VALENTINE! NEBRASKA AND 41 STATES COMPLETE!

Valentine Nebraska helped me break into my final 10. I flew into Omaha did some initiatory and endowment work at the Winter Quarter Temple for Nicholas' ancestors...The northern part of Omaha is rather SCARY....Not the best part of town for sure, I was propositioned at the local McDonalds...I slept overnight at the Winter Quarters visitors center and then toured the visitors center. Sister Monson was the sister who took me through....Because of Omaha's rains and flooding caused by the Missouri River, I didn't go to Kanesville or Council Bluffs. The off ramps were covered with water....The second night I was there, the thunder storms were scary in my little Nissan Sentra....I went to the Durham union station museum where the pulitzer prize photos were on display...The graphic phots from th 40's to present distrubed my mind while I was trying to have peace in the temple...Very hard to view these photos....Anyway drove over to Valentine where I discovered the Niobrara river and the Sandhills of Nebraska...I went from black to white in only 2 hours...Camped out with 2 other LDS men one a nutrionalist for the FEED LOTS who is also a branch president, and his friend who was also an adult convert...Don and Ron. He was very kind even though he believes in FEED LOTS! STINKY! YUK! Free graze! The race was very enjoyable not like the last 3 I had run. I had energy and strength throughout, completing the marathon in 3:57. Fun things along the way....Bus almost hit into 2 deer. The busdriver slammed on the breaks throwing everyone out of their seats...Ran with Craig from Michigan...Very good man who has a wonderful family. Talked about the church...Larry Macon was there and will be in Duluth next week. There was a movable port a potty. A man drove a porta potty along the road we ran on which was called Brownlee...After attending church on Sunday found out the branch president from Oakley Utah and his wife live on that same road! There were no rattlesnakes and I didn't get into any Sandburrs. They had plenty of water gu and gatorade throughout the race...The shirts were good, the spur for finishing was fun, and the RD was nice....I wish they didn't have beer afterwards...I felt very uncomfortable with so much alcohol flowing freely.... I know they say its good carbs, but some of us don't enjoy that....Spend more money on the food afterwards...There were bananas, oranges, bagels and cookies so we didn't go hungry, but pretzels nuts or something salty would have been appreciated....The town of Valentine has many bars probably because there's not much to do....I floated down the Niobrara River which is a very docile river after the race with a family from Lincoln...It was fun at first, but then it turned cold and after 3 hours I wanted to be out of the river and off the tube....That night a terrible thunder and wind storm came through....Rocked my little sentra like crazy...Next morning walked the cowboy trail over the Niabrara River and then attended church with a cute little and I mean litle group of saints in Valentine at 10am...I met a very nice dentist and his family that just moved into town...Frank Patterson...Hope Jeff and Drea can help him build up the Mormon population in Valentine....He would love to have them....To close to the Sioux reservation and to many native americans drinking....A great little marathon which I give an 8. Course 10, Food 8, Friendly People 8, Organization and starting on time 6 = 8 I would recommend this race....

KENOSHA! WISCONSIN COMPLETE!

Champagne-Urbana ILLINOIS COMPLETE!

Naragansett. RHODE ISLAND April 2011

Faster qualifier than Boston....Windy, cold, but a fast course with fast runners. 3:44 Quads were tight and hurt at finish....Head wind from the Atlantic...Ran through all water stops! A fast group of runners, couldn't really enjoy the race...Loved the drive up from New York...Stayed with Christina Nicholas' sister...Wonderful hostess, but will not do yoga again before a marathon...It about did me in....I am totally out of shape! Will always remember the clams and linguini, roasted buckwheat, avocado and amino's for breakfast and getting lost in Manhattan! Was able to attend the temple in Manhattan...Loved that and central park...The met was also very enjoyable...As far as missionary work at the expo the night before, talked with a dutchman about the church and not running on Sunday. He talked to me about the demise of his native country because of lack of values...Interesting....Also others were involved with conversation about the sabbath and our church....Attended church in Queens...Wonderful ward...Loved the race even though I had to run SUPER FAST!