From Chenoa, Illinois, in the corny armpit of middle America. There is nothing here for us to do but eat, sleep and run. We were lucky to find a homecooked restaurant which still served breakfast at 1pm. We slept from 6am to 1pm. We're back on Historic Old Route 66. My run in Team Green's return to graveyard shift was the muggiest, clammiest run I can recall other than in the tropics. I was surrounded by corn and cheeping crickets, cicadas and grasshoppers as we travelled north into pig farm country towards Chicago. Every once in awhile a shiny black beatle-like bug would skitter across the front of my path. In the distance a rooster crowed, its biological clock off schedule just like ours. The corn is high as an "elephant's eye" in these parts. The rain has moved out. My new shoes did the trick. These are my fourth pair since starting the run. Tonight we will be glad to have a night time shift. It's in the 90's, sunny and very muggy again.

We've had a bit of everything on this run. I was thinking about the contrasts while sitting at one of our dinner BBQs set up on a frontage road next to the interstate and next to a giant plastic elephant advertising an antique mall. In front of the mall stood a building sized plaster of paris Paul Bunyon. It was a comedic scene but we made it work. The 60's music, the good food, dancing and singing made it like any other such BPR gathering, whether it be in the gorgeous Rockies or on a tacky stretch of Illinois highway.

Terms of endearment have emerged from the group as well as nicknames poking fun as one does within families. I've been promoted from "crazy old lady from Vermont" to "Pocahontas" to "salad maker." Laura is our "Brazilian princess." Jason has graduated from "animal" to "indian." Some names I don't dare repeat, not because they're inappropriate but out of context the names may not be flattering and certainly would not make sense to third parties.

My photo taking since we hit middle America has been sporadic. Team Green is just not hitting many photogenic places and certainly there's not much to shoot in the dark. When we run at night it really is just us and the pilot car. Our pilot crew right now includes favorites Janelle and Fast Eddie as well as a wonderful EMT named Rick. We look forward to seeing them as well as the team coming on. Last night our driver Rob ran his first 10 miles ever and we proclaimed him a real runner. Janelle biked with us and Jason's fiance joined us in the van for the night and biked with Jason. Team Green just keeps motoring along in good health and spirit despite the fatigue and sameness. There have been some very special moments and laughter shared in the middle of the night amidst the corn.

Middle America feels very family friendly and the people remain very nice and helpful. We've passed through many small communities with neat lawns and small schools. Lots of churches too. Surrounding these small communities are Walmart malls and strips of fast food, gas and lodging establishments next to highways. Lunch at a good local Italian restaurant in Staunton, Illinois, when served was described as "American size" by our Japanese runner Taeko. The servings are far too large as are many of the people. It disturbs me to no end that Americans and their eating habits are so oversized. Ironically, many of the runners including myself gained a few pounds from the wonderful breads and pastries in Europe, and in Russia because of all the cokes and beers, less running than at home, and too much sitting. Those who got sick lost the extra pounds and then some. All of us, whether lighter or heavier, have certainly had our bodies change to some degree, perhaps redistributed our weight and even built more muscle. But certainly none of us has a weight problem and many of us are taking home doggie bags from our American meals. I do look forward to cooking for myself again and to my favorite restaurants back home.

We are upset and following news of the serious storms and natural events affecting other parts of the country and the world, with most of the damage being caused by water. If there were only a way to take the destructive waters and turn them into safe drinking water for the billion people who need it, we would have solved the problem.

Water is life. Pass it on!