DAY 1- Hammond to Miller

And we are off and running.......

A quick stop to the gas station for a pit stop before we get going and we see the Times photographer and online videographer there for some quick words before we got started.  I (Furcsik) decided this morning that we would wear gold ribbons on our shoes and leave one at our starting and stopping points.  This way Dan and Rusty are with us literally as we are taking this journey.

Getting onto Homan I couldn't help but remember A Christmas Story and that it was based here in Hammond.  As we continued onto Michigan we were definitely feeling the Lake Co. love as many cars were honking and sending us friendly waves and hello's of encouragement.  You can definitely notice the change in neighborhood from one area to another as we were traveling down our path.  There are entire blocks that are rehabbed to what they once were and areas that are yearning for that attention still.  I couldn't help but think of all the happy memories that families have shared in some of these now run down areas.  Milligan was not shy to share of his childhood as we passed into Gary. We noticed IDOT cleaning a few over passes as we crossed and joked that they must have read about us and were trying to help us have a safe run.  Non-the-less we were grateful and gave them a wave as we passed.  About 6-7 miles in we were looking for a place to take a quick break.  Looking for a McDonald's or something of the like we passed Burr... nothing.... another half mile a head we saw a Church's Chicken.  Just the spot!  We walked in and the boys used the restroom and Kearney decided it was time for a snack...so a two piece chicken meal it was....

A few more miles down the road and we were at Rail Cat Stadium in downtown Gary.  Recently paved sidewalks became our running path.  As we left downtown moving towards the more industrial side of the city that we found ourselves running on the median of Rt 12.  Lots of cars and even a former student honking and waving...and some just starring as we continued. I remember feeling excited that we made it to the I-65 on/off ramps as we were not far from our stopping point.  A quick side road and we were running next to the south shore.... and then our stopping point.

A picture to document our finish location and we were headed back to our starting point to pick up Milligan's car.  We were all very excited to open up the treat bag left in Kearney's car consisting of your typical post race food....  Bananas, pretzels, and granola bars...and of course a replen on water.

We all finished running and we feel pretty good.  No reports of injury, blisters, or chaffing.

Thank you Thank you 2Toms for your products!!!!!

  Tomorrow we get started early in the am. It's all about recovery at this point.