World Run II / Reports

The map shows the position of which the pictures for the day are taken (if any). The start and finish markers are placed at the first and last valid registered position. This is not nessesary the actual start and finish position, if GSM or GPS signals was not available.

Goto: 2012-03-21 2012-03-23 Usa

2012-03-22:

45
Distance today: 32.0 km (Accumulated: 34028.0 km)
Elapsed time: 02:57:39
Country: Usa

Start 10:30am., 16c, overcast & no wind, at green roadsign "Washington 14" on hwy.1. Finish 14:12pm., 22c, almost clear & light wind, at statue "James A. Garfield", Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. & 34 000km !

Despite yesterdays detailed research of the route through the centre of city me and my good support-driver, Morten, maneaged to loose contact a couple of times. As you can see from the endomondo-link below the report I had to run back a little bit at one point, about halfway, to find the supportcar. And later, the fun got even better.. ;-)

- There were a couple of very busy (interstate-) sections I couldnt bypass, and I found myself running a few miles on the rough shoulder where I suspect runners are not really supposed to be. As the traffic got more intense, and faster, I tried to get off the highway earlier then planned and criss-cross my way over to Capitol Hill. This landed me in a curious situation as I unaware had run towards one of the entrences of the Pentagon (!, see pictures & gps). Being off route and not realising that what I thourght was a huge concrete parking-garage, instead was the Pentagon building - then created a dangerous-humorous moment where two armed police officers, one with his sidearm drawn, approached me and asked me to stop immideately. I, still thinking it was some huge parking-facility near the park of Capitol Hill, told them that I was just out running - but I cant blame them for beeing a little 'on their toes'; probably not helped by that I had filled my waterbottle with some blue-coloured energydrink and due to the cuts to the hands after the fall during the 37miles stage two days ago, was holding the bottle in an odd angle. But it all ended well and I got back on right course towards the centre of the capital of Usa: Capitol Hill.

I arrived, without too much hassles from these small dramas, and could enjoy a great run through the park itself, cherry-trees at the hight of their bloom and the weather perfect with sun and 22-25c. Even better as I could quietly celebrate passing the 34 000km mark during todays run :-)

Later there was time to visit the Capitol Building, housing the United States government and take in the very intersting display of main events from the independence from the British, the drafting of the constitution, abolishing of slavery and up to modern time.

- Tomorrow I'll add some thoughts from the down-to-earth political science view with impressions of the freedoms and their limits as I experience them during the run here. But now its already getting very late as I was fortunate to be the guest at one of my previous support-drivers, Alexander Hamlin, from Usa, who drove supplies for me 3 months through Chile during my run South - North across the South American continent last year. There was a lot of old stories and adventures to catch up on as well as enjoying the hospitality of his family here in Washington.

NB: If anyone should want to join the run tomorrow through Washington they are more than welcome ! I start at 10:30 from Capitol Hill/at the Garfield statue (at the Capitol Reflecting Pool, in front of the Government building). From there the route it northbound onto highway 1 in direction Baltimore.