Day 7 - 36.17 Miles - Springfield, MO to Verona, MO

If I didn't believe in angels before MO-AR TREK, I do now! Amy Luke is one such angel. I can't say thanks enough to her. She really worked my leg into running shape this morning at 7am, and enabled a 36-mile run today. I never even had to re-wrap. You're a real pro and a heck of a nice person. THANK YOU AMY!

Mom, you already knew you were an angel, but I'm so glad you're finally out here. Love ya!

However, it was more than a couple of angels that showed up today. Laura, Allie, Jackie & Sara - all Missouri State students in Springfield - joined me for the first 6.3 miles this morning. My friend Lisa, who is also Laura's mom followed us along in her car too! I've heard that lighting can't strike twice, but apparentely angels can appear as many times as they wish. These ladies came BACK out (after talking their way out of Fitness class this morining) to rejoin me from miles 17 to 29. Hey, I'm not advocating skipping class, but it was FITNESS CLASS, after all.

You girls are rock stars! I could never have made it 36 miles today without you. I owe you all one! And I want to hear from you when you finally get over that bad case of “I’m not sure when I’ll sign up for my ½ marathon”. You almost ran one today! Piece of cake for you all.

In between Amy & the MSU rock stars, I was joined by a couple of Girls on the Run heroes: Trish Hopkins & Andrea Reynolds. Trish is the area Girls on the Run council director and Andrea owns a women's apparel company (Running Chics) that donates a portion of their proceeds to Trish's council. AWESOME! These ladies helped me navigate Republic, MO (just west of Springfield). I wansn't 100% today, as expected, but Trish and Andrea kept me moving.

It was a hot, windy and difficult run, but the terrain flattened out substantially today. That helped quite a bit. The going is getting tough, but the end is so close. I can't quit now - we've come too far. I'll be out on the road in the AM to do battle again, mostly with myself.

I should have been a coal miner, I am having to dig pretty darn deep right now.

My body is tired, but my spirit isn't broken. My good friend, Kristie Congram, told me 'courage isn't when you aren't scared, it's when you are scared, but you do it anyway'. Well, I'm finding courage out here on the road and I'm really lucky to have Lauren and the army of angels to help me through :)

All the best from Verona, MO-

Jason

P.S. Two things worth mentioning - we crossed the 250-mile mark (400k) today. Also, Charlie, THANK YOU, Lauren and I would never have made it this far without you for the last 3 days!