Heading To The "Big City"...

Today was an easy 12-mile run from Eagle River to the "big city" of Anchorage (about 280,000 people), and I enjoyed 8 miles of it with the company of Sam Young. Sam heads up an organization in Anchorage called Healthy Futures (www.healthyfuturesak.org), which is a grassroots movement that is helping Alaska kids build more positive, lifelong physical fitness habits. I truly appreciate Sam's vision and he is actually carrying on the vision of his wife, Bonnie, who unfortunately passed away last summer. Sam has a heart for kids, running, and for seeing children set goals and aim to do their best. It was a pleasure to run with him. Thanks Sam!

The final few meters of my run today ended with a wonderful surprise. My sister, Amy, and her two daughters, Nicky and Chrissy, took time away from their jobs and responsibilities to meet me as I wrapped up my short day of running. I haven't seen them for several years and it was wonderful to visit with them for a short time. They got to check out "Bob" and we walked and talked for awhile. There are many days on P.A.C.E. journeys that I end by running up to complete strangers who have volunteered to take me in for an evening. It was great to end this running day by seeing family waiting for me. I love my sister, and her daughters are beautiful and have a great sense of humor! I hope to be able to see them again before years tick by. I've dedicated today's pictures (in the column to the right) to the few moments I had with them.

After a nice visit with family I headed to Lake Hood Elementary to do an assembly. It was a lot of fun and the kids were attentive and asked good questions. I truly enjoy opportunities to talk to kids and share thoughts about goal setting, physical fitness, doing your best, and more. I thank the students and staff at Lake Hood Elementary for a great visit!

Later in the afternoon my parents and I picked up the Class C motorhome that has been donated by ABC Motorhome Rentals of Anchorage for the rest of this P.A.C.E. Trek through Alaska. It will be so much more comfortable than the truck camper that my parents and I have been using since this journey began. ABC Motorhome Rentals offers units of varying sizes for people to use in order to tour around Alaska. I am very impressed with the motorhome we've been given to use and am so appreciative.

Following our picking up the motorhome, I got to talk to my family... and take a shower - which I definitely needed. Now I'm trying to get this web site updated, but my Internet connection keeps going in and out. I want to take a moment to thank Rob Remler, a friend of mine in Portland, Oregon, for posting my daily audio files. I make those audio files from the road and Rob puts those online so that people can hear me. Thanks for doing that, Rob.

Tomorrow I begin my day by giving an assembly at Finger Lake Elementary in Wasilla, Alaska - where my sister, Mary, is a teacher. I'm looking forward to seeing her and meeting the staff and students at the school. Immediately following the assembly I'll be logging a 26-mile day from Wasilla to Willow, Alaska. The incredible weather we've been having is supposed to continue. We reached 70 degrees today... and further north (in Fairbanks) they reached 74 degrees. For those of you who thought that Alaska would be a freezing place for me to run this time of year... I think you were wrong! I actually have a sunburn and am truly enjoying this very warm spring weather.

I have now completed 187 miles in 7 running days and have 313 miles left of this adventure through Alaska. However, the next week on the road will see an increase in mileage. For instance, during the next 7 running days I'll log 215 miles - and that will include some difficult terrain at times, particularly around Denali National Park. I hope "Bob" is ready to roll.

That's all from this Alaska milepost! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to run back here tomorrow.