Everyone benefits from words of encouragement. On my run today I was again reminded of the importance and benefit of this support.

I was having a tough run, my legs feeling sluggish. The hills seemed to be slowing me down to a standstill. About 7 miles into my leg, as I crested another hill I glanced to my left and saw that a truck driver traveling in the opposite direction had nearly stopped as he saw me approaching. He opened his window, stuck his head out and yelled some words of support while pumping his fist in the air. Yes, I’m definitely sure he was yelling words of support and not screaming at me to get off the road. Although I did not understand the meaning of his words, the effect of encouragement was just as strong. All of a sudden, I felt a renewed sense of energy cursing through my body, my mind focused on the immediate task at hand – completing the next 3 miles of my leg – and I felt lighter than I had only one minute before.

The BPR story has definitely been getting out here in Russia, as over the past few days we’ve seen way more drivers tooting their horns in support as they pass us on the road, many of them opening their windows to cheer. TV crews have been at a number of exchange points, and Brynn and I were interviewed by a local station tonight at our hotel in Tyumen. The support that this media coverage is helping to drum up is extremely helpful for us on the road.

I remember very clearly the first time I felt the true power of words of encouragement. I was running in the 800m city championship race in Calgary in Middle School. I was in third place when we hit the final curve with 150m to go. I was already pushing myself to the limit to hang on. Then, at the curve, I saw my PE teacher, Ms. Stevenson, standing in the infield. She looked at me with an almost crazed intensity and yelled, “Guts, Sean. Guts.” Her words flipped a switch in my brain. Similar to my experience today, I suddenly felt everything slip away – the pain, the doubt – and I only knew the finish line.