We are headed toward the East now with the finish line in sight a week from next Tuesday. Team Orange, e.i. Sunil, Brynn, Sean and me, have been running on the 9 am - 3 pm shift in stifling heat and humidity. Like the rest of the runners we, like horses smelling the stable, sense the ending of our around the world run. We know we will not allow anything to stop us now and trust me there are elements trying to do just that. For example, Sunil continues to have a nagging pain in the I.T. band and tripped in a road pothole, Sean has minor leg discomfort, I have been fighting heat exhaustion and some groin discomfort and even tripped over a limb outside South Bend onto the street. But, we all persevere.

We are finally back on E.S.T. The one thing we know is there is no substitution for running. No matter what age we are, no matter what time we do it. We have our mission as global runners to finish this. The cause is so important and helping to get the word out and raise funds is crucial. Oh, I mentioned age and my fight is not with age. Running keeps me forever young and so does being around those who feel the same, e.i. a youthful outlook on life. Even though I, Dot and Rudy are the senior of the runners, we have on most occasions felt excitement, joy and delight. For me, being selected to this team has given me yet another opportunity to follow my own vision and to be "out of the box", choose a new course that is a course of doing something good that can help others get started, to begin coping and finding their own path to happiness. That is why having safe drinking water is so important. Without it, there is no life.

As global runners I feel we are also helping others find a way to escape chaos.We are doing this in steps, in breaths, in minutes and in miles, spreading the message daily in every town, city, village, country we run to and through. The only regret I have is that I feel at times that I have not been able to transmit the understanding to others the emotions I feel and have felt. Yes, I have, at times in my blogs, expressed feeling, insights but wonder if anyone is really seeing them. I have seen much on the run but because it has been such a whirlwind experience I have seen little of the inner life of the people living in all of these places. To really get to know them, their aspirations, their understanding or take on where I come from, to help them understand that the propaganda they here, read about my country is not always the truth. To let them know most of us have the same dream. To be happy, to have a safe place to live, to not be manipulated by our governments, to live in peace and harmony, to have safe food, water, free healthcare system, simply live in a world that is fair and equitable to all.

I guess it really doesn't matter whether I can be understood by someone else, by especially someone who is not a runner. Just to encourage anyone to follow their innermost voice, their dream. Without safe drinking water, there is no getting started. 6,000 die daily because of this. For too many children, there will be no living their dream if we do not work together to help fix this. We have the solutions that begin with you and me. But all the running, talking, walking, etc. ad nauseum is useless without putting into action the solutions.

We had a grand welcome in Chicago, Illinois, South Bend, Indiana, Midland, Michigan and in the small farm communities where we were waved at or honked at by passerbyers or asked for autographs at local gas stations, pizzerias, and coffee shops.

The Midland, Michigan Dow Company put on a wonderful event for company families and the locals. Hundreds of people turned out to welcome us on a huge stage with big screen flashing scenes of our runs throughout Europe and Asia. Over 400 runners signed up for the 1st Annual Blue Planet Run 5k. It was gratifying to cheer them on. All the proceeds went to the BPR Foundation for safe drinking water projects. These Dow employees and their families are dedicated in eradicating this problem.

Well, this has been a rambling blog but that is ok by me. I do that a lot anyway.
We are headed East and I know when this run ends there will be another for me. No long resting period for me. There is so much to do in such a short time.

Oh, a big thank you Bob, with the Rotarians of South Bend, who ran the entire 10 mile leg with me into that beautiful and historic city ( Notre Dame ). We struggled with the heat and humidity, so a day on defense ( as in dig deep and don't give up ) but we made it. It was a pleasure to run with you my friend and my best to you and yours and to all the citizens of that area. Good luck with your triathlons upcoming. Oh, and Bob is only 55 years young and an amazing athlete ( 55 or 56 but young ).

Also, another thank you to Midlands, Michigan Dow Company. What a great welcome for us all! It is great to see what the employees and families, staff and others are doing to be a part in solving the safe drinking water crisis. Also, congratulations to all those who participated in the 5K Run/Walk. It was especially gratifying to see the seniors out, children and first time 5k'ers. Keep up the great work!

We were also greeted by Susanne Snyder and her daughter, Brook and Brook's friend Ellen, and Deb Cross and Tom Ryden in a small farming community several miles from Midlands. They are employees of Dow. I was impressed by their friendliness and genuine kindness to us. Brook and Ellen are first year band students so they immediately got my attention with me being a former band director. We took photos, gave out BPR shirts and thanked each of them for coming out to greet us.

As you have hear me mention in previous blogs, these are the "little things that mean a lot" to me and "thank you for small favors" as in thank you each for making us feel so special. Each of you are special, and I will retain this memory with the many others for a long time.

As usual, peace and blessings daily to everyone,
"Water is Life, Pass It On"
Lansing Brewer