Day 81 - Weldon Springs, St. Louis, MO – Litchfield, IL

Team Silver on stage at the St Louis exchange point event.

Day 81 started in the rain, a refreshing change from the blazing sun, but the air was still humid. David began the day running along the Katy trail, paralleling the Missouri River, with Rudy accompanying him by bike.

By the time Paul took off, half of Team Yellow had to make a quick detour to a nearby clinic: an encounter with a playful dog the day before had caused Heiko to mis-step from a curb, severely injuring his left forefoot (although he finished his 10 miles). To be sure nothing was broken, an x-ray was ordered (despite Heiko's protests). But, by the time he was supposed to run, Heiko was back with the team ready to go. A severe sprain kept his mileage down to 5. Laurel is also battling injury, but managing to keep up with 8 mile legs despite constant pain in her right calf.

Mary with Dow colleagues and kids at the St Louis event.

Paul and David covered the extra distance incurred by Heiko and Laurel's injuries. The last half mile, Paul and David ran together into the main St. Louis exchange point, as the crowd cheered them in. Insituform, a St. Louis-based water company, was there giving out water bottles, and a spread of catered food was offered to BPR team and visitors. The exchange was near the Gateway Arch on the St. Louis Riverfront; the Arch is the largest man-made monument (630 feet tall!) in the U.S. and commemorates Thomas Jefferson and the westward expansion of the U.S.

The Run continued for 20 miles through St. Louis before meeting guest runners in Granite City, Illinois. The guest runners were friends of Mary's: Blain Wrench and his co-worker, Mike Noblot. Mike ran the whole leg with Mary and Blain almost made it, but had to take a short break to re-hydrate. Team Green had great runs because the rain brought a significant drop in temperature – a welcome change from the heat!

Emmanuel works the kids for the crowd in St. Louis.