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- - - - DAY 14 - SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2008 - - - -

  Today's Distance: 36 Miles
  Today's Route: Martinsdale to White Sulphur Springs, MT
  Today's Weather: Sun... Then Clouds... Then WIND!
  Current Elevation: 5,043 Feet (601' More Than Yesterday)
  Total Distance Traveled: 373 Miles
  Total Distance Remaining: 247 Miles

Paul's Thoughts For Today:

I'm going to keep today's journal entry kind of short so that I can have time to post some pictures and videos from the past few days. I have a high-speed Internet connection and want to take advantage of it! So, be sure to click back to some of the previous days of this journal section to see some pictures and videos!

Today was a 36-mile day from Martinsdale to White Sulphur Springs. I arrived at around 4pm after a rather demanding day on the road. The pavement was pretty rough in may parts and I didn't have a shoulder on the edge of the road for about 25 miles. The day started off with pretty clear skies and no wind. However, that would certainly change. About halfway through the run clouds began to roll in and the wind picked up. Of course, it was a headwind! I had to go up and over the Little Belt Mountains today and the wind was absolutely brutal, particularly at the top of that mountain range. I pushed hard today to try and get into the hotel at an earlier time so that I could try to have 12 to 13 hours off the road. I managed to avoid getting wet by the threatening storm clouds that circled me for most of the afternoon.

Upon arriving at the All Seasons Inn & Suites, which has donated my room for the evening, I immediately got some ice and began to ice my feet - which have added some new blisters after today's 36 mile journey. As I iced I watched an Indiana Jones movie on television. Then, I showered and headed to dinner at a local restaurant next to the hotel. Two gentlemen who are motorcycle touring from Canada invited me to sit with them for dinner. I truly enjoyed our conversation and they offered to buy my meal - which I gratefully accepted. I gave them my card and told them that they could follow my progress through this web site. So, if they're reading this... thank you for your invitation to sit with you, and for buying me dinner! Canadians sure are great folks!

I'm back in my hotel room now with my feet up and am going to try and wrap this up quickly so that I can just relax and be brainless for awhile. Tomorrow will likely be the toughest physical day of this entire journey. I'll be going 42 miles to Townsend, Montana and I have to go over the Big Belt Mountain Range. I'm truly hoping that the winds will be far less than what they've been. I just need a break from battling the constant headwinds. It takes so much of my energy to be able to push "Bob" through the strong winds. I know that it's a price that must be paid for choosing to run east to west, but it has been a daily occurrence and I am certainly feeling the effects. My feet have had to take a lot more stress due to the exertion needed to push the stroller through the headwinds. That has caused additional blistering and discomfort. I truly need a day of little or no wind and just some slight overcast skies. Perhaps I'll get that tomorrow for the challenge that is before me.

I want to end this message by wishing my mother a wonderful mother's day, as well as Vicki. There are days when I occasionally wonder if what I'm doing is making any difference in the lives of young people. Then I'll get an e-mail or a guestbook entry from someone participating in P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 and I know that my efforts are worth something. I'll keep pushing forward. Today was my 12th day on the pavement and I've managed to log 373 miles. I'm down to 247 miles remaining on this trek. If all goes as planned this week, I'll be reaching the finish line one week from tomorrow morning. I'll certainly do my best to stay on track for that.

That's about it from this milepost. Thanks for checking in. Take care and keep reaching for the mileposts! I am.

Today's Montana "Did You Know?"...
Montana's state tree is the Ponderosa Pine. The tree may be found in most parts of western Montana. Its range includes the entire West, from the plains to the Pacific Coast. On average the tree reaches maturity when 60 to 125 feet tall (about 150 years old) and about 20 to 30 inches in diameter. In the spring of 1908, Helena's school children held a referendum on which tree best represented the state. The ponderosa easily outdistanced fir, larch, and cottonwood for the designation. However, it wasn't until 1949 that the Montana Legislature adopted the Ponderosa Pine as the state tree.

Today's Native Americans "Did You Know?"...
In 1902, a group of female students from the Fort Shaw Indian Industrial School began playing basketball and traveled throughout Montana, defeating high school teams and some college teams. In 1904, the girls' basketball team traveled by train to the St. Louis World's Fair. Over a period of five months, the team was challenged by numerous other basketball teams and won every contest, returning to Fort Shaw with the "world champion" trophy. On May 1, 2004, a monument in honor of the basketball team was unveiled at the entrance of the present-day Fort Shaw Elementary School in Montana.

Today's Fitness "Did You Know?"...
Ten years ago, kids running races were often an afterthought - a way to get children of runners involved on adult-focused race days. Now the events not only have more successful youth finishers, but new potential adult participants are being brought to events by their kids rather than the other way around. Kids' and family running events (fun runs) are on the rise in the United States and are a great way for families to do a fitness activity together. See what opportunities are in your community!

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...

The LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST lies in central and north central Montana within the upper Missouri River system. The forest's elevation ranges from 4,500 to 9,362 feet at the top of Rocky Mountain Peak in the Rocky Mountains. Landscapes range from broad prairies to rugged ridges and mountain peaks. Beautiful grassy parks and mountain meadows are surrounded by forests of Douglas Fir and Lodgepole Pine. Recreation Opportunities in the Lewis and Clark National Forest's 1.8 million acres are as varied as the landscape and elevation of the Forest itself. The Forest has 10,730 acres in designated Research Natural Areas. The Forest contains many scenic drives including the Kings Hill National Scenic Byway - U.S. Highway 89 through the Little Belt Mountains, which is a major route between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. The Lewis and Clark National Forest contains 29 developed recreation sites. Many of these sites are handicap accessible. There are five cabins in the Forest which may be rented by the public on a first come, first served basis. Many campsites exist and the maximum allowable stay in one campsite is 14 consecutive days. The Forest has two special-use ski areas within its boundaries.

Paul's Current Position In Montana