June 24th- Exchange Point!
- Runner: Richard Johnson
- Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Currently Resides: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Language(s): English, Spanish
- Family: Son: Kareem, age 4
- Statement: "You have to help the people in need if we are all going to survive in a decent, happy world.” – Richard Johnson, 2007
Today we started the 3pm shift. I ran first at the major exchange point and almost everyone on the team was there filled with energy and excitement. When I took the hand off there was a police car that escorted me the whole way through the city. It was nice to have but I was running too fast knowing there was a car right on my shoulder. When I finished my run I waited for the rest of my team with the pilot car and media. By the time our run was over we had a 2 hour drive to the next hotel and boy was this a shock. Upon arriving in the town of Orsha at 11pm, no one knew it was hotel because of the way it looked and it had no signs on it. After checking in to the hotel, Victor, the translator and I were hungry, so went to the only place open (which was a corner convenience store) to eat. There were about 30 people crammed into this small store, and when we walked in, the whole store stopped and stared at me. Then, within 30 seconds everyone started taking photos of me with their camera phones. I have been all over the world, but this is definitely one for the books to remember.
Song for the day- ‘Born To Run’ band- Bruce Springstein
August 19th
Well in about 3 hours it will be my birthday and I am still out here running my 10 miles at least everyday.
August 14th
Tonight here in Colorado we were joined by a host of guest runners. The grey team arrived to the exchange point about 25 minutes late because their guest runners slowed them down.
August 13th
This evening my friend Ken Bechtel joined me for my 10 miles run outside of Denver at 10,000ft. Ken walked across the country with me last year for the Steps Across America program.
August 6th
Today my team started the 9am-to 3pm shift. We have been on the night shift now for three weeks due to injuries, time changes, and unfortunate luck.
August 1st
Well the time has come for the Unit Blue to set foot on United States soil. We have been waiting for this day actually since we started the whole blue planet run.
July 31st
This is my 5th time to Japan and I love it every time I come. The first place I look to go is Moss Burger.
July 28th
Wow was China a rough place for the whole team to be. I know 13 of the 21 runners got sick and 4 staff members.
July 21st- Cable Television or Water?
We crossed the border into Mongolia today and it was not that bad. It took a total of about 60 minutes to leave Russia and 30 minutes to enter Mongolia.
July 20th- Last in Line!
Today marks the last day of running in Russia. I fortunately had the honor of running the last 10 miles to the border.
July 15th- To the Mountain Top!
Up, Up, and away is what my run felt like today. The first part was pretty nice and flat through a small Russian town.
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