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- - - - DAY 20 - SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008 - - - -

  Today's Distance: 37 Miles
  Today's Route: Greenough to Missoula, MT
  Today's Weather: Sunny... and HOT!  90 Degrees!
  Current Elevation: 3,156 Feet (630' Less Than Yesterday)
  Total Distance Traveled: 579 Miles
  Total Distance Remaining: 41 Miles

Thoughts For Today:

Be sure to look back at the past few days of this online journal to see the videos that were posted this evening! There are still several pictures to be posted from the past few days and I'll likely do that on Monday... so please be patient a little longer for those!

I've arrived in my hometown of Missoula! It's so good to be home... even if it is for just one night. I enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing evening at the Paws Up Resort last night and awoke this morning to clear skies and the forecast calling for 90 degree temperatures - which was accurate. It certainly was a hot day on the pavement and I made pretty good time getting to Missoula for this 37-mile day. Some delays were caused by curious people who wanted to know what I was doing. Also, there was a lot of traffic today (more campers, trucks, folks pulling boats to the lake, etc.) and even bicyclists for many miles that were on a day tour. Of course, they were on my side of the road since bicyclists roll in the same direction as cars, and that meant that I was dodging a lot of oncoming bikes for a few hours this morning. I eventually made it to Missoula and took a break in Bonner Park where I found some shade and relaxed a bit before heading off to Russell Elementary School where I would reunite with my family and see some friends that came out to see me... and "Bob". It was so good to see my family again.

It has only been three weeks since I left Missoula to head for the North Dakota border, but it seems like it has been longer than that. It's probably because I've encountered so many different weather situations (snow, heat, rain, sleet, etc.) that it seems like I've been gone for seasons rather than weeks. After visiting with the nice people that came out to greet me at Russell Elementary, my family and I went home where I showered and got ready to go to dinner. We went to Pizza Hut and I enjoyed a high-carbohydrate meal.

Tomorrow morning I'll leave Russell Elementary at around 7:30am heading for Lolo Hot Springs - which is about 34 miles away. I will spend the evening there tomorrow night and then on Monday, at 10:00am, I will finish this trek at the top of Lolo Pass on Highway 12 - at the Idaho border. Anyone who is interested may certainly attend the finish. I know that it's a 41-mile drive from Missoula, so I really don't expect anyone there but family. However, I wanted to extend the invitation. I'm now at home writing this entry from my dining room table as I ice my feet. In the backyard I see my boys playing basketball with a neighbor friend, having a wonderful time. My daughters are relaxing and seem happy to have me back home. Vicki has been wonderful at keeping our household operating smoothly while I've been away and she's simply an amazing wife and mother. I'm incredibly fortunate to have such a fantastic family that is supportive of what I do.

So, tomorrow "Bob" and I will be back on the road... running through very familiar territory. The weather is forecasted to remain hot for the next few days (around 88 degrees), with no rain expected. So, I believe I'm done with my raingear and my winter wear. With only 41 miles remaining on this journey I find myself reflecting back on all that has happened over the past three weeks. This has been a physically demanding trek, particularly with the extreme weather and winds. I've tried very hard to persevere through the left foot injury that occurred on day 2 of this trek and have pressed through the persistent strong headwinds, snow, heat and more. I'm pleased with how my body has quickly adapted to the varying conditions and it has taken a focused effort to repair and prepare my body each night to get back on the pavement each morning. Whether running across a continent or a state, the physical demands of running 30 to 40 miles per day are intense. I'll have some healing to do after finishing Monday morning, but I'm sure I'll bounce back rather quickly.

I've had a couple of team leaders inquire about receiving an autograph picture of me and "Bob", and wondering if a printable certificate will be made available. I can certainly create a certificate that can be downloaded and printed - featuring the P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 logo. That will have to wait until the trek is over and I'm able to sit down at my computer and create one. With respect to an autographed picture, I will have to think of the best way to handle that.

It certainly feels good to be in my own home tonight, and I'm sure I'll enjoy sleeping in my own bed! In some ways I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ. This has been a great adventure, but there's no place like home. The morning is not far off and 42 miles remain to be conquered in the next 36 hours, so I better get some rest.

Today's Montana "Did You Know?"...
Montana has one of the lowest percentages of foreign born residents (at approximately 1.8%) as well as one of the lowest percentages of African Americans (roughly 0.3%). German is the largest ancestral group, followed by Irish and English. Montana has always been considered a conservative state, though state politics has recently seen some major Democratic victories. However, Montana's voice on the national scene is still firmly Republican, giving its 3 electoral votes to George W. Bush in 2004 by an overwhelming margin of 20 percentage points.

Today's Native Americans "Did You Know?"...
The first inhabitants of the Missoula, Montana area were American Indians from the Salish tribe. They called the area "Nemissoolatakoo," from which "Missoula" is derived. The word translates roughly to "river of ambush/ surprise," a reflection of the inter-tribal fighting common to the area. The Indians' first encounter with whites came in 1805 when the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through the Missoula Valley.

Today's Fitness "Did You Know?"...
Eight percent of elementary schools, 6.4 percent of middle school/junior high schools, and 5.8 percent of senior high schools provide daily physical education or its equivalent. Based on national recommendations, school-age youth should participate daily in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity that is developmentally appropriate, enjoyable, and involves a variety of activities. All elementary school students should participate in at least 150 minutes per week of physical education, and all middle and high school students should participate in at least 225 minutes of physical education, for the entire school year.

Your Turn! Share Your Thoughts With Paul...
Click here to sign the official P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 guestbook!

Thanks for stopping by this milepost update. Run back here tomorrow!

Keeping on PACE,

Along The Way...

Today I got to run past the university that I received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from... the UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA. The university was founded in 1893 in Missoula, less than 90 years after Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery explored the area. Since then, the University has nurtured a tradition of cultural and scientific exploration. Students receive a high-quality, well-rounded education and training for professional careers in the University’s three colleges – arts and sciences, forestry and conservation, and technology – and six schools – journalism, law, business, education, pharmacy and the fine arts. The University of Montana is a magnet not only for top-notch teachers and researchers, but also for students from across the country and around the globe. A city within a city – with its own eateries, stores, medical facilities, banking and postal services, and zip code – the University of Montana has an increasingly diverse population and rich culture. The campus spreads across 150 acres. Rolling Stone magazine has described it as the “Most scenic campus in America”, and Outside Magazine says that the University of Montana is “Among the top 10 colleges nationally for combining academic quality and outdoor recreation”. About 14,000 students attend the University of Montana.

Paul's Current Position In Montana