Day Two

After fantastic weather yesterday, this morning started hellaciously. Torrential downpour, biting winds, and general yuckiness are what awaited me. Plus, because of the scheduling of my talk to the kids at Bandon High, I had to cut my run shorter than desired, drive 30 miles, speak, and then go back to where I had left off just to get done with the first part of the run. As much as a pain as this was, it actually worked out decently for me. Nevertheless, I cannot thank my awesome crew (Shannon) for having the foresight to buy me one of the best running raincoats ever. I have no idea how I would have survived the first 13 miles without it.

The kids at Bandon were awesome. Fantastic questions, inquisitive nature, and a desire to learn about eating right and training. I was able to share with them information about the 29 Cuts of Lean Beef when they asked how I fueled myself and also tell them how a healthful balanced diet is how one achieves just about anything in this life. That or win the $640 MegaMillions.

While I finished my first run and food about the same time I started getting ready for run #2 yesterday, I was actually a little glad. The sun had actually come out like a beacon and while the temps were still chilly, it was definitely an energy-sucker. I waited for my GPS to charge as long as I could before I finally had to just get out the door. I was able to get the first portion of my second run in before I had to switch to another watch.

Donning my very appropriate "Run Oregon" t-shirt. I headed out. The day, even though rough in places, ended up wonderful. I will have less rest than I would like tonight but all is good. Right around 100 miles for the past two days and feeling better than I should.

Must be the 14 ounce steak I had Sunday night.

Day One

Very happy to have the very first day of the 350 out of the way. Today was definitely a day filled with lots of trepidation for things other than running the first 50ish miles of the 350. My hotel was located about 35 miles from the start of the event which facilitated a very early wake-up call. As I would be speaking at the Gold Beach High School to the entire student body about eating properly, exercising, and chasing your dreams, my run also had to finish at a certain time in order to allow me to head to the school and not get a tardy notice.

Starting promptly at 7:15 I would try to get the first 25 miles in in four hours which was on the cusp of way too fast for this endeavor. But hitting 25.1 in 4:03:06 allowed me to eat a meatball sub, drink some chocolate milk, and then get to the assembly right on time. After that it was back to my hotel, a lovely condo at the Pacific Reef Resort, for a quick RnR before heading out again.

The weather had been absolutely bliss for the first run of the day. Given the amount and force of rain this area has received, a monsoon would have been a let up in intensity. Instead it was mostly overcast, cool, and wonderful. I ran even faster than my time tells because of repeated bathroom breaks and stops to take in the wonderful scenery. I did not do the walking up the major hills that I thought I might. Probably should have.

The second run of the day started in weather that Coastal Oregonians haven't seen in probably six months. Temps in the 50, bright sunshine and just beauty everywhere. I didn't realize how warm it was until I did my first check-in and I was drenched in sweat.  By about 9 miles in I realized it had been far too long since I had taken in significant calories and the day might not be as fun. I sent my crew for a double cheeseburger and completely devoured that.

Before long I was running sub-8 minute miles.  When we got to mile 20 or so, I looked ahead at the fading sunlight and saw that construction was still going on along the hill I was about to climb. I felt that given just 8 miles earlier I had been bereft of energy and here was some semi-dangerous running that this would be a perfect place to call it a day.

Not a pad pace at the end, especially given the mountain I had to climb at the beginning. Tomorrow is actually even a longer day non-running-wise due to logistics so if I get in 50 miles I will be shocked. Now it is time for food and bed.

Starting weight: 184.5
Ending weight: 177.7
Total miles: 48ish

Day By Day Running Route

Each day of this 350 miler is going to call for an average of 50 miles of running. Most days will probably have a few miles more, because of logistics, leaving me hopefully with a "short" ran on the last day. But as it stands, for those who are wishing to plan their visits to run with me, the following is the tentative schedule for each day. (Click on each picture to get a bigger view of the route)

Day One: April 2nd

Starting at the California/Oregon border I will head north passing through the many towns including Brookings and Gold Beach.  The day's stopping point will be somewhere near the Prehistoric Gardens right off of Rt 101. There are more than a few climbs on this first day but the one at mile 30 looks particularly nasty.

Day Two: April 3rd

Picking up at the Prehistoric Gardens, another 50 mile day will have me closing in on Coos Bay, the birthplace of legendary runner Steve Prefontaine.True to Pre's work ethic, my day will end with a rather hellacious climb which should put Coos Bay in sight in the distance.

Meanwhile, passing through Denmark, OR I might ironically, be the only Dane in town.

Day Three: April 4th

The first half of the third day will be one of the nicest runs all week.  i start with a nice long downhill and then a mostly flat run for some 20 miles.  But I pay for it later when in the second rn of the day I will get two major climbs at miles 30 and again at 42. I will no doubt continue to wonder, as I pass through the town of North Bend, OR, why it is not only south and west of Bend, OR but why it is 250 miles away.

I am quite sure I will have lots of random thoughts like this during the week.

Day Four: April 5th

I am not sure what exactly I am supposed to think of the hill at mile 20. I am hoping it is some glitch in the elevation software I used to map out this run because otherwise I am going to need some crampons and a pickaxe to get up that sucker.

Having already been to Florence, Italy where I studied law for a summer, I am curious how Florence, OR compares.  Do they have a mini Duomo? How is their gelatto?

Day Five: April 6th

By the time I get three miles into this run , this will be the furthest I have ever run in one week. Having completed the 202 miles of the American Odyssey Relay back in 2010, passing over that mark will be a big milestone for me. I will be far less enthused about the ridiculous hill at mile 42 (again? I might end up not liking that number.) The rest of the run on Day Five, barring another hill at 20, looks relatively flat and might allow me to enjoy the coast more than any other day.

Day Six: April 7th

I expected the 6th day of running will be the hardest day.  Having run so far I will still not be on the final day.  I am preemptively relating it to mile 20 in a marathon.  So far run but so far more to go.

This will also mark the only time on the entire run that I MAY deviate from US RT 101. Opting to go through what seems to be a much safer route, I could head into Pacific City and enjoy the coastline there for a few miles before rejoining RT 101. This will be a decision on the day of the run but as both distances will equal the approximately the same amount of running, it doesn't make much of a difference.

**Addendum - Even prior to running, the decision was made to skirt the coast by running for 16 miles on Rt 131 marking the largest deviation from RT 101. Safety and beauty of the course trumped the fact that I will be climbing quite the peak to Cape Lookout State park**


Day Seven: April 8th


This final day of running will see me skirt the final few miles of the Oregon Coat and head to Astoria.  There I will cross the bridge into Washington State and promptly fall over and die.

I am kidding.

The Route

It really is pretty simple.  Except for a few miles where we deviate the course for logistical reasons, the entirety of my run will take place on US Route 101. See that purple line? Well, that's going to be me.

Day One will consist of stepping foot on the border of California and Oregon, some 35 miles south of Gold Beach, Oregon. From there I will progress, approximately 50 miles each day, until crossing the Astoria Bridge into Washington 7 days later.

With trips planned to speak at various schools along the way, I expect each day will be split into two separate long runs, with approximately 25 miles before much and 25 miles after. However, no doubt some snafus will pop up and the schedule will change.

Each run will be tracked using my Timex Run Trainer.  I will upload the data from this device every day, sometimes immediately after my run, if time permits. This will chronicle every step and show data out the wazoo as the Timex Run Trainer is a fantastic watch. I just have to remember to keep it charged.

All told, this is about the simplest logistical long distance run one can do. Or at least it should be. Regardless, the miles of US Route 101 and I are going to become quite familiar with one another.

The Plan

It is really quite simple.

Go 350 miles from the California/Oregon border to the Oregon/Washington border in one week on Route 101.

It gets slightly more complicated when one talks about doing it solely on foot.  But that is what I will be doing the first week of April. With the intent being to show we should all Ignore the Impossible, I will average 50 miles or so each day traveling along one of the most beautiful places this country has to offer.

But I will not just be running alone, if running more in one week than I ever have in one month can ever have a "just" attached to it. Joining forces with the California and Oregon Beef Councils as well as the Washington State Beef Commission and the Idaho Beef Council, I will be stopping several times along the way to talk to children at schools about how the battle against the obesity epidemic begins with them.  I hope to instill in them a love for exercise and the knowledge needed to make healthful choices about the foods they put into their body.

Along the way I will be making daily postings with updates on where I have gone, how the run is taking its toll on my body and what goes through my mind running 50 miles a day for 7 straight days. With runners from across the country joining me for at least part of the run, I can only hope to inspire even more to get off the couch and take those first steps.

Stay tuned for more updates as the details develop!