Ninety days.

I've run...I've walked...I've deliriously stumbled along the side of the highway for a couple of miles completely unaware of my surroundings. I camped behind bushes on the side of a very busy highway, slept on Indian Reservations, was put up by awesome firefighters through the entire state of New Mexico and into Texas -- and met folks that will be  a part of my life from here on out.

This run is done.

Today, I jogged in from The Lubbock Lake Landmark to the Southwest Cancer Center and closed the book on the physical aspect of this event at noon -- sick once again, but thrilled all the same -- and sort of sad. Call it Stockholm syndrome if you'd like. If the hiking pack has been my captor, I identify with its cause. It was sort of sad looking at it and knowing I'll have no reason to put it on Monday morning. The purpose it served is no longer applicable to what I'm doing now, or in the near future. We'll have our time again though -- the pack and I. More on that in another blog...

My family was, of course, thrilled that this is over. We had a nice media turnout, and I think they made sure to let every outlet know that. I can see why, but hopefully my making it here intact will give them a little more confidence when I pursue my next endeavor. I survived, the conditions were not always pleasant, but I am well.

I've said before, nothing about this run was optimal on the surface. Injury, illness, bleeding feet, lack of run support -- A cursory glance at the events of this run without context makes it look like a disaster. Far from it. This happened just the way it needed to. It has taught me things on myriad levels, personal and technical. I know how I'll tackle events like this from now on (there will be many) as far as media and preperation are concerned. I put this together in three months. I trained, worked on sponsors, and dug up a run crew in that small window. Without question, if I do anything this big again (and I most certainly will), I'll give it nine months -- minimum.

On a personal level? Well...I'll keep it simple. This run saved my life. It made me stronger, restored a hell of a lot of my confidence, and reminded me of who I've always been -- and how I want to live. The details are all in the previous blogs. I can't really say it better than I already have. I found love, hope, and peace on this journey.

Wow...

I swear, I don't smell like patchouli, in case that immediately lept to mind upon reading that sentence.

So, what's next?

That's a big question, with a complicated answer. I'll definitely be attacking that one after some days of rest. What I do know, is that this site is not going away, nor is the million dollar goal. There is so much I'd like to accomplish.

The Badwater 100.

The Boston Marathon.

The Pacific Crest Trail.

I'd like to run in Europe, Africa....everywhere. I intend to do so.

That's not all though. There are so many other things to experience -- so many ways to test myself, have fun, soak up life. We're not here long, I'm almost thirty. I have a lot to do, and little time to do it.

Thank you all for following the run, keeping me company, urging me on, and lending a hand when you could. When I announce my next endeavor, I hope you will all be a part of that too.

All the best, folks.

-Dustin Hucks

Seems to follow a theme, this getting sick business. I didn't get any hiking done the last two days. Still, the ever present GPS was hooked to my back pocket when I did go out. It's almost habit at this point, turning it on. Granted...that's changing sooner than I intended. More on that in a bit...

I've worked on the website, and basically spent time resting. Sunday, at noon...I finish the event officially. Without picking up a run crew, these last few days are mostly symbolic as far as distance goes. It's a bummer, but people have jobs. Being a run crew is pretty time intensive. It's an eight to ten hour endeavor, and the country roads around Lubbock aren't exactly parking friendly. There is no soft shoulder in most places.

Regardless, Sunday I will be running from Lubbock Lake Landmark to the Southwest Cancer Center on Indiana. Not a major run when you're well. Possibly a miserable run when ill. It's not a coughing, hacking thing. Just cold chills, swollen glands....blech.

Hope folks can make it out. It would be nice to see people who've been following my progress.

Now...the GPS. Next two days, it's off. Matter of fact, it may not be turned on again. Shame I have to do this...but having someone who visits my site (and antagonizes other, normal visitors) driving around near midnight trying to find where I'm staying is pretty lame. Not scary...just lame.

That's all the discussion I'll give that. My blog is intended for more pleasant, interesting things. Shame I have to waste time giving this space on a page.

Was informed by my PR guy that I may have an interview with a magazine coming up here shortly. I'm excited about the exposure, as it looks like a really interesting and polished publication. More later. I don't want to jump the gun and talk specifics until the interview is in the bag.

Hopefully, upon completion, I'll get further opportunities to do more varied media. I'm trying to temper my excitement, but I have good feelings about things in the publicity department.

That'll do it. More updates to come, possibly as soon as Friday evening. I look forward to sharing more with everyone.

All the best folks.

-Dustin

I've spent the last few days sick. Certainly not the flu again, but something that feels pretty awful regardless. It is pleasant being ill in a place that affords me a pillow to put my head, and regular opportunities to medicate however.

I've not been doing a massive amount of hiking since the first three days when I was camping and making circles around the city, or when I hiked to and from Slaton to visit my grandfather. Instead, I've spent this time going to places that hold pleasant memories -- places I've not seen in years.

Yesterday I visited the pool Chad, my cousin, and I used to spend most of our Summers at. Every year around the end of August there would be an event for the kids held there. The adults would dump in change from the deep end to the shallows, and kids would dive according to age group. The goal was not only to get the most change, but also to be the one that ended up with largest number of silver dollars, of which there were few.

Chad and I had a tendency to spend most of the time underwater trying to make the other surface. Beating one another up at the bottom of a pool is sort of difficult, but we managed. We had years of practice above water, after all.

There were other little events -- diving, races, etc, but the thing we looked forward to more than the rest, however...was the greased watermelon. Very simple, just like it sounds. Grease a watermelon, toss it in the deep end, and watch children try to drown one another until some poor, scratched, traumatized kiddo managed to get the thing over the lip of the pool edge and end the thing.

I think it was payback for parents. Why beat us for being heathens when we'd gladly do it to ourselves, and in as entertaining a way possible?

Chad and I, again, spent most of the time inflicting pain and embarrassement on one another while still keeping an eye on the prize. Honestly, this was ridiculous...because all you "won" was the watermelon. I mean, it was Summer -- there was watermelon at home. We had no excuse to punch each other without repercussion for the ungreased variety in the fridge though. See the logic? Neither do I...but I'm not fifteen anymore -- I just act like it from time to time.

Chad is a couple of years younger than me, but he came from tall stock via his father, and well...I didn't. He had the reach advantage. Still, after some time I'd developed myriad defenses.  Chad couldn't yank my shorts down if I tied my suit strings in a knot. Granted, neither of us had any shame, so it didn't REALLY matter if either of us managed to do so. If I didn't chew my nails, which I did (and do) habitually, I had a good chance of coming away with some skin if he pushed his luck.

It really was a sight, I'm sure. A dozen or so kids kicking, punching, screaming...and Chad and I in the middle of it all fish-hooking each other and trying to leave scars.

One of the two of us generally won, which in the end made the violence that much more pointless...because of course, we shared the spoils. I think we're both still pretty keen on beating each other up if given the opportunity, and there is absolutely nothing to gain of it these days...so perhaps we've regressed?

I dunno. It's still fun.

Other than being ill, I'm doing well. Four days from now I drop the pack and start looking at what the immediate future holds. I'll be updating much more often, as the site is far from going away. I knew it was very unlikely that I'd raise my goal amount for the American Cancer Society. This run/hike was really a gateway into the next event, the next plan. I've learned a lot about marketing myself, and gained a solid understanding of the time it takes to put something this big together and make it work as planned. Again...I'm thrilled with the way this turned out. I've met people that I'm very comfortable calling family. I've seen a lot of beauty, in people and in places. I've loved it. Absolutely loved it.

Thanks for sitting through a little story, completely unrelated to what I've been doing. I enjoyed sharing it -- hope you enjoyed reading.

All the best.

-Dustin

I've been in/around Lubbock since the the first of the month. I had a friend dump me out on 1585 (country road outside of the city limits) around seven in the morning, and I walked until I hit Wolfforth, Texas a few miles outside of town. I did my first interview with Fox 34 on the side of the road with the cameraman that did my original interview with me four months ago when I came to Lubbock to do press. Nice fella. Two hours later, another station arrived and I participated in yet another interview. After this I rested for a bit on the promise of a run crew around five, but it never came...so I threw on the pack and hiked until around seven.

The next day I headed toward Lubbock and followed the highway to a street called Milwaukee, and turned toward the North part of town.  I ran out of streets that were numbered, and found myself on Erskine Avenue. Walking Lubbock is strange, because when I was here this place was much less developed than it is today. I never visited enough for the changes to feel gradual, so it really is a very different place now. The part of town I was in had been nothing but fields and badly paved road for as long as I could remember.

That night, I camped across the street from Safe Point Hospital in far North Lubbock, almost outside of town next to a cotton field. I'd pitched my tent in the dark, and was completely unaware that I'd set camp surrounded by tumbleweeds.

I'm super allergic to them. It was not a pleasant night.

When I say I couldn't breath, I mean it. My throat was closing, my nose was not functional, and laying down felt like drowning. I had to run up and down the street to open everything up (it works, try it) and then rush back to the tent and attempt to find sleep before my sinuses went to crap all over again.

I managed sleep off and on. I woke once at three in the morning with the inside of my tent so full of condensation that my shirt and pants were soaked. It was stinking cold outside, but I had to strip off what I was wearing and put on layers of dry clothing, mop the inside of my tent walls with the soggy clothes, and then run again so I could breath.

I managed to sleep until six twenty. I woke with the sound of a news truck generator humming a few yards away. I had a live interview on Fox 34 set for seven, and they had already set up. They couldn't find me, so I'm glad I woke when I did. I dont use alarms anymore, but I generally don't sleep past six no matter what when I'm out in the open.

I sat in the news truck while we waited for my spot to come up, deeply appreciating the heater and an outlet to charge my phone. I stuck around until nine, then went on my way.

I walked out to Lubbock Lake Landmark, which is an awesome place that I've loved since I was a kiddo. I crossed Loop 289, and headed toward University Avenue. I figured with having just done a morning news program, that perpetuating a Dustin sighting might make for better press down the road. I dug the media attention, but they went a little heavy on the, "Dustin's homeless" bit initially. A little old lady gave me fifty cents and patted my head. Some folks stopped to hand me a few dollars.

I should be clear...I do not have a home right now. A writer has to write to pay bills, or hold a day job for the same purpose. I've not taken in an income for four months now...thus, I cannot pay for a place to live. I'm not destitute, however. I'm not going to be living in a refrigerator box on the side of the highway anytime soon. I simply do not have a place. My stuff is in storage, my car is in Southern California. I appreciate the concern, however.

I was happy to hear that part toned down significantly during the evening news, along with some clarification on the details of the journey. It was a great plug for the run, and my contact at Fox 34 is awesome for making sure things came out right. I'd talk her up using her name here, but I'm not sure if she'd want me to, so I'll leave it there. She's the best though.

Yesterday ended up being a short hiking day, because I had plans to head out to Slaton early the next morning to visit my grandpa from my mother's side. He's one of the few men that have been in my life that mean anything to me. I can't begin to describe what an excellent man he is.

Also...best...cook...ever. I called my mother last night to tell her what he'd fed me for lunch and dinner, and she was jealous. Rightly so. I've not eaten that well since I started this trip three months ago. As the day passed I recorded him with my flip camera from time to time, getting stories and just listening to him talk. I don't have any videos or pictures of him, so I figured this was a great opportunity to get both. The computer I'm currently using doesn't allow me to download the contents of my camera, so there is nothing posted on the site yet...but I think most of these will be for personal consumption.

Sharing my grandpa with everyone would be a big thing for me. He really is the best man I've ever known.

That brings me to today. I have nine days left of this adventure. It sort of freaks me out, because I've not thought in terms of deadlines and time in general for almost three months now. The time display on my Blackberry hasn't meant anything, nor has the date. I was finishing this trip when I finished it...and that's all that mattered. Now, I have a concrete date, and I'm in or near one town constantly. What time it is, what day it is...it's starting to mean something again, and I'm not sure I like that. This has been my life for what feels like forever now. It's been meditative...I've been in a bubble. No, it's not alway been easy...but 'not easy' hasn't bothered me so much. I've had so much time to get to know myself, understand my motives, learn what makes me who I am...and learn who matters to me and who I'm okay with casting aside for my own sake.

I'm a better man for this trip, and it's going away soon. Yes, I have some crazy stuff much like this planned for down the road -- not too far down the road even, but the first event will always have a place in my heart.

It's been transformative in more ways than I think I've even realized to this point. It's coming in waves. I have people who've told me they're my family now, I've made friends I know I can drop in on down the road and pick up with like I'd been there the entire time -- I feel connected.

I also feel isolated, but in a good way. That will be gone soon. I'll be back among the pack, if only for a little bit before I head off for another adventure. It's a little shocking, but I know it's time. This has been far from perfect...in the most perfect way. I've said it again and again...I'd never take away from this. It happened just the way it needed to, and I'm thrilled that I've gotten the opportunity to experience life this way.

Nine more days. Hope to see some of you folks at the finish line.

All the best.

-Dustin

A few days ago I was standing next to a firehouse in Liberty Hill, Texas, looking for a place to stay for the night -- exhausted, a little frustrated, and a long way from Lubbock. As a media stop, Austin had been sort of a bust. Still, I got to spend time with friends and family, so I couldn't complain.

In my last blog I mentioned being content in the ability to continue hiking -- that as long as that remained, I was fine. This is still true, but to a point. I've been on the road since August 15th, and have spent most of that time with a massive and heavy pack on my back, half of which was also spent in running shoes rather than hiking shoes. I'm not tooting my own horn, but that was a hell of a journey, and it's not been easy. I've had the flu twice, passed out on the side of the highway once, have had plenty of close calls with large vehicles on narrow highway shoulders, have dealt with foot infections, barbed wire cuts -- you get the idea. These are things tha happen on the highway, away from support, alone in the middle of nowhere.

It's been an adventure. I wouldn't change a thing about it. Most of these experiences have been once in a lifetime. That said -- my body, it's worn out. I can and have taken a lot of punishment, all totally worth it, but my body is now reminding me that I'm almost thirty -- and have been a long way from eighteen for a while. 

When I was hiking through Liberty Hill, I'd been off the road for four days previous to that, and still felt like I'd been on the road for a week only six hours into the hike. Something had to give -- I had to follow any opportunity for support. Said opportunity came from San Angelo, three hours away. There, I had access to a media market that seemed interested in my journey, and had the prospect of a run crew. This all ended up being true. I arrived in San Angelo, participated in one television interview, and three radio spots.

The word was put out. e-mails were sent, and tentative interest was shown by folks locally. Fortunately, I had picked up a temporary run crew from Lubbock, which would have provided for a weekend of running -- twenty miles for Saturday, and forty for Sunday, if my body would cooperate. What I mean is, when I did have a run crew through the final miles of New Mexico into Texas, it took three days to get my running legs back and start putting in those kind of miles. I'm assuming this is going to be the case from here on out.

I can run everyday for a month, but I cannot hike for much more than a day or two at this point without needing at least three days of rest to recover from it. That's where I am -- that's what I've had to accept as a physical limitation at this point. When my Lubbock support came to pick me up, the reality of this really set in. I'd be sixty miles down the road, and once again -- it would be me and the pack.

So...city limits? When you see the GPS activated next, it will be directly outside of Lubbock -- and will be so for the next two weeks or so. After talking with my publicity agent, talking to family, talking to myself (I seem to be doing entirely too much of that these days -- out loud), I decided the best way to finish this journey was to do so as close to constant support as was possible. My family is in Lubbock, the media is in Lubbock, and my final destination is here. I'll get my miles in, and finish this as close to the way I wanted as is possible at this point. Frankly -- I'm worn out, but I have enough in the engine to finish this the way I am doing so now.

If you're in Lubbock, feel free to say hello -- I'll be nearby, circling the city, likely with the pack still on until I pull together some local support. I can handle the pack for a little while longer -- but running is how I started this adventure, and running is how I'd like to finish it.

I've appreciated the kind and motivating words. It's meant a lot, and I remember everyone that has met me along the way that sent me a hello. Hopefully, this final stretch will be as memorable as the rest. I'm certain it will be.

All the best.

-Dustin

Pardon my absence folks. It's been a strange week -- a revealing and sometimes unpleasant one, but mostly great.

I arrived here in Austin from Waco expecting an outpour of media support and perhaps an end to my days of hiking. In the end, neither outcome materialized. This isn't a condemnation of Austin however, because I'm honestly not upset -- but I did allow myself to be so for a little while. It's easy to get excited about something when it's not real yet -- it's simple to have inflated expectations. The reality of things is not always so glossy, particularly if you're looking at it through one lense.

For just a bit, I felt down -- abandoned. How silly of me.

I've gotten no press here in Austin, which is a huge market with an active running community. That's a bummer, but it's fine. Really. When I started hiking out of Flagstaff a transformation in priorities was developing. What I needed and what I thought I needed were two entirely different things. By the time I had reached New Mexico, this trip wasn't about the ammount of press I could garner in each town -- it was about the journey. It was about putting one foot in front of the other, because that's what I could control. That hasn't changed. Running or hiking, I control the outcome of this. I was letting that get away from me when I arrived here. I started having expectations, and feeling entitled to certain things.

Press will come. Support will come. Until then? I can put my pack on my back, and move forward. That's where my confidence is, that's where my motivation rests -- in me. I've had a great experience in Austin. I spent time with friends, got to be a present and functional (I hope) big brother for the first time in eleven years, got some good footage in with my documentarian, and took a much needed rest from the road.

My feet are healed, my mind is in the right place again, and I'm motivated. Austin has been good. I'll continue looking for support and pursuing media attention for this cause, because both would be much appreciated -- but my will to continue does not hinge on either being available. I needed to get here to learn these lessons and remember why I was so content during the worst times this trip had to offer.

Time to go. I'm looking forward to experiencing the final days of this adventure.

-Dustin

Right now, I'm sitting at a desk in my suite at the Radisson in Waco. My room is free, my meals are taken care of, and I have a Sleep Number bed.

This is new. I'm not used to this. I've spent most of the last month hiking along the I-40, alone in my own head...away from civilization. I'm still trying to get myself back into the habit of socializing. I've always liked being alone, and though this has been difficult, there was a measure of peace in being by myself in the middle of nowhere. I've gotten to know myself, find myself, unburden myself. It's been a growing experience that I would have never had the opportunity to experience had I not lost my run crew, and toughed out some pretty rough miles simply because it was right to do so...at least to me.

So, why am I in Waco instead of the middle of nowhere trudging toward Wichita Falls? Simply put...it's time to finish this. It's time to get back to reality, get myself out there, stay in the public eye, and finish strong...running. I had very little help in Amarillo, even being an hour and a half from Lubbock. Not much was coming in the way of support. I was heading to Austin, and the path I was taking would have put me back in the shadows for another two weeks, hiking with my pack through lightly populated towns, and stretches of nothing.

I've built some media momentum in Albuqerque, Santa Fe, and now Amarillo. I didn't want to lose that, and after consulting my representative at the publicity agency I signed with, the agreement was that the best way to finish this run was to flip things around, and have me come out of Austin toward Lubbock. I'll get my miles running from Waco to Austin first, though that's not why I'm here.

There is a Relay For Life event at Baylor this evening, and I'm going to run in and later, participate in the activities. There will be something like three thousand people there, and I'll be announced before entering, putting in a lap or two initially. Here is hoping I don't trip and fall on my face when it's time to perform. That would be hilarious, even to me...but still. Have to look awesome, right? It's humbling that they even want me there, and it means a lot that they think so much of what I'm doing. The cancer survivors there are the real stars though. I can't even compete, nor would I want to. It's an honor to have been invited.

So, that's what's going on right now. I'm running the same distance, just backwards...and, well...actually running instead of hiking. There is a support system out here, people interested in seeing me get down the road. I've needed this. As stated...it's time to finish the big run. I'm ready to see it completed. It's been incredible, and will continue to be so every day I'm certain. I'm ready to see what's next though, so it's time to put on the running shoes, toss the pack in a waiting trunk, and start pounding pavement. I'm excited. I've been sick for the last three days, but hopefully I'll be up to the challenge and put in some solid miles.

I'm looking forward to seeing my friends and family in Austin, and I'll be updating again as soon as I get there, if not earlier.

Thanks for keeping up with me folks. I dig the hell out of the fantastic messages of encouragement you leave me, and I read every one of them. I hope to see some of you. Drop me a line if you'd like to come out and run. I'd love to have the company. It's time to get out of highway man mode.  

All the best.

-Dustin

A few short miles of Santa Rosa, New Mexico...I was wiped out. Infection in my right toe and right heel, and suffering from the exhaustion that comes from camping in thirty degree weather after hiking from morning to night in the New Mexico...it had taken a toll. I had to hitch to town to get medical help, and a place to recover for a few days.

What happened after that was really just...incredible. Ameeta, my American Cancer Society contact in Flagstaff has continued to keep up with me a month after making sure I made it through Arizona safely and with relative speed. Wednesday night she texted me...telling me she could be in New Mexico Thursday night to crew my run for four days. She'd be able to get me into Texas, and out of the limbo of truck stops and barely populated towns I've been stuck in for the last long while.

So, she came...and I got down the road. Now...I'm in a Best Western in Amarillo, she's headed back to Flagstaff, and the next step on this journey begins.

So, some updates. I've ditched the running pack. It served me well, but over time has simply fallen apart. I don't like carrying things while I run, and I had no other means of strapping the thing to myself, so we tried something new with the GPS. We left it in the car on the dash mile to mile. It's nice not carrying it, because it really is sort of unruly when running. I have to strap it to my running pack, and it bounce and comes loose often enough for it to be a pain in the ass. 

There was also a long stretch of highway that was under construction that Ameeta could not park on to provide me food/water, so we had to add that to the 'miles to make up in Texas' category. If I were still hiking at that point, no biggie...but with a run crew that was not a situation that could be negotiated. If I'm running, I need access to food and water from my run vehicle. They can't part ten miles ahead. Really though, no big deal. I look forward to running all over Austin making up the remaining miles before I head to Lubbock when this journey is finally completed.

Right now, I'm waiting for a call from Amarillo media to do an interview, updating this blog, and organizing my hiking pack just in case I have to do some more highway traveling on foot. That said...I'm getting help, so hopefully last week will be the last time I put that pack on unless I'm going camping in Santa Barbara. A friend of mine that I've not seen in over ten years, Meredith, is coming out Tuesday to crew me for twenty miles West of Amarillo. I'm not technically here, as I still have thirty miles to complete before I can officially say I've made it to this city. After that, someone I know through my site from Lubbock has offered to help me out as well.

The closer I get to Austin, the more solid my support gets, so I'm looking forward to getting that direction. After Austin, it'll be a final push into Lubbock. I'll be dropped twenty miles outside of town and will run in after four final hours on the road.

Things are looking up, people are getting involved, and I'm very happy with the way things are turning out. It meant the world to have Ameeta here to support me, and it's meant a lot recieving calls and messages with offers of help down the road.

I look forward to taking on these final days, and these last experiences before I hang up the pack and try something new. This really has been an incredible experience. Completely incredible.

-Dustin

Last night I made Moriarty, which puts me around one hundred and eighty miles from Texas. The folks at city hall put me up for the night in a motel for free, which was kind of them.

Upon leaving Albuquerque yesterday, I found that my GPS was not working properly...then not working at all. It was nothing serious, past finally being out of juice after much repeated use. I picked up Lithium batteries at a truck stop outside of town, and we're good to go again.

That said, I'm putting yesterday's trip in the miles to make up bracket. I keep a spreadsheet on this laptop to account for all miles missed that need making up. I don't count half miles, quarter miles, etc....even though I know those add up. My mile goal is still reached without them anyhow. Regardless, since the hike for yesterday was not recorded, I feel it only fair to repeat it at the end of this event for the sake of documentation.

Here shortly I don the pack, hat, and sunglasses. It's time to get on the road. I slept in a little. I'll still make good time, but I'd rather get to my destination sooner than later, of course.

Hello October!

I joked about it yesterday, but it really is true. Texas seems to have reached over the state line and said hello. Something like, "Hey, I knew you were coming. Here, have some moisture....and heat....and dust.....and cold....and more heat....and...."

You get it. Santa Barbara is so mild all of the time, and gentle. I forget what it's like to experience real weather, particularly fall weather. I've missed hearing thunder, and seeing lighting illuminate the inside of a thunderhead. It's beautiful. I think all things considered, the rest of this trip is going to be great. Yes, I'd rather be running now; I'd like to have my crew. Still, I'm healthy and capable of putting one foot in front of the other...so I'm honestly in no position to complain.

Looking forward to my friends and family in Austin and Lubbock, thus, I should depart.

All the best folks.

-Dustin

A few days ago, I technically spent the night in another nation. Specifically, I stayed on the Pueblo de Conchiti Indian Reservation. It really is beautiful in this part of the country. Everyone has taken great care of me, per the usual. I had headed up Route 25 to Santa Fe from Albuquerque late last week. I stopped and stayed at the Bernalillo, New Mexico Fire Department, which was awesome. Everyone there was great, fun to hang out with, and treated me like I belonged there. Even got some sweet gear before I headed up the road.

I was in Santa Fe Sunday night, after an exhausting hike. I was picked up by my great Aunt Arlene, and stayed with my second cousin and her very nice family. I hopped on the train back to Albuquerque this morning after looking at my map and reconsidering my route back to the I-40. It was pretty remote terrain from Santa Fe, but much less so simply leaving from the East side of Albuquerque and heading toward Amarillo. It'll add some miles, but oh well.

I'm back at Terra and April's place here in Albuquerque. They took me in a week ago when I first arrived here, and they're both really great girls. I've appreciated them accomodating me one more time, and putting up with me.

Next stop is Edgewood, New Mexico.

From Albuquerque, I'm only two hundred and six miles from Texas. Almost home. There is a long way to go once I arrive, but I'll finally have reaches what is familiar to me. 

I love New Mexico. Everyone here has been beyond fantastic to me. I can't thank everyone here that's helped me along. Mike Whyte and his wife, the folks in Bernalillo, the girls putting me up here...everyone. New Mexico has been a great experience. 

All the best folks.

-Dustin

Update time here at followtherun.org. Hope all is well with you and yours. It's been a few days, and a lot has happened between now and my previous large update.

Last weekend I was in Thoreau, New Mexico at a tiny volunteer fire department resting after a long and exhausting hike. As previously noted, if there is a fire station in the location I stop in for the night, I have a place to sleep. On foot, with my pack, it generally takes about ten or twelve hours to get to a destination, and I'm pretty banged up once I get there, so it's nice to have a place to stay.

The morning I was to leave I woke with all of the symptoms a nasty flu. I don't like sitting in one place for very long as I'm already well behind my intended schedule (I would have been finished with this run three days ago if things had gone as planned), so I figured I could sweat out whatever sickness I had, which in retrospect doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I think I made that up as a functional cure for an illness. Basically, I decided I wanted to be sweaty, tired, and sick.

After a day of relatively fast hiking, I arrived on the edge of a town called Grants, and literally could not walk another step. I simply fell down on the side of the road with my pack and called the fire department to pick me up. The folks in Grants took good care of me, but I was a pretty big mess. My eyes burned, my throat was raw, I had the shakes. It sucked. I was barely functional for three days.

On the last night I recieved two bags of IV fluid, and hit the sack early so I could get out at first light the next morning. From Grants I was to stop in Laguna, sixty miles outside of Albuquerque.  I remember Tweeting that I was only a few miles from my final destination for the night and making good time, and that was my last clear memory before I was talking to a couple of EMTs in the back of an ambulance. I never do this, but I guess in my sickness I really wasn't paying attention to my gear. I'd run out of water and energy bars, and coupled with still being ill...I was hit hard.

At some point I had deleriously been walking down the highway, because when I snapped out of whatever haze I was in, I was further down the road than I remember being. I called my mom, told her I was about to pass out, sort of remember talking to a highway patrolman, then being in the back of the ambulance getting taken care of.

I refused to sign the agreement for transport to the hospital, and instead was taken two miles to the town I was to stay in and given seven dollars to buy some food. I scarfed some horrible Dairy Queen (it's been years since I've eaten fast food), and went about finding a place to stay. The Laguna fire department actually wouldn't have me for whatever reason. It was weird, not really worth discussing in detail, but basically the person that was supposed to take me in wasn't there and thus the decision was made not to give me a place to sleep. My options and sleeping accommodations extremely limited between there and Albuquerque, I was looking at spending a night in a field in my tent...sick with the flu.

In the end, I weighed my options, got ahold of my ACS contacts in Albuquerque, and decided to grab a ride into the city to stay with the folks I'd been set up to stay with once I was to arrive in a few days. John, the media guy for the American Cancer Society in Albuquerque had e-mailed me to let me know that he'd be able to crew me for some running during the weekend. It was Friday, so I'd have a chance to rest. We'd be able to go outside of town and I could then make up those miles I had been driven into town. I had sixty total to make up before I was officially in Albuquerque. Until then, I was put up at a nice place in town with a girl named Terra and her roommate April. Terra is a friend of my ACS contact in Flagstaff, Ameeta, and like always...Ameeta came through. Comfortable couch, a shower, food, and nice folks.

I've spent the last two and a half days recovering, and was able to go out Sunday morning and run twenty of the sixty I'll have run by Tuesday. I intended to run forty that Sunday, but I'm still working on getting my running legs back after almost two weeks of nothing but beating my feet up hiking ten plus hours at a time with a heavy pack.

Still, getting out on the road the way I intended was fantastic. I can't tell you how good it felt to run down the highway again with my light running pack on my back. I even ran a little further than intended. Yeah, I was sore and exhausted afterward, but it was still great. I really cannot wait until I have a crew again so I can do this for the rest of the run. Yes, I've enjoyed meeting everyone I've come across on this trip since losing my crew, and I wouldn't trade having met those people, but it's time to get running. I'm ready to see my family and friends. It's time. That doesn't mean that's the way things are going to happen, but I have to think something is going to give soon.

Right now I have a publicity agency pushing my story in a large number of media outlets, and have at least one big hit thus far that I'll talk about later once their involvement becomes more concrete.

I'm just really, really ready to be running again. I hope desperately that something comes of this media attention. Like I said before, I will finish this journey. It doesn't matter if in the end I'm hiking in or running it, but being able to get out there and run Sunday just makes me itch for it. I'll be pretty bummed out if I'm hiking toward Santa Fe Tuesday or Wednesday instead of being crewed by someone. I'll certainly get over it, but having a taste of what I lost again will make doing so a little more difficult.

We'll see....

-Dustin

Today I'm in the Thoreau, New Mexico Volunteer Fire Department engine house, with what might be the flu. Doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but honestly things could be much worse, and I consider myself lucky to have gotten here the way I did. About five miles out of town an older fella on the way back from visiting family in Arizona spotted me stumbling around the shoulder of the highway around ten last night. I was feeling dizzy and feverish. I don't like giving up miles if I don't have to, but I suppose getting over myself and accepting a little help isn't always so bad. 

I'm stubborn, and proud...and these two qualities are the driving forces behind my continuing this journey after it would have made a lot of sense to simply pack up and go home. Yes, I want do what I said I'd do because there are a lot of people emotionally invested in this event...but I'm not sure that alone would have been enough to keep me out here. I have little interest in accolades. I don't need someone to tell me "good job" when this is through. If nobody shows up when I walk or run into Lubbock in three weeks, that's fine. Really, I just don't like to lose -- and I won't. That may not seem very heroic...but I'm not a hero. I want to keep my word because I gave it to people I care about (whether they asked me to or not), and I want t reach my goal because I set it.

I talked to my former driver Bob a couple of days ago. He said he should never have offered to be my driver, and I agree. I fly by the seat of my pants, and a lot of the plans for this trip were far from static. It required a level of adaptability that was perhaps a little unfair to expect of him. Bob said he would have been of better service as a financial backer, and he has continued to be just that. I have no hard feelings. If not for Bob and his wife Lana, I would never have made it as far as I have.

Yes, we definitely were not communicating on the same wavelength during this trip. He never understood (any may still not) why I felt the location I ran the miles was as important as the actual miles put in. When Bob would get frustrated about our location due to traffic/weather/etc and wanted to move on, or worse...wanted to go home, I felt like I had to sacrifice to keep the run going. I think if I had put my foot down earlier, we would have had the conversation we ended up having in Flagstaff much earlier, and would have come to the realization that we were both sort of missing the message we were trying to send one another. Call it a generational thing, or very different personalities....whatever it was, in the end it was easy not to be mad and feel pretty stupid about our marked lacked of understanding. Still, it couldn't have happened any other way, so it was probably inevitable. Bob is a good man, and he's doing right by me. I want everyone to know that. It's been nice having a chance to step back and see the situation for what it really was. Again, I have no ill will toward Bob. I look forward to shaking his hand in Lubbock.

I missed miles because I felt like I had to to make them happy, and they thought I was happy to miss miles and make them up later. Neither was true.

That said, those miles that need to be made up are giving me an opportunity to add a stop on my trip that I would have liked to have included from the start. Instead of running into Lubbock from Amarillo, I'll be heading straight to Austin.

I should be clear...I'm still ending the run in Lubbock. That is my ultimate destination. Yes, I could simply run around Lubbock over and over again, and hell...I still may, but the likely scenario is that Austin is now on the map. I have family and good friends there, and there is a pretty vibrant running community. I think Austin is a good fit.

A lot of folks that contact me and that have helped me along the way are also praying for me. My Aunt Debbie, who was one of the catalysts for this run prays for me everyday I'm fairly certain. I don't have a lot of faith in...well...faith, but it means a lot because I understand the sentiment behind prayer. I have nothing but goodwill towards those that are doing so on my behalf. It's humbling that I'm in the thoughts of so many people -- very good people. That said, I think that prayer only works when people take the initiative to act, which sort of means (to me) that prayer is simply stating a need -- and you either take strides to see those needs met or you don't -- or by chance circumstances fill that need, which I think is rare. I've met a lot of people who are acting on my behalf.

When I was in Flagstaff after Bob and Lana left, an inn keeper named Brian put me up on the cheap in one of his cabins while I figured out how to continue this run. He also took me out to Sedona (incredible), just because, had dinner with me, took me to see my first elk, and taught me how to suck a little less at pool with the help of his buddy Japh. While waiting those three days, a fantastic representative of the American Cancer Society, Ameeta, took a personal interest in my Aunt Debbie's situation -- and further, my traveling circumstances.

Ameeta and her daughter (who is awesomely similar to her mother, by the way) picked me up at six in the morning from the inn and crewed my run for a few hours on a Saturday. She is selfless, and incredibly kind.. She's a credit not only to the organization that she works for, but to what people can be. She's simply an excellent person, who gave a damn about some goofy guy she'd never met before who was too stubborn to not do something as dangerous as traveling down the highway alone for the next three weeks.

Ameeta is someone I'll call a friend for as long as she'll have me as one.

Once I hiked into Winslow, Arizona I had the opportunity to meet a cancer survivor, Petra, and her husband Art. I got to put a face to yet another person that I'm doing this run for. Petra is a busy woman, with from what I can tell is a lot of irons in the fire...and she not only took the time to get to know me, but treated me like family. Her and her clan took me into their home, fed me, and made phone calls ahead of my trail to secure more run crew or at the very least a place to stay.

They were expecting a grandchild any day (congratulations to them, as said grandchild has now arrived as of this writing), and STILL decided to be my support team for the run to Holbrook. I got to sit with Art and listen to him explain why so many people in this beautiful part of the country suffer from cancer. Fallout from nuclear testing back in the day made this a deadly place to live for a lot of people, and our government cares very little. Again...I've been given the opportunity to more fully understand what I'm running/hiking for as a result of losing my steady run crew  and RV. While I'm not thrilled with the circumstances day to day, I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had thus far. Petra, Art, and their family are people I never would have met had I not been stranded in Flagstaff.

Like Ameeta, Petra and Art are people I'll always call friends. They feel like family. It's been an incredible privilege to have them be a part of my life.

It goes on. Through them, I had a warm bed and good food (great food, actually...that I ate entirely too much of) in Holbrook thanks to a man named Luis. His brother is fighting cancer, he's lost a grandchild. Thanks to him, I was able to address the mayor and city council of Holbrook about this run and what it means to me. Thanks to him, I was able to run for a few hours the next day, and he drove me into Gallup for a media opportunity. He had no obligation to do either. He's just a good man.

.....and it goes one.

A cousin I've never met, Luke, is a firefighter out of Ruidoso, New Mexico. His mother, Judy, who I've not seen since I was nine put us in touch. Luke is calling every town along my route and getting me set up in the local firehouses so I have a place to sleep at night other than a ditch on the side of the highway in my tent or spending money on a motel. I spent an evening driving around in an engine eating pizza and shooting the shit with two firefighters in Gallup, having a great time. Even then, I was learning more about why I was doing this -- why this matters so much. Waste spills and open uranium mining pits have polluted the groundwater and contributed to elevated cancer levels in Gallup. Many firefighters in that department have died of cancer as well. Where is the outrage? Well...it's all right here, but not much place else.

You know, maybe it is a higher power that's guided me into this situation, and thus given me the opportunity to meet these people -- I'm not closed to the concept. I'm very open, in fact. That said, however, I credit this more to the guiding hand and strong personalities of great people.

These are folks that spin a web of support that connects others like them until a common goal is accomplished, or at least made easier to accomplish.

Small groups of people, linked by clear goals, similar circumstances, common ground -- they are capable of extraordinary things. I've seen extraordinary things during this journey.

I have faith in the kindness of people, and the actions they're capable of. Yeah, Petra prayed for me -- IS praying for me -- but she has acted. It meant so much that they had me over for dinner the first day they met me, and that she thought to feed me the next night as well. It meant so much that she and Art hopped in their car and crewed me for a day instead of letting me hike down the road -- even if that meant having to rush almost forty miles back home if their daughter went into labor. Jesus, they could have missed the birth of their granddaughter, for ME!

Crazy.

I have my friend Nathan that checks on me anytime I get a chance to pop open my laptop, just to see how I am and remind me that what I'm doing right now is a privilege. He's absolutely right. I'm lucky to get to do something like this.

My buddy Aaron in Austin constantly tossed ideas my way before this began to help improve the run, meet my goals, and just say funny crap that makes me laugh when I could really use a reason to do so. More than that, however, he and his wife were there for me months ago when I barely had the motivation to get out of bed, much less run.

There is a funny, pretty girl in Northern California that talks to me everyday while I'm on the road. She may not know it, but she's made some of the wost days out here bearable, and it's meant a lot.

My trainer Eric motivates me and has helped me confirm to myself that the decision to go on is the right one. He's a good fella, and it's meant a lot to have him here from the very beginning of this journey.

I appreciate all of the messages, the concern, the prayers -- everything.

I believe in the goodness of individuals...and I've not been let down to this point. I've been given water by strangers passing on the highway, offered rides, food, advice -- I'm just some guy on the side of the road.

Finally, unless I'm physically no longer capable of moving forward, this run will be completed. My stated miles will be covered, be it on the run or with a pack on my back. I will arrive in Lubbock, having accomplished my goal. It's important to me to do this for myriad reasons -- of which I think I've reasonably covered.

Thanks to everyone for being a part of the experience I've had thus far. It means a lot. I hope you stick around, keep reading, and continue donating to the cause. I want cancer cured, and I think we can see that in our lifetime. Call me optimistic, or crazy. Whichever works for you. I think it can be done, and I'd like to be a contributing factor, even if a small one.

I'll be having my cousin update the blog for me when I'm not available to do so, so hopefully the site will remain much more active. It's difficult to sit down and do this when I'd like to. I'll introduce her to you guys soon.

Now, food and rest. Hopefully, whatever I have will be on the way out come Monday when I get on the road again.

All the best.

-Dustin

As stated previously, I'm stranded in Flagstaff without a support vehicle or an RV -- essentials for this run.

I'm going through my contacts, working with media, basically doing everything to get the word out so I can get this run up and going the way I had intended it to. That said, I still need to run right now. So...I'll be running around Flagstaff (GPS on, of course) for the next few days to accrue miles and stay on a schedule. That will keep me in the physical condition to continue on when I start moving again, but also...it's therapy. It eases my mind, and I need a lot of mind easing currently, ya' know?

I'd still like to hike out of here Friday and camp out when I need sleep if nothing promising has materialized on the support front, but we'll see. Thus far, I'm the only one in full support of that plan. My family and friends, not so much. I'm trying to minimize emotional stress for all parties involved...

I'll keep you folks posted. Off to do some interviews, and hopefully come away with some positive results.

-Dustin

I'm going to keep this short, as I have a lot of work to do today to get this run going again. When I'm back on the road, and have a clearer sense of the situation, I'll cover some of this in detail.

So, I'm in Flagstaff...I have no run crew, I'm alone...sort of.

My crew, which are decent folks, ended up finding out that this endeavor was a little more intense than they had expected. They're an older couple, and we all agreed in the end that this was probably a job better suited for folks closer to my age.

We had to compromise some miles in California simply because we ran out of road to legally run on, which sucked...but was expected. I've simply kept up with any miles missed so I can tack them on in Texas to get the intended mile count I plan to run.

Also, to keep the crew together I sacrificed some miles to keep everyone happy and moving forward. Eventually, however...I couldn't justify any more loss of running miles for any reason, and in the end that was why my crew and I parted ways. It's a tedious job I had them doing, and really...if you're not prepared to adjust often to weird circumstances, it's not going to be much fun. I'm a fly by the seat of my pants sort of fella. This trip requires an ability to do just that.

I dealt with an early injury, some ridiculous running circumstances, record heat, and a few other messes that have definitely made this run a learning experience. For those reasons, I've neglected the site a little. Well...a lot. That's not cool, and I intend to keep this thing well updated from here on out.

Bob and Lana did their best, and I'm glad to have had their help in getting this off the ground. I'd still probably be in Southern California if not for them.

Some good news now.

My driver Bob, who invested a boatload of money in this run, is STILL going to support me financially. That's big, important, and I'm very thankful for that. As a matter of fact, I've got a great cabin to stay in thanks to Bob and Lana while I'm getting my ducks in a row.

Also, I'm extending the run into Austin. I'll still officially end the run in Lubbock, but running Austin was simply too good an opportunity to pass up and I have a lot of support there. This will help me make up missed miles, and also give me a chance to see family down that way that may not be able to make it to Lubbock when I finally arrive there.

Right now, I have a lot of people working to get me back on the road. My trainer Eric has plugged me in with the Love Hope Strength Foundation (check them out via the Friends and Sponors page), and they're actively looking for ways to get me back out and running. Same goes for my cousin Aubrey, her mother, my father, multiple ACS contacts around the country, and the great media contacts I've accumulated over the last few months.

I'll be taken care of, I know it.

That said, I don't plan on being in one place for a week. If need be, I'll be buying a pack and heading out on foot alone until someone can meet up with me to continue the run as intended...or until I walk into Texas. Either way, and this is important....I'm finishing the run.

I appreciate all of the kind words and well wishes. For those of you back home, I'll see you when I get there. For everyone else, thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.

-Dustin

We went about twenty miles this morning before heading off to a rest stop for the heat of the day. Forgot to turn off the SPOT GPS for stopping time, so no...I am not incredibly fast in one hundred plus degree weather. That would be awesome, but still. Rest areas are few and far between here on this part of the I-10 between Quartzsite and Tonopah, and the nearest one was quite a way down the road.

On the subject of SPOT, if you noticed I left it on from White Water to a stretch into Indio, and again from Indio to Blythe. Did so for a reason. I want a record for the run and anything that happens during said run.

What happened once we started getting into the desert towns, is lack of running routes outside of the main highway. In California, you're not legally allowed to run the highway, even when it turns into a soft shoulder. I knew this, but hoped we'd simply luck out and not be noticed. We did okay for a while, but eventually the CHP noticed me and the support vehicle, and we were officially kicked off the highway.

So, we couldn't run anymore in California. That burned a lot of miles, of which I intend to make up. More on that later.

Once in Blythe, which is five miles from the Arizona border by the Colorado River, I simply walked over and into a more runner friendly (if you can call running in the desert friendly) state. In Arizona, you can run the soft shoulder (which there is much of) as long as you have a support vehicle. We were still pulled over a couple of times the first day, but the officers were friendly and we're pretty sure they spread the word. Actually got a few waves by passing patrol cars as I picked my way through fields of lava rock and cactus. It was less running...and more gingerly hopping, as the SPOT GPS might suggest. Started this morning around six or so and finally called it a first part of the day at twelve thirty or so. It was rough out.

Also, our documentarian is parting ways with us for a little while. She has a paying job coming up here shortly, and will be gone for two weeks until we get near Lubbock. Jessica has been fantastic, understanding, patient...pretty much all-around awesome. Her ride arrives out here in the desert from Prescott Wednesday, so we're actually bedding down for the night. She's also meeting us Saturday for our arrival in Phoenix to record our first media stop.

Finally, the missed miles. I was talking to my trainer Eric, and for me personally, the miles are important overall.  We're having to skip Santa Fe to keep Bob and Lana (my drivers) on schedule to be in Lubbock for the marriage of their son, and with the two day delay in Claremont, they just wouldn't make it. Missing a media stop sucks, and also...I stinking love Santa Fe so I was bummed out regardless. It think it would be fun to run through.

That said, these missed miles have presented an opportunity to add another final media stop in my home state. From Lubbock, Austin is nine days and a wake up by foot. That's almost four hundred miles. That should close the missed miles gap, and give me a chance to run into yet another great city that I love. My mother lives there, and so do a lot of my friends. Or...I could run around Lubbock a bunch of times. I'm not sure if that would be funny, great, weird, or all of the above. Either way, I get to make up those miles in my home state, which will be tough...but it's home, you know?

I'll be updating as I get more information. Basically, the interest needs to be there in Austin to make it an effort worth undertaking. Otherwise, circles around Lubbock it is. I honestly think either one would be a neat (and exhausting) way to cap this trip off. I'd get to see family as I ran, and my run crew would get a much needed rest.

So...that's what's going on right now. Lots of stuff. Never a dull moment in this thirty one foot RV.

I appreciate the encouragement and well wishes from family and strangers alike. It means a lot, really.

Take care folks.

-Dustin

Okay, so we had to head back a few cities to get new banners made for the RV after a  bit of evening running. I am NOT running back to Santa Barbara at fifty miles per hour.

Just saying.

-Dustin

So, yesterday after fifteen miles the IT band in my left leg was so tight I was hobbling. It sucked, and I didnt' know what I was going to do. I was running through Claremont, CA in the downtown area when I noticed a place called Sportspros, a personal training facility.

I walked in, asked for help...and an hour later was set for an appointment with a guy named Guillermo for something called a STIM, which meant stimulation massage.

Shut up.

Basically, this guy was going to be rubbing and kneeding the tension out of my IT band, which was going to be horrible but much needed. Now, I'd not actually met the fella yet. I had no idea what he looked like. I rested until the appointment at two, and walked in to see this dude:

Finally, the internet is working, and thus I am available to blog. No media showed up in Burbank on the 15th, which was a bummer but oh well.

We got down the road and into Pasadena from Burbank early this morning, and I put in a little over twenty miles in about four and a half hours, which is a little ahead of pace. I'm going to try to slow it down here, because five days from now...I'll be hating life. It'll take some reserves to break through that wall and make my body accept that, yes, this is the job it is required to perform for the next month, and of course...from here on out in one form or another.

Getting out of Burbank was a nightmare, by the way. Ridiculous.

So, I'm about an hour and fifteen minutes away from getting on the road once again for the next twenty mile leg of the trip. Will be updating via Twitter and Facebook after the run, but think I'll save blogging for the middle of the day break.

Pictures downloaded here shortly. Keep an eye out. Also, GPS should be functional come Monday. All new pictures will be pushed to the front of the slide show, and they have labels now.

Finally, I've made contacting me very simple. Check the Contact the Team page for more. LET ME KNOW if the donation button for PayPal is not functioning correctly if you attempt to donate. We're working on getting things straightened out with them, but they're difficult to deal with. If anyone knows of an alternative to PayPal, shoot me an e-mail. I'd appreciate it.

Take care folks.

-Dustin

I'm a week out. That's terrifying and awesome all at the same time. Looks like I have a bit of a bone bruise on my left arch, but otherwise I'm solid for the run and it should be well healed by the time I get on the road.

Updates will be relatively frequent this week, and almost daily once the run has begun. I may not always be the one updating the blog, and if not, there will be a note from whomever is writing in my stead identifying who the author is. Basically, it will still be updates on my progress, but from another perspective. First, I thought that would be interesting, and second...there are going to be days when all I can handle is food and sleep in my down time. I'll still be doing the vast majority of the blog posting though.

If you're following the run via Twitter ( followtherun is the Twitter name), more than likely the updates will be coming from my driver or one of the other two people in the RV. I think you'll forgive me if I'm not super present on the Twitter front personally. It will basically be used for miles/weather/physical condition. That's easy for anyone to update, but still...there should be a note that it's not coming from me.

My driver for this journey is a man named Bob, who will be pulling travel duties with his wife. They're from Lubbock, and will be driving their personal vehicle all the way from Texas to here to then take the month trip back home. Bob is a super motivated fella who's been a real champ. How someone can be excited at the prospect of spending a month with a smelly running guy in the desert is beyond me.

Also, I officially have a documentarian coming along for the ride! Her name is Jessica (I'm leaving all last names off for now, and hope I can get them to introduce themselves once they arrive via this blog), and she comes highly recommended. I'm excited to have her along, and will be interested in watching her work.

As can be seen, the donate button for the Run Crew is back up, and should be wholly functional now, or on Monday. Again, any donation to the run crew is much appreciated by all. You can still donate to the American Cancer Society via the ACS button on the left side as well. Keep those donations coming! If you think, "Hey, someone else will do it," well...don't think that! Be that someone else, because if that's the general mindset, then we'll be pretty donation deficient. A dollar is better than nothing, I promise.

Sorry about the blog drought. This has been an intense two weeks both in training and in getting last minute details nailed down. I've been working on a mini-gut here the last few weeks so my body has something to eat while I'm running. I expect to hit Lubbock fifteen to twenty pounds lighter no matter what I do come September. Yikes...

If anyone is having issues viewing the photos page, I believe it's simply a matter of updating to Adobe Flash Player 10. If you click on the space in the middle of the page, you should be prompted to do so, but if not, you can simply look up Adobe Flash Player 10 and type download next to it in the seach bar (of say, Google, for instance), and it should be quick and easy from there.

Anyhow, think that'll do it. Check out the sponsors! I have new ones, and they're all great. Will take pictures with my Native Eyewear shades here soon. They're awesome. Love them.

Thanks for your patience folks. Keep watching, and I'll keep posting.

-Dustin

So, I'm into the two week stretch of intense, long runs with little rest in between. This is basically my hell week (plus one) before my hell month. That doesn't sound pleasant, but really it's just building me up so my body is only partly aware that I'm doing something a little crazy to it.

Today, I have a five hour run...but I also have an inner ear infection that makes me want to turn left over and over again. Is this what NASCAR drivers feel everyday? I have to wonder...

So, I'm trying a little experiment. I'm going to run up and down the street in front of my house for five hours. First, it will be a lesson in patience, because this will be incredibly boring. It will also be a lesson in mental endurance, because honestly I'll probably want to call it a day halfway through and simply re-plan the run for tonight on a normal course. That will be much easier with my front door in sight repeatedly. If I can do both, I'll be happy. This will give me an opportunity to see how good I am at entertaining myself while I run. Not every place I'll be on the road is going to be interesting. The surface streets out of Burbank may be a good example of that once I'm out of the city.

Finally, food. I talked to my trainer Eric about my carb options, because I don't eat a ton of heavy starches and I don't really eat bread at all if I can help it. Obviously, carbs are the friend of a distance runner, so I decided to break the bread moratorium and grab a bunch of whole wheat pita and hummus. Three days later, I'm digesting food very slowly, I wake up with greasy skin (attractive, yes?) and my stomach is upset.

Looks like I'm going to get my carb loading done via another source. Think I'll stick to my fruit/veggie/fish heavy diet. Didn't do me wrong previously, so I suppose I don't need to fix what wasn't broken. Guess that means more of whatever natural items do the trick.

Basically, bananas/beans are my friend.

Good times folks. Keep visiting, I appreciate the kind words, and I can't wait to get on the road!

-Dustin

I've been in Lubbock, Texas since Sunday. It's been fun doing the media, but man...I sound bad on television. Also, if you're short it makes you look sort of fat...and if you don't shave you look homeless. Basically, I cleaned up today. I've got one more television station to go. Also, do I really talk through my nose that much? Stinking deviated septum.

The RV seems to be coming together, and in a really unexpected way. Stay tuned for that. I've appreciated all the well wishes. Means a lot, really.

Just a quick blog post today. Take care folks.

-Dustin

First, hello to any new folks that have dropped by the site. I know it's not very exciting right now, but hopefully near run time, this place will be alive and kicking. Have some new photos up, some new news stories, and I'll be blogging a little more often.

If you'd like to know what my running schedule has been like this last five days, check out the Twitter feed. I've got my Five Day Runcast up there in one of the Tweets. I'm coming up on my rest week, where my body will get a chance to repair and get stronger after this challenging week. I'm having a blast really (except for track days....they're so dull), and the progress I'm making is really starting to show in how I feel day to day.

That aside, I've had at least one person report a technical issue in that they were not able to give to the PayPal account for my Run Crew Fund, and also were not able to leave a message on my "Contact the Team" tab. I checked both, and they seemed functional on my end, so it may have been temporary.

If that's not the case, however, feel free to let me know in the guest book section. I get a message via my Blackberry everytime someone drops by here and says hello, so I'll be able to get right on it.

Time is short folks. August is right around the corner, and I'm getting excited. My sponsors have really come through for me, and I'd really like to thank the folks at Nathan Human Propulsion Laboratories for dumping so much great gear in my lap! Seriously, that's awesome...and much needed.

Right now, I'm really trying to get the ball rolling on the national media front. If anyone wants to help, please do so. Contact the networks, send in letters, whatever you have time for. I'm doing whatever I can on my end, and it never feels like enough, but I know it'll pay off sooner or later.

My preference, however, is sooner.

The big push right now is to get the RV that will be following me lined up, and hopefully find a full-time driver. Anyone not doing something for a month in August? The pay is terrible, because it doesn't exist, and I'll rarely smell pleasant, but you get to look at my rear end for hours...so there is that to look forward to. Any takers?

Jokes aside...I really appreciate the support I've gotten thus far, and the motivating words. It means a lot, strangers and family alike. I'll need that during the run.

All the best folks. I'm off to bed.

-Dustin

Had some technical issues with the site this last two weeks, thus the  blog was unavailable. Do not intend to have that issue again.

Not sure how many people actually read this, but writing like running is therapy to me. If I don't do either very often, I start to feel crazy.

First, my new nickname could be "Dead Legs". Man, is that ever something I'm trying to get over. Slowly but surely, with the help of way more food than I'm used to eating at this point, I'm crawling out of the dead leg hole and feeling strong again. It's a confidence booster to hit a stride and feel good halfway through a run when you started out feeling like your legs were made out of granite. This and next week are big tests, and if I can handle them, I'm confident I'll be prepared for the big run in August. If I had to go today, I think I could gut it out. That said, man...I'm glad I don't have to go today.

Also, I picked up three sponsors at followtherun.org!

Lightlife is a veggie food company that has been very receptive to my ACS event and are sending along some goodies for the trip. Awesome.

Second, Gringo Bandito hot sauce. Yeah, it seems like a funny one, but it's really right up my alley. As great as some soy products are, they sometimes lack in the excitement department. I love hot sauce, and I prefer the kind that will burn your face off. That said, those sauces generally do not mix well with running. Gringo Bandito, however, isn't hot...but has a lot of flavor. It was created by Dexter Holland, the lead vocalist for the band the Offspring. I shot them an e-mail, and a few days later I recieved a message from the folks at Gringo Bandito saying that Dexter was stoked about my run and they were happy to send me along some cases of hot sauce. Again, awesome. Thanks to Matt for getting back to me so quick. Also, there is a guy, can't remember his name and totally feel like a jerk for having forgot, who I spoke to initially. Actually went to Texas Tech, back in my home town. Nice fella. Again, hate that I forgot his name. Maybe Matt IS that guy. I've been on the phone...a LOT.

Finally however, is the big one. GU Energy picked me up late this evening. I was so excited I was dancing around my living room. That's pretty impressive considering the beating my legs have been taking! It only takes one, and I get the feeling that with GU onboard, the other sponsors are going to be much easier to pursue.

The RV is coming together, so next is the team. Tricky, but I'm hopeful. Hey, if any of you folks are available, give me a nudge!

I have one newspaper story under my belt, a local television interview, and a radio interview as well. Jumping on the big dogs Monday. I'm going national as soon as possible. Eric has been awesome, sending me lots of tips and reminding me of very obvious things, like...you know, how I need to be putting way more food in my face. I really feel like everything is coming together.

August is right around the corner. Cannot wait to step out onto that road and begin this journey.

So, website is live. Good stuff.

Pretty proud of it, and I hope it grows. I had my first interview in what I hope are many this morning. Got to talk about the training, how excited I am about the run, why I'm doing it. I think about these things often, but it's nice to verbalize them every once in a while. It makes it feel more real when I'm telling another human being who is then going to tell many more that I'm doing this. I'm sure it's just in my head, but I feel like it gives it more substance....makes it more of an event.

All of my media contacts from Los Angeles all the way to Lubbock are lined up, and I expect I'll be on the phone quite a bit in the morning. In all this, I fit my training, which is going well.

I had my first three hour run in a long time this last weekend! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed that. I totally understand the purpose of my short runs, and appreciate them for what they are. They're preparing me not just for the run home, but to be a better and stronger runner in general. That said, man...do I ever love a long run. I get to put my headphones on, and go somplace else for three hours. I listen to the beat, my footfalls, check my striking once in a while to make sure I'm not backsliding into beating my heels up...but otherwise, it's a nice zone out.

I felt great, I varied my pace, I ended stronger than I began. I've got two more to look forward to this week. I enjoy all of my training (minus the track.....MAN it's dull running the track), and I've really gotten a lot out of the mini-barefoot runs. I'm a convert. I can't wait until I can put in some real barefoot miles.

Things are good. August is coming, slowly but surely. I do believe this is going to be the best birthday I have ever had, with the best gift I could possibly recieve....

-Dustin

Regular blog updates will begin Saturday.

Right now I'm rounding up media, setting up interviews, and working on corporate sponsors for the run.

Most imporantly right now, however, is that the website is running appropriately. If anyone is having issues with any of the pages (I've heard the Twitter Feed doesn't always show, and the slide show on the Photos page doesn't alway show) please let me know on the "Contact the Team" page.

I'd like everything to be easy to navigate and fully functional.

I appreciate the kind and motivational words. I'm looking forward to seeing this page turn into something great.

Thanks for the support folks.

-Dustin

Testing out the blog software.

Carry on...