.5 miles. He had just finished his pbj, found a pizza joint to use the bathroom, and ran off. I took his picture running away. A little old couple was watching me so I told him what Ryan was doing. They wanted me to confirm that Brown was in Providence. And he was doing it all in one day. I was so proud; I'm surprised I didn't stop and tell more people!

I headed back to Mike and Kim's eager for a shower. My total trip ended up being just over 21 miles. Except for tender toes, I was in fine shape. After my shower, my friends saw to it that I had very yummy post run treats. As soon as I got confirmation that Sam was able to get our kitty in for the night (read: I could stay over), I let Mike pour me a wine to go with my lasagna.
Ryan called around 4pm to say he was just about there. He'd be with his friends from then on so I knew that I wouldn't hear from him till the next day.

I woke fairly early on Monday. I enjoyed a few cups of coffee before going with Mike to take their dogs for a walk before I headed out. Kim went to feed the animals at the Medfield Animal Shelter.
When their big pups (a Newfie and a St. Bernard) had their exercise, I loaded my gear up, thanked Mike and hit the road.

I waited till nearly 2pm before I called Ryan again. He picked up, but sounded pretty out of it. Turns out he'd been napping, but promised to call later. It wasn't till 10:30ish that I heard from him. He told me that, while it's always hard to start running again when taking a walking break, it's way harder to start running again when you only stop due to traffic.

He also ended up going a little further than he had planned; He had put in the address his friend at Tufts had given him for his end point (or at least he thought that's what she'd given him - it was actually a room number and dorm name, not a street number and street name). Interestingly enough, Google maps came back with a "did you mean this" address and, since it was the only street with a name close to what he'd input near/on the Tufts campus, he assumed that was it. When he was around 2 miles out he called his friends and they let him know he wasn't on course. After figuring out what happened, Kylee and Hannah told him they'd meet him on his current course. They had actually been his start line so they'd be his finish line also. When Ryan got close, Hannah took off towards the dorm. Ryan was able to sprint, even on those 45+ mile legs, and caught Hannah before she got to the dorm! His journey took 10hrs, 20 mins. He felt pretty good - no where near like he did after his marathon. Great job, Ryan!!