Running with the saints: day 3

It sounds like the saints had a hard day. Despite broken wagon tongues, and getting bogged down in the mud, they made 16 miles (about 26k).

Morning rainy—Came off fair about 7 AM: Rolled out at 9½—Bottom roads not as bad as was expected or reported—First came in sight of the Platte today—A Big Muddy stream! In camp at Platte Island about 1 m[ile] beyond Fremont a distance of 16 mi creek water good[,] feed[,] weed Suf[ficient]—Several accidents; Tung broken in Bro. Merryweathers 3 wag. Capt Thomas fast in the mud and Br Wilcox’s team run into a hole by the road. Little damage but some delay—in camp at 6 P.M.

I wasn’t looking forward to this 26k run today. It was quite rainy, here in the future, too. I hate running in the rain (unless it’s a warm rain). I am also out of town again. I drove out to Spruce Grove, Alberta this afternoon. It rained nearly the entire drive. I thought I might be forced to use the hotel treadmill. Have you ever run 26k on a treadmill? I have. It is terrible, but I’d do it. I was feeling a bit sluggish so arriving at the hotel I set a 60 minute timer and took a nap. That was a good move – though you always feel a bit out of sorts when waking from those. I’ve learned that rest is important.

I was pleased to see the rain had stopped when I got up. I brought my running vest and rain jacket but decided to go light. I slipped on my runners, pocketed a couple gels, my credit card, and went out in what I was wearing; which just happened to be a light hoodie and jogging pants. I didn’t have a route. I just figured I’d let the sidewalk take me 13 kilometers and then I’d turn around and head back. I hoped that I’d find a convenience store… well, conveniently along my path. I did. A 7-11 burst out of the suburbs at nearly exactly 10k. I stopped and drank three quarters of a liter of gatorade. It was cold and I had to drink slowly or risk some brain freeze. It hit the spot though.

I carried on another 3k before turning around. I stopped at that 7-11 again and this time grabbed a Monster energy drink. I put that completely down before carrying on. It turns out that I respond incredibly well to caffeine. I would never have known this had I not given up Coca Cola at the beginning of the year. I’ve been addicted to it since I was a boy. I now can see why. It is the source of serious super powers. The last 10k felt wonderful.

I wonder if these saints had a cup of coffee at the start of the day. Some might be surprised to know that coffee was on Brigham Young’s original packing list¹ for the saints as they made their initial trek. I’m not sure exactly when coffee became strictly taboo in Latter-day Saint culture. Maybe with president Grant’s emphasis on the Word of Wisdom in the early 1920s? For the sake of these saints, I hope they had a strong cup of coffee to start this day. It sounds like they had a rough one.

One last thing, not 2 kilometers in to this run I came across a familiar building. It was the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I didn’t plan this route. I had no idea. It made me smile. It felt a little like they were saying hello.

Catch up on earlier posts.

• Lakeland Circuit Review: Gorgeous, Gritty, and Worth It
• Running with the saints: days 56 to 73 and the end
• Canadian Death Race: enduring the suck with joy
• Running with the saints: days 52 to 55
• Running with the saints: days 41 to 51

NOTES

1. The original suggested packing list for the pioneers can be found here under the title Bill of Particulars. Nauvoo Neighbor Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois: John Taylor, editor and proprietor, 1845, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/824f1892-509a-4ea3-9e59-0d5f154298a2/0/2?lang=eng (accessed: June 3, 2024) ↩︎