Southbound and South Paw.
I kept running along route 6. Once again it was very hilly. When I get to Ohio in a few days time the hills will be more or less gone till the Rockies. The hard shoulder was fairly clear today.. A good job by the snow plows. Towards late afternoon I start looking at the clouds. A clear sky this time of year usually means its going to be a cold night and even colder morning. Clouds trap whatever heat is around which usually means a milder night and morning. Tonight it’s cloudy.
After 3 stops I make my way to Coudersport.
I meet Pete my host for tonight at the courthouse and stop my gps watch at exactly a marathon. Well it was a bit more but I usually subtract a bit. I don’t really know why I do this as gps watches are actually more accurate than some online maps. The latter don’t always calculate the distance going down into valleys whereas the gps will calculate every stride.
At the courthouse steps there was another reporter for the Bradford Era. This one was of French origin. I think he was calling himself De Laney… I was calling him Delaney and suspected he was Irish. He certainly had the wit. We had a good laugh.
I sometimes feel like I have ridden a stage of the Tour de France at the end of the day as I take my left-over snacks out of my cycle top pockets and drink from my water bottle as the press wait. A few pictures and an interview. No pretty blondes dressed in yellow or even teddy bears! One difference, this tour is three years and not three weeks.
My answers all come out on auto pilot. I am usually fiddling with my clothes and packing my stuff away as I shoot out the familiar lines without a moments thought. I even answer their questions before they ask them. I know them all. And I can tell by their tone what is coming next. I will sometimes speed it up by saying.. ” 6 pairs of shoes, just over 2, 000 miles between a marathon and 50km per day, I’m 53, not married and no kids! I started with the Dublin marathon last October and will finish with the Dublin marathon in October 2013.
Please thank the American people for me, mention my charity, website and sponsors. You can get a huge amount of info from my About page of my website. I recommend your research from the Irish Times article just scroll back to December and also the Irish Runner article.”
Sometimes I get: ” What running shoe do you like best? ”
” No comment…. I ain’t got a shoe sponsor! ”
” But you must have a favorite? ”
“ I do and it will be the first company that gives me some! ”
So Pete drives me over to his home in Bradford about fifteen minutes away. He is yet another bicycle shop owner. He does a lot for the area organizing cycle rides from his shop. Previously there was not much of an interest but he has got an enthusiastic group that meet twice a week in the spring for a trail ride and a mountain bike ride.
THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF ME IN BRADFORD PETE.
At the dinner table his dog comes over to me and hits me with his paw and gives a strange whine that sounds like it’s a war dance.
Then Pete goes over to the refrigerator and gets out about 6 different tubs of Ben and Gerry’s ice cream for me to make a selection.
I choose caramel. Later the dog comes back for round two. It’s a big dog. I have forgotten the breed. I have also forgotten about his south paw and push him away as he tries to lick the fallen ice cream from my trousers leg. He puts up his paw again and swipes just as I duck away on my chair. Another war dance whine. Pete is laughing. I’m a bit scared and tell him. He takes him out for a walk. Returns with the shattered dog which is now out for the count. I guess I won on a technical knockout.
January 29th, 2011 at 5:58 am
Hey~ So sorry I checked my email so late~ I would have loved to have you or stopped to visit with Tom & Lisa. I am from Kane and just wanted to say Love reading your blog, love your love for running, and most of all your Charity of choice! Kuddos to you!! Looking forward to hearing your favorite shoe
January 29th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
hey tony! there was a picture of me and you in our ithaca times newspaper this week =)
January 30th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Hey Tony boy, thank you so much for the fabulous, thoughtful card and the ridiculously generous contents! I nearly passed out peacefully when I opened it! Thank you so much. I had the most amazing night of my life! the party was jam packed, there was easily over 300 people at it and then a kareoke back in the house after! Missed your rendition of crocadile rock!! I sent you a message to different phones and have been trying to get through to you. Our skype doesn’t seem to be working. Keep up the good work, you’re doing great and never far from our thoughts.
Love you, Serena x
January 31st, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Hello Tony from Love Lake, ME. Just checking in to see where you are. Amazing, if I must say. Good luck and stay warm and well.
Christine
February 1st, 2011 at 10:27 am
Hi Tony! We’ve been following your progress from day to day. Big storm coming, Tony! Please keep warm! You have been such an inspiration to us and to everyone that we tell your story to. Newspapers are going to your mum today. We will keep in touch,
Love, Lisa and Tom
February 1st, 2011 at 7:06 pm
HELLO TONY…
heavy snow coming your way for tonite and into tomorrow
take care
stewart