Maniac Ed - To the future, and a future Boston marathoner

The kids are our future. Promoting healthy lifestyles was a goal for this trek, and I think we have been able to give kids a reason to see how rewarding running can be.

Having kids run with us at the start and finish, and all the wonderful runners who joined us in-between, gives me great hope that we will get rid of our sedentary ways and have fulfilling lives beyond the TV set and the couch.

Two days prior to the Boston Marathon, my niece invited me for a walk to her school (just the two of us). I was feeling particularly lazy, so I thought we would just get to the corner and she would get tired. To my surprise, she challenged me to run with her at top speed. She wanted to have a race with her slow uncle! She did sub-7 at times, although her uncle did have more endurance. But I can say for sure that she was faster than her uncle that day, and I suspect she will get faster when she grows up. Here's the fun thing--she is only 8 years old! I surprised Christina on marathon day by giving her my finisher's medal--her picture at the finish will surely be duplicated when she grows up.

Hannah Berg and Amy Ernsberger, as young adults, did give me great satisfaction to see how well they have taken their respective coach's directions. Hannah has a trained stride and running form; very efficient. Whereas Amy is a natural runner and can only improve with stronger coaching. For a time at least, I got to see how true runners train and ran--a point I can strive for if I wasn't too involved with my work.

I enjoyed my interaction with all the kids and young adults in this trek; I especially enjoyed being Uncle Ed, and making sure we protected everyone's safety and well-being. Finally, I enjoyed this trek immensely and thank my lucky stars that the opportunity crossed my path.

Maniac Ed signing off. Good luck and God Bless. Take care all!

Maniac Ed - Day 8 North Carolina

All the days are blending in. Just remembering how I was so hungry the entire day. Covered 15 miles along a country road. A truck pulling a small trailer asked us for directions--futile of course since we weren't local folk.

We passed an endless stream of local stores and gas stations. Small houses, people out and about with their cars enjoying the scenery. My support crew (Hannah Bright and Tara) did save me from menacing goats in someone's front yard. I told Hannah half-jokingly that I wrestled with goats when I was young so it might have been a fun encounter.

The occassional weiner dog did say Hi, and we encountered our first muscular dog (big breed) who was more content to play with the butterflies and totally ignored us.

Maniac Ed - Day 9 Savannah GA, side-trip

Rob A. wanted to visit Savannah when we were lodging in Hardeville. It was a half hour ride south.

I went along, since I haven't been there either. The historic part of downtown was beautiful. I will let the pictures take care of describing downtown.

We went to the center market and had dinner at a restaurant. We ordered a nice meal and took the time to savor in the nice Thursday evening.

Maniac Ed - Day 9 South Carolina

Bill and I started out early from Hardeville. We covered the first 10 miles at dawn. Along the way, I took a picture of the perfect sunrise over a river while I traversed a local bridge.

It was an operationally-efficient day. Save for my lower legs going haywire from over-stimulation (Tara made it go away quickly), we had fun running through country lanes and by-ways and enjoying the fresh air.

I have a side-trip entry for Savannah after this.

Maniac Ed - Day 10 St Augustine

Bill and I started off early in the general direction of Amelia Island. I was a bit lazy, and I managed to only put in 5 miles in the 15 mile rotation between Bill and I. Along the way, Rob A. joined us to run the stretch of Amelia Island (north of the plantation) that featured sea-side houses--some of them mimicking the true lighthouse. The breeze was perfect.

At a later point, I was surprised that the final 6 miles was going through St Augustine--a place I heard so much about but never visited. I happily went with Rob, who proceeded to re-visit a few places of historic St Augustine (Magnolia Ave, by the fort, by the historic downtown, and so on). It was the most picturesque run I've had in the trek, and I barely broke a sweat in the entire 6 miles. We ran through the historic parts of downtown with pirate hats on (aye--matey har har!!!). People's reactions were funny--one even exclaimed "It's a pirates run!". We asked directions from a woman walker--she read about us from the Jacksonville paper. She had a hearty laugh from our propensity in getting lost.

We met up with the RV down the road. I later found out that Joe P. took advantage of the time by visiting the beach close to the interstate road. I wish we had more time to just relax and soak in the places we visited.

Maniac Ed - Day 11 and Epilogue

Florida, the sunshine state. We were blessed with cool winds, little or no rain, shade, and periods that had overcast clouds. Running through Florida was effortless, even though we did start blending in with the crowd since runners abound in this state.





We ended up in West Palm Beach where we met up with Team DMSE at a park just outside of downtown (under 3 miles of the Marriott). A news van came and interviewed a couple of runners including Bill Gustafson (31+ miles run that last day), Rob Eubanks, and Amory Rowe. I guess the trek was the big news that night.

We had a run with the school kids for a few short blocks. The official ending ceremony then occurred at the center of town, where the kids got medals and we were entertained by the drum corps state champs (middle school). The mayor of West Palm Beach welcomed us to her city.

We had dinner at a pizza place, where celebration and "job well done" cheers went around. It was all happiness with a bit of melancholy mixed in--I guess sadness in closing this chapter of our collective lives.

I said bye to Hannah Berg and Amy Ernsberger at the Marriott--they are the best and both already carry the legacy of endurance racing for their generation. I felt honored to consider them my "peeps".

Left West Palm yesterday--kind of zoned out. But I did get to say bye to Bob Myette (ran 60 miles on his 60th birthday while on the trek). So much inspiration for the years to come.

To all my co-Trekkers, thank you for sharing your stories and time with me. I enjoyed my days in the trek, and would do it again in a heartbeat. It was so much fun seeing the microcosm of life as we shared the road and functioned as a small community within the past half-month. Thanks to Rob E. and Rob A. (Iron-bro) for their efforts in helping organize this event, and also for putting in the miles with us. Thanks to Bekkie, Joe, and Jim for organizing the operations of Team POL. Thanks to Bill Gustafson, Jim Werring, George Scholl, Hannah Berg, Amy Ernsberger, Bekkie Wright, and Joe Poliquin for the shared miles and comic relief on the road. Thanks to Hannah Bright, Tara McGovern DC, and Lily Feria for their mobile support. Thanks to Team DMSE for their companionship. Thanks to Ron Kramer for setting the path for Trek II and guiding us along the way. Thanks to Dave McGillivray for creating this phenomenon and his graciousness in hosting Trek II in Boston while the Boston Marathon was going on. And thanks to everyone who pitched in to make this event successful.

I have a few pictures to share, which I will post when I backtrack to the missing days.

Bekkie & Joe - Day 7

South Carolina: All Rt, 701 all day … .finished up North Carolina and got Amy & Hannah Berg out for their first 10 Miler since Day 1. Started the day with our regular 10 and switched to driving a support van for Jim& Bill during the heat of the day. Joe has been staying to drive the RV and Control Central. Later, when Joe I got in our 2nd run of the day we passed a culvert with a whole lot of turtles. Just before the end of our leg was “Snooks Ct.” Joe commented, “Look the sign says Schnooks from Connecticut..” Just beyond that we saw a mailbox that said Snooks Lambert, so it must have been his road. Today, we finally got some Styrofoam coolers with ice for each of the support vans. Finished the day with George running into Georgetown.

Bekkie & Joe - Day 6

North Carolina: Joe & I started the day about a mile over the VA/NC State Line, and ran a cool and breezy 10 to start the day. We used a lot of Alt & Business Routes to go through some of the towns rather than around them. A local reported met us in Wake Forest, and took pictures of George & Hannah Bright heading out for their leg. The day went pretty smoothly, and everyone was in great spirits. The only glitch of the day came when we got to the hotel, and found the RV locked with some baggage still inside. Luckily one of the sliding windows in the front was unlocked, so I climbed in and opened the door from the inside. Had a great dinner and even hit DQ after.

Bekkie & Joe - Day 5

Virginia: Joe & I started the day with a 10 miler that he declared to be the “best day so far.” Got a nice early start, and began our 5M rotation for the rest of the crew. Joe ended up eating both breakfast and lunch before 8:30 AM. I was free for a while, so I staffed the “support van” for George as we passed through Dinwiddie. As George was in need of a “rest stop” I asked a local gentleman who was sitting on his front porch if it would be possible to use his facilities. His name was Gary Nanny, and he had been the victim of an ATV accident a few years back which had put him in a coma for six weeks, and left him with 2 scars, one from the “trach” and one from the feeding tube. We had a great conversation while I was waiting for George, and both Gary and his next door neighbor wished us a “Blessed Day” – and I realized it was Sunday already. The whole team was feeling really pumped at the end of the day and decided to finish off with 1 mile each.

George Scholl - Day 10

Today is day 10 of 11. We are almost home and you can feel and see the excitement between the runners. We ran through Jacksonville and St. Augustine today and all the runners said it was a beautiful run. Some of the run was right beside the ocean, with cool breezes and cloudy skies. Now for the bad news. My calves just said no today. I ran one leg in the early morning and that was it for me. I’m hoping that the long layover and ice will help me run on the final day tomorrow. Jim and I will be running the last leg into West Palm Beach prior to the ceremonial celebration at 6:45. It looks like we will be arriving into West Palm Beach around and end up at the Marriot at 3 pm (a lot of people will be there ... you all are welwcome). The downtown Clematis Celebration will still be at 6:30 at the fountain so come down and see that. We were done early today 1:00 pm and decided to have lunch as a team before heading to the hotel. While we were having lunch the waitress asked us if we were runners. I said, I guess you can call us that, we just ran from Boston over the last 10 days. She gave us this funny look and said “Ya right”. It took awhile, but we convinced her that we did run from Boston to Florida. We all said this is going to happen a lot, that nobody will believe us.

This will be the last email/blog so I just want to say thanks to all of you for supporting me. This was by far the hardest thing I have had to do, but a most enjoyable adventure. My wife, Anna, is ill right now, and I’m really anxious on getting home to help take care of her. See you all in the near future, and again thank you so much.

“Straight ahead”

George

Amy Ernsberger-Day 10

We're in Florida! Yesterday, Hannah and I had the opportunity to cross the border on our run. I can't believe we ran here from Boston. Every other year we take a road trip to Ohio to visit family and coming into Florida brought back a lot of memories. The neat thing is that I am able to run through a part of Florida that I have never seen before. Today's run was amazing. Hannah and I started out the day with a 10-miler down A1A. During the first part of our run we were able to look out over the beautiful ocean and the last mile of our run was over a bridge so we had an awesome view of the landscape and water. During most of the run there was forest on both sides. I felt really blessed to be able to run that part of Florida. We had a headwind throughout the day, which helped to cool us off as it got hot. I'm really enjoying this opportunity to see the East coast up close and to hang out with a great group of people. It will be a bittersweet moment when we reach West Palm Beach.

Amy

George Scholl - Day 9

Hi everyone. Today is day nine and two days to go. We crossed over to Florida this afternoon There was a big cheer in the RV. Right after the crossing we had two reporters follow us for about 10 miles. One reporter actually ran about one mile with one of our runners. They were quite impressed on what we are doing and how far we have come. They were amazed at our attitudes and high spirits. We are pretty tired but very excited to be almost home. This afternoon my partner Jim had a phone interview with ESPN radio. We were all excited about that. Thanks to my freind Jason Myers for setting that up. Jim had to run the Brunswick suspension bridge. The Blue Heron bridge seemed like a speed bump to this bridge. From the bottom of the bridge to the top was 1 mile. We all were glad it wasn't our turn to run when we saw that. I think Jim had a few words with God when he got to the top. I had a small problem with my calve today. I had to cut my first run short because of the pain. I got into the RV and put ice on it for about 1/2 hour, then Dr.Tara started to work on it. And yes, once again I cried. She went deep into the muscle and gave me a nice bruise on my calve. I told her I was going to file a law suit, but she said that the bruise means the calve is healing. Actually, the bruise is a badge of honor and am quite proud of it. When she was done, I was able to go back out and run another leg. I'm still amazed on how she can fix me up. It hurts but it works. Tomorrow should be a better day with me. We will be running down A1A part of the way, then back over to US 1. The last 2 days will be long milage, but we are excited and ready to run them. We all know the end is near and the party is waiting for us. And don't forget to come to Clematis, Saturday night at 6:30 for the parade when we run into town. Looks like Jim and I have the last 2-3 miles of the leg into West Palm Beach. Once we reach WPB, we will wait and regroup with all the members of the team and run down Clematis together. This should be a short but emotional run. Hope you are there to see it, and have a drink on us.

"Straight ahead"

George

PS. Blogs and picture are at www.pursuitoflife.org you can respond and send us comments on all the blogs. We read them during the day when we can and in the evening.

Hannah - Day 9

It is so hard to believe that it is already day 9! It is sad to think that this trip will be over in only a few more days. I have really enjoyed getting to bond with our team. Everyday we travel together and learn new things about each person here. I feel so comfortable around everyone and I am really going to miss them. From simple things like joking around with Ed and Amy in the RV to having great dinner discussions at night, I will never forget everyone I have come to know on this trip.

The thing I love most about this trip is that every run is a new experience. We are constantly faced with new terrain, cities, and people. I realize how thankful I am every time I step out of the RV for my run. I am blessed with every step that God has given me.

Today we are traveling through Georgia. It is gorgeous. The swamplands and tall grass are a true sign that we have hit the real south.

TREK Finale this Saturday!

Please come and join the fun as Team POL and Team DMSE sprint down Clematis Street to the fountain and celebrate the past 2 weeks.

We will be arriving this Saturday at approximately 6:45 with a Police escort heading East on Clematis Street.

Hannah Bright has set this up for us and we appreciate everything she has done for Team POL since January. This includes her auction item that I was able to bid on the highest!

Rob A.

Team POL runner
Support crew
Co-founder of the Pursut of Life Foundation, Inc.

George Scholl - Day 8

Hi everyone. Today is day eight and three days to go. I ran 12 miles today 5-4-3. The days are getting hotter, and our support team finds new ways all the time to keep us cool. Kudos to them. My first run was quite bueatiful. Through a State Park in South Carolina and enough room on the side of the road to run (this is a rareity). The second run was also nice, was be able to run on sidewalks though a small town. My third run was out in a forest with large trucks coming flying at us. I wore my Miami Marathon shirt that has my name on it. Bill (another runner) said that was good that I had my name on it cause, that way the trucker will know who he hit. A lot of dead snakes on that run. aghhhh One run we were having a hard time to pull over to let the two college girls out to run, and the driver yells back ... "OK girls, I'm going to slow down, so get ready to jump out, just remember to tuck and roll". This really cracked everyone up in the RV. They didn't jump out - we found a spot for them to get out. We are all getting tired and are very cautious of that, so we all are paying close attention to safety. We will be running through Georgia tomorrow and ending up in Yulee Florida tomorrow night. We are coming home !

"Straight ahead"

George

Impacting others

Amy's blog today reminded me of our stop in the small deli outside of Philly. We were lost for what seemed like hours. Hunger forced us to pull into this local suburb and walk into a quant little deli. After 10 hungry runners ordered loads of food, a lady sitting in the back corner who earlier asked what we were up to ended up paying our entire bill!

After this blessing, there was a lady at the counter checking out and heard our story. She then pulled out $7, which is all that she had, out of her wallet and gave it to me. Taking on the huge task of producing the PoL side of this event has been very challenging for Rob A. and I but the rewards come often, in ways both subtle and obvious. This has been a time we won't soon forget.
Rob E.

Amy Ernsberger- Day 8

It's hard to believe there are only three days left. I'm really going to miss everyone. The team is amazing. I have really felt loved and accepted by not only my teammates but also by those on team DMSE. It's going to be hard to leave them on the last day, but I'm looking forward to the days that are still ahead. I am having a lot of fun. It is so awesome to see the impact we are having on other people. Just the other night at a restaurant we went to, there was a lady who said she was going to get up and walk the next morning because of what we are doing. It has also inspired others to live a healthier lifestyle. As we go we hand out cards that tell about what we are doing and why. People are able to go on the website and see more about the organization. It really makes a statement when you run down the East coast of the U.S. so people naturally want to know why. It's a great way to get the word out about the foundations and encourage people to take care of their bodies. I am excited to be a part of this amazing experience. I have seen God work in amazing ways. We are still safe and running, which is amazing considering we have been pushing are bodies for eight days straight and running on busy highways.

Until later,
Amy

Hannah - Day 7 Pictures

Maniac Ed - By the way

Hi all,

The images I include with my posts were taken with a camera phone (razor). The quality is not bad. I have it with me all the time even when running. We have access to everyone's cell numbers so communicating anywhere and everywhere is easy.

My roommate is usually Bill--George and Jim are our buds who come in for a visit all the time. Tara has done wonders for my shins and achilles aches. She is a great part of our team. Amy and Hannah are like my two favorite nieces. They are amazing runners and have great endurance. Bekkie and Joe--well, what is there to say? They set the bar high, so efficiency is high as well. Rob and Hannah Bright have been contributing miles as well, while providing support for us. Even Tara ran today.

It has turned out to be so much fun.

George Scholl - Day 7

Hi everyone. Today is day seven and four days to go. The runs are getting easier (believe it or not). We ran today on flat roads in 80 degree cloudy weather. I ran 3 legs of 5 miles, 3 miles and 3 miles. On my first run, we had 3 dogs chase us (all at the same time). One dog was very aggressive and almost got hit by a car. Fortunately a car's horn scared the dog away and we were able to get out of the area rather quickly. All at a good pace for me (around 10 min. miles). My calves were a bit sore, but got better on the 3 mile runs. I ran my first run with our resident Doctor and she was a bit slow for me. She only ran 2 miles, but it was good for her to get out of the RV. She's in there most of the days, working all day long. Don't know how she does it, but she seems to love her job. She's a Chiropractor but does deep tissue massages. I think the difference is, she hurts us instead of rubbing us. Although, on me, she does an incredible job with my calves. So far, I only have soreness in my calves and nowhere else. My main concern, before I started this relay was my right foot. And amazingly, the soreness that I have been having the past couple of months in my foot is gone. I believe the soreness in my calves will go away in a couple of days. Tomorrow, we will be in Georgia, Thursday and Friday in Florida, and home on Saturday. It's now going way to fast. Everyone on our team are exceptional runners and people. We will all miss each other when this is over. We get up everyday at 5 am and leave the hotel at 6 am.

George Scholl - Day 7 (Part 2 - "The TEAM")

The team consist of Joe and Beckie (not married but been together forever), they are the leaders of the team. They coordinate were when and where we are supposed to be and they run first (usually 10 miles). They are exceptionally nice people who have run every marathon you can name. Ed runs second with Bill. Ed is from San Diego and is quiet and steady. Super nice guy and a great runner. Bill is from Long Island NY and is funny. He's always ready to go. He want to be moving all the time. Then we have the two young girls, Hanna and Amy from Palm Beach Atlantic College who are in great shape and just want to run and run. We have to hold them back. We cut their mileage on one run and they decided to continue the run in the parking lot. We had to tell them to stop. It was funny. Then there is Jim, my coach and my roommate. He's our fastest runner and our dad. He seems to keep us all in line and at the same time makes us laugh. Our support crew is Dr. Tara our Chiropractor / deep tissue massage therapist and Hanna, our support van driver (if we need anything, she's the person to go to ... we love Hanna). We have another support person, Rob, who's actually like a floater, he's in the van supporting us, in the RV updating the web site (we don't let him drive the RV), and at the hotel getting our rooms and most important paying for everything (most of the time). Oh, then there is this guy named George (that's me), he's runs cleanup. He's slow but steady. Keeps everyone laughing and never stops smiling. He drives the RV when Joe is running and everyone seems to love his stories. Well that's everyone, and I really hope you guys come to WPB on Saturday night and get a chance to meet everyone. They are wonderful people and I will miss them all.


"Straight ahead"

George

Maniac Ed - Day 7 Georgetown, SC

The day came and went fairly quickly. We went on US701 all the way through. It passes through a forest preserve by the Peede river. My second 5-mile split was particularly nice--so quiet you can hear yourself think. Had to run the roads on a grassy shoulder at times, but it wasn't too bad.

Tara's cousin met the caravan for a short visit. One of the babies is shown in the picture.

We are consciously trying to slow down. My pace today is now 9:15. Okay also, since we are making sure we check our hydration levels in the 85-degree temps. Nice breeze going though.

We went to the main street in Georgetown, SC tonight. Dinner by the water was great.

On the home front...

Rob E. here and really missing being on the road with the gang but ran yesturday with all of you in mind. I hesitate to describe to people the scenes of absolute beauty that I expereinced in CT because it was unlike anything I've ever seen in person. This was Disney World material!

The smells, sights and sounds of all the places I ran will be with me for a long time. Even the shadier sections of Philly and Baltimore! They had their own beauty, as well.

A big South Florida welcome is a laid out for you guys on Saturday so get your celebration boots out and anticipate some more fun!

Cheers!

Rob E.

Maniac Ed -- Group picture with Mayor Street (Judith's camera)

Team DMSE Blog

http://www.joinaim.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=blogger.main

Videos on YouTube (updated 4/23 Maniac Ed)

Amy & Jim Post-run, day 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJtCJJwzDXc

Taylor & Adam handing off on day1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z52ydyyz38g

Philadelphia Mayor Street meets with TREK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX_zmDiFZDM

Start of the 2007 TREK East Coast Relay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iDHBGdbLbg

Ann warming up on day 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNtNQ27t-Rc

Amy and Hannah being silly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuq-l8k938E

Adam Batliner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bem5ifNd78

Jim_massage_day1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2KApHPIry4

Amy, Hannah, Bill, Ed Running: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTpzbPvZuu4

David Salem TREK hello: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwar_60yrjI

Anne"s TREK hello: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqxg1uta5OM

Start of the 2007 TREK East Coast Relay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulMdWTsMyi8

Amy Ernsberger- Day 6

Today we ran through North Carolina. It was a beautiful day. We have been very blessed weather wise on this trip. It is getting a little more challenging now that we are on the sixth day but each day things seem to be running smoother. I am so thankful for our chiropractor, Tara, and massage therapist, Lily. They have been such a blessing on this trip. I am learning a lot from the other more experienced runners. Between the two teams we have four marathon maniacs. One of them has run 67 marathons! I could not ask for a nicer team. They have actually told me that I can apply to be a marathon maniac because I am doing this trek after the Boston marathon.

After today we only have five more days. I am already getting sad thinking about leaving the team. I am hoping to do more marathons and hopefully see them there.

Until tomorrow,
Amy

Support Crew CUDOS

Tara - thanks a thousand times for the work on my calves.

You are the best !

George

--------------

Hanna - Thanks for all the support your giving us in the vans.

Team POL is very fortunate to have you.

You are awesome !

George

-------------

Lily - Thanks for all your support during the time I had with you.

You are an amazing woman and I will not forget the fun we had.

I'll see you on the beach !

George

George Scholl - Day 6

Hi everyone. Today is day six and suprising everyone is in very good spirits. We are in North Carolina. My first run was in the early morning and it was nice and cool. Rolling hills but I must be used to them, cause they were not that bad. However, I did get alot of soreness in my calves (gastrocnemius muscles). When I got back to the motor home (RV), Dr. Tara massaged them and wow what a difference. I might as well tell you know before you hear it somewhere else, she made me cry ! Well it really hurt (so good), but when she was done, my calves were reborn. We (runners) really really appreciate what the support team is doing. We couldn't do this without them.

My second run was right through Wake Forest University and I my picture was taken by the local newpaper. Unfortunately I probably won't ever see it, but it was cool. Some of the team was interviewed and the picture will be in the local newspaper. Finally ... I'm famous.

We are about done today, I'm going out in about 30 min to do my 3rd and last run. Till next time ... "Straight ahead"

George

George Scholl - Day 5

We ran in Virginia today. Great runs. I did 3 - 5 mile runs for a total of 15 miles. That puts me around 50 miles in 5 days. I have been lucky in the rotation as far as miles run, but I think that's coming to an end. It will be at least 15 or more miles per day from here on out. I feel pretty good with the 3 runs. I was a bit tired at the end of the 3rd run, but that was expected. It was very hot today - around 82 degrees. The roads were country and very nice rolling hills. Seems like rolling hills are a piece of cake now. In the middle of my second run, I had to take a bathroom break (no 2). I tried to hold out but couldn't, so my support crew found a house and got them to let me use their restroom. Very nice, embarrassing, but nice. I had a great run after that.

"Straight ahead"

George

George Scholl - Day 4

We ran through Baltimore Maryland and I was one of the chosen one to run through downtown (actually it was my turn). We were told that when we get downtown that CBS News would be filming us and interviewing us, so when we see them stop and talk to them. Well needless to say, I was quite excited. So we headed out and we ran and ran and ran and ran ... no TV camera. Well, we ran so fast that they missed us. So I got no TV exposure. We had a blast running it though. Ran right in front of John Hopkins Hospital. What an amazing place. The front of it looks like an old English mansion. A very huge mansion. Very huge. I only ran 10 miles on day four and it was a good 10 miles. I felt really good at the end of the day. The highlight of my day was the my daughter Lisa came to the hotel from Lynchburg (Liberty University) to see me and have dinner with me. She stayed overnight and I saw her in the morning at 6 AM to say goodbye. I had a scare in the late afternoon. I thought I lost my wallet, but was found in the late evening. We move around in the motor home and van so much, that I just misplaced it. Big scare and taught me lesson about keeping track of everything.

George Scholl - Day 3

Hi everyone. Today is day 3 of the relay. Today was and still is an interesting day. We got up in the morning drove 70 miles to Philadelphia (the other team ran from the hotel to Philadelphia). Once we got to Philly, we started running you guessed it, right through the heart of Philly. Let me tell you, driving the motor home through a busy city is nerve racking. I'm not sure, but I think I hit a policeman (don't worry, I just swiped him, not his car, but him.) Don't worry, he's OK - I saw him get up of the ground. Just kidding, I did well. We dropped off a couple of our runners at City Hall to have a meeting and press conference with the Mayor. The rest of us continued on the relay. The weather is great 70 degrees and sunny. We are now in our shorts and tank tops. With the press conference, we are behind, so we are doubling our runs to get done in time. I'm up in about 1 hour to run an 8 mile leg. That and the 7 I have already done will put me at 15 today. I believe tomorrow we will be running through Washington D.C. I'll keep you informed on how that goes. As everyone here says ... "Straight on".

Talk to you tomorrow.

George

Bekkie & Joe - Day 4

Maryland - Implemented our leap-frog 5 with 2 sets of runners on the road at the same to since we had so many mile to cover. Didn't run today until the very end ... and boy was it hot. Got the main pack done early for some sight-seeing in DC, and we found a really cool stuffed animal on the side of the road. He was a 3 ft. long green dinosaurs with big saucer eyes and only minor "road rash". We decided he would make a good mascot, so he is now perched on the front dash of our RV. His name is "POL" (pronounced PAUL) ... the orange-footed Trekasaurus.

Bekkie & Joe - Day 3

Big photo op day with the Mayor in Philly. Half the team went and did the run from the Art Museum to City Hall, and the other half "kept the Relay going." Joe & I started out from City Hall and ran across the Schuylkill over to Drexel, and into South Philly on Baltimore Ave. Bill & George supported us with the RV for our 12 mile run. The Frat Boys were out drinking on their front porches ... and one of them remarked "Look there's someone doing something healthy!" Joe also got a "Hey, Big Boy" from one of the ladies. We also ran down Rt. 1 past The Franklin Mint. Todays cemetaries included Fernwood & Edgewood. Then Bill & George got their turn to run 5 miles, and we supported them in the RV before the rest of the crew caught up. Then we resumed our normal rotation and headed down the road to Baltimore.

Bekkie & Joe - Day 1 & 2

Since we're the resident Connecticut Trekkers we took advantage of the fact that Day 1 & Day 2 ran right past our doorstep and jumped in for the last 20 miles of Day 1, and the first 13 of Day 2. Joe & I split the 20, and ran 10 each. I ran the first 10 from Bolton Notch to the Founders Bridge via Rt. 44, Middle Turnpike, Burnside Avenue, Connecticut Blvd, and East River Dr. Joe picked it up from there and ran up to Main, and over Albany Avenue (Rt. 44) to Avon Mountain. Something like 1000 ft of elevation gain from downtown to the top of the mountain just past Res #6. ... Got up bright & early the next morning for a solo Trek from Farmington (right at Joe's "Office on Main") to the Intersection of Rt. 8 in Thompsonville. It was cold and drizzly, and it almost snowed at the top of the hill near St. Joseph's Cemetary. But there was a Dunkin' Donuts at the end, and we had a nice hot cup of coffee and a bagel at the end. We drove down to Newark that night, and have been "on the road" with TEAM POL ever since.

Maniac Ed - Names

Runners' nicknames.

George -- Beefcake
Becky -- Disco Queen
Jim - White Kenynan (Papa)

Maniac Ed - Day 6 Rolling Hills

Rob A and I ran a 5-mile split. I let Rob set the pace so he could run comfortably. The man went sub-9 and then just above 8 on some miles. It was a good run. Bill ran support on the mostly 4-lane highway.

It was cooler in the first split. Now the sun is out. So we may have to slow down a little bit.

Funny story--we passed Hannah and Amy post-Chihuahua attack. Hannah had this confused/concerned face that made us laugh. The Chihuahua could not keep up so no nips occurred. Just kidding!!! The little critter was just saying Hi.

Maniac Ed - Day 6 Caravan

Hannah Berg- Day 6 Virginia

we got on the road early this morning! Amy and I set out for run in the cool air. It was refreshing! I had a headache starting out and the cool, dry air cleared it right up. We had a slight encounter with a small chiuaha. It was vicious, but we survived. The hills were beautiful. Two days ago Rob and Rob, me, Amy, and Ed went to DC. We drove through Georgetown, took pictures at the capital, and got some Starbucks! It was so gorgeous outside, it brought back memories of living in Northfield, MN. DC seemed like a great place to go for a bike ride or go shopping for a day. The weather was perfect. I miss the soft grass up here. Me and Amy are about to go out for our second 5 mile leg in a few minutes. I'm going to grab some shot blocks and water.

Maniac Ed - Day 5 Virginia/North Carolina

Things are running like clock-work. Bekkie Wright and Joe Poliquin have organized the schedule so well that we are hardly in the RV. Our time in between is near 20 minutes as opposed to a full 40 minutes.

Still plenty of hills--but now the temps are much higher. We are slowing down half-way in each split to drink fluids and also take shot blocks. We walk when we need to, and our support vans are always around to look after our welfare. Along the way, we get plenty of opportunities for photos and videos--so look for those at the Team POL site.

Plenty of civil war historical sites. Quaint streets. Tree-lined country roads. The smell of freshly planted wheat. Too much to take in, and certainly takes too much to describe in a blog. Just trust me when I say, you have to be there.

Rob A surprised us by running 3.5 miles at the end of the day. We each added 1 mile after, which certainly became the most enjoyable for me. That was my single 7-minute mile for this trip (and will not be repeated again).

The body's holding up well--a few aches and pains but still running!!!

Maniac Ed - Day 4 Baltimore/Fredericksburg

I don't think I ever visited downtown Baltimore, so running through was a treat. We covered a good section of downtown before heading south. Going by our navigation notes, we ended up in an unfamiliar area. Bill and I asked directions from this couple, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Mason. They recognize our trek immediately after we mentioned that we were running to Florida. They directed us to where we needed to be. Mrs. Mason was really engaging--she asked us to volunteer at her flower garden anytime we are in Baltimore.

We went into Washington DC as a side trip. Hannah Berg, Amy, Rob A, Rob E, and I stopped by at the U.S. Capitol and then took Hannah's picture in front of the Washington Memorial. It was fun.

We arrive in Fredericksburg late, so eating delivered Chinese food was rather enjoyable.

Maniac Ed - Day 3 NJ/PA/DE/MD

Running Roosevelt was a bit crazy--extra hard pavements, plenty of traffic. Bill and I wore bright lime running jackets so we stood out. Saying hi to people waiting for buses was interesting. We ran into Broad Street where part of the Temple University complex lie.

Hannah Berg, Amy, Jim, Rob A, Rob E, Tara, and I ended up at the Art Museum. Taking photos by the Rocky statue and steps were the order of the day. As representatives from Team DMSE rounded the corner, we joined in to run into the Philadelphia City Hall. Meeting Mayor John Street was interesting--Mayor Street is a former marathoner and works to keep his fitness level after years of public service. He was very generous with his time, and seemed genuinely interested in our trek to end childhood obesity and cancer.

After getting lost around Media, PA--we ended up in a deli store. A lady was kind enough to pay for our lunches. She seemed geniunely interested in philantrophic events. That felt really good.

Route 1 was challenging--plenty of traffic and narrow shoulders. Jim and I ended up our 1o mile run in Kenneth Square, a place I use to visit when I lived in the area.

Interesting day meeting the mayor and running through the Philadelphia area.

amy- trip update

Hey everyone,

I am finally getting to blog! It has been a challenging but fun trip so far. Today we ran in Virginia. It was a bright sunny day so it was pretty hot. It was a beautiful run and probably the safest run yet. There were not many cars on the road and those that did pass us were very kind and got over for us. I am glad to be out of the big cities where there is a lot of traffic. I have to go run but hopefully I will be able to blog more often now that we are getting into the groove of how things work.

Please continue to pray for us for strength and safety!

Amy

Friday later afternoon...gotta love this area!!! - Rob A.

Now into the beautiful area of the Delaware and Pennsylvania border....around route 82 and 52. all the property has tremendous land - acres and acres of it, with deer, foxes etc.

Me, Hannah and 50% Rob E are support for the trip. Rob E is running, Hannah is working one van with logistics etc and I am trying to keep ya'll informed of our progress via video and blogging...since i am not running I am btrying to get in bike rides. So around Chadds Ford, PA ihopped on the bike and started spinning (pedaling for non-bike enthusiasts)... when I actually saw the Chadds Ford sign, I remembered that is where my friend Franince lives. I called her as I was biking (kids, don't try this at home) and it just so happens at that same time she was blogging on our site... what intuition i have! Anyway, I said I would love to see her but if so then she would have to drive me back to the RV. That enabled me to get on the really rural hills and go at it - and i did just that. What a great experience. I ended up at her place and she drove me back to the rv and everyone was really confused as to who this women was...I probably only did 30 miles but they were hard with all the hills and it was worth every incline I approached.

After this GREAT DISCOVERY AND getting lost I wanted my buddy Rob E. to see this same area but running...he stil had to get in 8 miles...he ran it and saw 6 white tail deer, geese, and even a fox (we have them in palm beach too!).

We all then went out to dinner and then crashed! Boy it is tiring, and I'm not even running!

PROPS TO CENTRELLA'S in Haverford...

after seeing the mayor of Philly, we somehow ended up in Haverford. In my younger years I knew some guys that went to Haverford HS and lived there so I was familiar with the area but had never visited.

We went into a nice looking italian deli... CENTRELLA'S DELI & ITALIAN MARKET..and we all ordered some terrific sandwiches, a Tastycake (Philly's version of a frosted twinkie) and a big pickle.

We met a wonder women who ended up buying us all our lunches...probably about $50 worth! Then another women gave us all the cash she had in her wall it...$7.00! Too bad she didn't make her bank run BEFORE she decided to buy herself lunch...

That experience sums it up..this enthusiasm is contagious and our team is doing a great job together.

Rob A - Friday 7 am - 1:30 pm....day 3

PHILLY!! Friday morning started by getting lost (again)... word to the wise...look at the GPS, but do not LISTEN to the GPS, unless you want to get lost.

Then down on Roosevelt Blvd heading into Center City Philly to Broad Street then by losing every sense of direction. But not for long.... we ended up at the Art Museum... Team DMSE met us there with a Police escort...yes, the Philly Police. Wow. We joined in there at the Rocky Statue and ran about 1.2 miles to City Hall..then spoke with Majoy Street for about 1 hour (see video).

The mayor was great, we had some great water (compliments of "PhillyTap" city water bottles) and I even think that Billy Sheehan of DMSE got an opp to partner with the city. Anne Mahlum of Team DMSE did a fantastic job getting that opp for TREK. Judith the pr girl got some tv coverage too!

After that we got lost.

Rob A..day 3

well, i can't even describe what has happened. I have met some great people out of the 20 both teams have combined.

We are going to Baltimore in the morning and visiting with the local ABC affiliate then into Washington DC. We are staying in Virginia and am sure we will feel some of the sadness of the tragedy at VTech.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the trek is our two youngest runners, hannah and Amy. They are great and so polite. I enjoy taking them on explorations and showing them things they have or may not see anytime in the near future...we stopped in NYC and did that whole thing.

Getting tired....gotta get up early!!!

p.s. thank all schools following us..we will make you proud!

day 3 over

day 3 of 11 is over. we have seen some of the most beautiful land in the US. I am thankful to have this experience and make these new friends. Our team has grown together in so many ways in the past days, I am sure by the end we will not want to leave each other!

Maniac Ed - Day 2 Westport

Hills x3.

Beautiful New England country. Stone houses, farm stores, narrow access roads, beautiful postcard-perfect scenery.

I ran with Bill today--it was great because we allowed each other to share the pace setting. It's funny how the hills just keep coming. But that is what CT countryside is all about.

At one stop, I went in with George and got some donuts. Not incredibly healthy, but most everyone welcomed the treat at the end of the run.

The streets were hard to follow sometimes, especially that some were without signs. But we talked to a few locals who were so engaging (one woman in particular).

Tried my hand as the rear support vehicle driver. The drive got dicey when the access roads got narrow. Also rode with Larry in the front support vehicle. It was so much fun.

What a great day altogether.

Maniac Ed - Day 1 Hartford

Written on Day 2...

We had an early morning conference as soon as we made it into Hopkinton (start line of the Boston Marathon). Ron Kramer discussed logistics and a lot of details about the trek. Half an hour later, the ceremony to start Trek II started. Intrepid kids and parents showed up. The president of Saucony shoes also made a short speech. Dave McGillvray, the president of the DMSE foundation , race director of the Boston Marathon, and the founder of Trek, gave a send-off speech inviting the kids and parents to run a half-mile with the Trek II runners. The start of Trek II began on the start line of the Boston Marathon. We happily ran with the kids, encouraging them when they stopped, and just generally hanging out with them before we had to get into our RVs to start running.

I ran with the first group from Boston. Our group ran a 50-miler into Bristol. Along the way, we ran into a reality TV show being taped where they had to walk down to Washington DC. It was fun talking with them because the main objectives were almost the same--becoming healthy by way of exercise and better eating habits.

I ran with Hannah Berg that first day on two 5 mile legs. It was fun because Hannah is a Team POL member as well. Captain Ron had mixed the two groups, so we spent the better part of the day getting to know team DMSE.

We ran through New England country -- quaint houses, towns, farms, and so on. At some point, we saw a running squad from a local school. When they found out we were running to Florida, they ran with us for a while. It was so much fun.

Maniac Ed - Day 0 Slack Time

Written on Day 2...

The concierge at Marriott Copley directed us to this diner named Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe about 4 city blocks away. We wondered why he didn't point us to the many breakfast places on the main drag. We went, waited a little bit, and discovered a little bit of heaven in Boston.

The diner has been operated by the same family for 85 years, serving great food to customers and well-known people alike. We ordered breakfast plates and went into nostalgia talk. We were soon joined by a local who filled us in on what made the place special. That was the best breakfast I've had in a while, and my roommates Bill and Jim agree.

Later that day, we took our "expedition bags" downstairs to be loaded into the Trek RVs. We completed the day by having dinner at UNO's, which is right across the Boston Marathon finish line from the day before.

Maniac Ed -- Day -1 Boston Marathon

Written on Day 2...


We took our time getting to the buses, and we almost missed the race. One of the coaches from the John Hancock caravan was kind enough to give us a ride. When we got there, we took a stroll to the fire chief's house beyond the start line. We shared small talk with a few other race directors and invited runners who were also running Boston. The energy was electric--especially because we were watching the live coverage on TV and could watch the same thing by just stepping outside! I did that for both the wheelchair, the elite women's start, and the elite men's start with Wave 1. We had to make our way to Wave 2 when just about all runners from Wave 1 passed the start line.

Enjoyed running the 111th Boston Marathon thoroughly. Had to take care of my legs for trek so my time wasn't going to be fast.

There were 30-45 mph wind gusts, but not like it was the day before. The Wellesley "tunnel" at mile 13 was tremendously energizing. Heartbreak Hill came and went, but after a few days of Trek II it turned out to be a baby hill.

The Chevron sign was impressive. Coming into the finish was great, but I couldn't wait to get inside because it suddenly got very cold at the finish corrals.

lily ~day 2

day 2 and going strong been massaging all day long, lots of very sweaty runners. lots of work and lots of fun trying to massage standing up in a motorhome, with very wild drivers, if i don't fall and break a hip i think i'll be the luckiest massage therapist alive!!

Jimmy - the White Kenyan

Hi Everyone! Here in Conneticut. Just completed 2nd 7 mile trek. Rolling hills!! And a lot of them. Having a ball!! Will be in New Jersey tomorrow. We're coming. Stay tuned for further developments. Love to All
Jim

George Scholl - Day 2

Hi everyone. Today is day 2 of the relay. Well today was great. The weather was incredible. About 40-50 and NO RAIN. In the afternoon, we even got sun shine. We are done with our runs today. I had 2 runs, 5-6 for a total of 11 miles. I was in the first group, so my run was at 7:30 am and it was a bit cold, but nice. My second run was great. I wore only 2 shirts! The other team (DMSE from Boston) did their run through New York City. We didn't get to run into there. :-(

The terrain was gorgeous and the hills were long and steep. My first run was 3 miles up a hill (ouch). Other than the hills, the runs were great. We get massages by the best certified therapist there is after each run (Lily). It really helps, as she is great. We are done for the day and we are off to Newark for the night. Oh by the way, I was the designated driver of the POL 34 ft motor home today. Now, that was fun. How cool is this, running through the country side and driving a huge motorhome.

We met a couple of people on the way, and they are always amazed at what we are doing. They all say they could never do that and that it must be really hard to do. The truth is, this is the best thing I have ever done. Keep reading my blogs and see if my attitude changes after the next couple of days. I have a feeling it will be the same.

Talk to you all tomorrow, and sorry I missed the blog yesterday, it was a bit crazy.

George

Hannah Berg- The first few days

The alarm went off at 5am. Our adventure was about to begin. Already, we had spent 4 amazing days in Boston. New England Clam Chowder, Fish from the Harbor, Corn Bread, we definitely got a taste of the city. Riding 'the T' was an experience in itself. One not to be forgotten. The boston marathon was on Monday. The weather lightened up just before I got to the starting line. I ran the marathon at a comfortable pace. Crowds of people lined the ways. I was uncertain how an entire marathon without an iPod would turn-out. But I realize now, that music would have hindered the full enjoyment of the marathon. Later that night, with some pomogranet juice and some easy jogging we prepared our bodies for the next phase of our adventurous journey- the trek down the eastern part of the US. We met a group of students at Hopkinton, Wed. morning for the beginning journey. I ran with a girl named Carolyn, 8th grade. It was inspiring to see all the kids that came out to the event! That put everything in perspective for me- This is why I am doing this! I want to inspire children to make healthy lifestyle decisions. Later during my evening run I met a group of highschool track runners who were training for their meet on Friday. It was so cool to talk to them and hear what they love about running. I am so inspired by this trip so far- meeting people on the road. We are all feeling great! I am so blessed to be able to do this and thankful to God. Straight Ahead!

Team PoL Rocks!

We're well on our way south and Massachusettes and Conneticut have been an amazing journey. Runners have done well and I did a beautiful stretch of 7 miles of picturesque New England bridges and rivers. I'm ready for the next 7!
Rob