Back in the U.S. of A. What a blur! We had two August firsts, one in Japan and the second in California. The Japanese August 1st was our run into Tokyo for the exchange at Tokyo Tower and then to the airport for the flight to San Francisco. David and I covered for Green Team to finish out their last leg in Asia. It was a crazy run into Tokyo with the traffic. The pilot van could not keep ahead of us most of the time so we had to be vigilant not to get lost. After David handed off to me, my first task was to find a pit stop without getting arrested. The Japanese as I'€™ve indicated are very proper and law-abiding, in addition to being extremely hygienic and sanitation conscious. Once I got that task done, my goal was to finish my run without getting run over by a bicycle or hit by a door. It was an interesting run, with lots of cultural sights and friendly pedestrians wondering what the heck I was doing running through the streets with a white stick in my hand. I was also carrying an emergency phone. When it rang at a busy intersection, the pilot van checking to make sure I was on the right track, I pulled it out from its hiding place inside my jog bra along with about 3,000 yen which went flying. I only retrieved one bill before the rest traveled into traffic. Some one will find the yen and have a treat on me. U.S. worth: about $20.

I finished my run handing off to our Japanese runner Taeko and then we all made a beeline to the exchange at Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Tower is a large communications tower built in the 1960’s for the World Expo. It is taller than the Eiffel Tower but weighs half as much and was built in less than a year. Its base is surrounded by a lovely park where we had the final exchange in Japan. The Silver Team was there to greet Taeko as she ran down a sidewalk lined with trees into a small square where the BPR banners flew. Also in attendance were the President of Japan Dow, many Dow employees, Taeko's family and friends and the media. It was a lovely event followed by a question and answer session with Taeko, Jason her fiance and our runner from Canada, and Team Silver.

The flight was restful. I watched a movie, ate and then slept. Waiting at the San Francisco airport with his chiropractic table all set up to work on the runners was my friend Gordy Ainsleigh. Gordy is the founder of the Western States 100 and just finished his 22nd running of this event at age 60. He is an amazing specimen and was super to come and give many of us adjustments. We really needed them after all the bumpy and cramped driving through places like the Gobi. Our team now has a dynamite massage therapist travelling with us to New York who is committed to giving us each a massage on our days off. I scored one at the hotel after the adjustment. Except for a head cold from all the air conditioning in Japan and the flight, I'€™m feeling like I'€™ll be ready for our whirlwind journey across the United States. I run tonight with Team Green from Fremont to Los Gatos, California. We will then be travelling along the coastline through beautiful places like Big Sur until we reach Los Angeles.

We have some big events scheduled including yesterday in San Francisco and today in Pittsburgh. We can now really spread the message and gather support in our native tongues. Water is life. Pass it on!