Day 6: Hello Desert!

Yucca Valley, CA to (beyond) Twentynine Palms, CA
Today: 32 miles / Total: 203 miles
Guest Blogger: Mike Sheehy

Today was another adventure on the Cures Rock! Tour! The long rolling highway led us through Yucca Valley during the early morning and then guided us through Twentynine Palms, CA and into the desert. For the next couple days it is just us and Highway 62. I am feeling fine. Still running a 9:00 minute pace. Today’s course allowed me to do a little off road running so my legs had a break from the pavement. It was a lot of fun running dirt trails and getting a little dirty. Suzanne wins the 200 mile award! [What does she win? An opportunity to run a leg on Day 7!]

Many folks have asked what do we do at night after the run, so I thought I would share with you how we survive each night. Let me just share with everyone how the evening unfolds on the Cures Rock! Tour:

After each run (between 2:00 – 4:00 pm depending on that day's route), I am quickly handed a Myoplex shake (thanks to Abbott Nutrition for the love) to begin the recovery process. So we toast the day with the shake, tell some funny stories (mainly the crew makes fun of me for running slow or something I have done silly during the day), and then we hurry back to the hotel. While the crew downloads the vehicle, I start my stretching routine.

Thanks to Suzanne, I am officially an “adult” because I now stretch. She has me on a complete routine that has me stretching every muscle in every way. Then, it is off to the foam roller. Tonight, the entire hotel staff laughed because I had to use the foam roller in the hallway, since the room did not provide enough room. But the entire hotel definitely knows we are here. Great awareness technique! Then….and only then...comes the ever popular ice bath. Yes, the entire crew saves all the ice from the day, and seeks out all the ice in the hotel, to get their revenge on me for keeping them out in the sun for 6 – 8 hours. I soak in the ice bath for 20 minutes, not a second longer. It works like a charm, but not something I would recommend for date night! During the ice bath I enjoy my cocktail of choice, Phosphagen Elite (again, thanks Abbott Nutrition)!

After the ice bath, we head out to the team dinner. Choices have ranged from Tootsie’s BBQ (in Palm Springs) to Mickey’s Pizza tonight (in Twentynine Palms). To all the nutritionists out there, I am trying, so please don’t yell at me. After dinner, the crew preps the vehicles for the next day while I respond to your e-mails, write this blog and review the course for the next day.

Then, right before bed, I have on more special event. I bring out the DJO Compex (muscle stimulator fitness trainer). It works so well in giving me my own private, recovery massage. What an amazing device! I highly recommend them to any one who does athletic activities of any nature. My brother just gets a kick out of watching it “twitch” my muscles. After the 25 – 30 minute routine, it is lights out!

The “Live Life to the Ultra” moment today was the arrival of the communication team of Andre and Wild Bill. [Yes, his name is really Wild Bill.] These guys outfitted our vehicles on Day 1 with our communications equipment. The equipment includes two long range radios, with handhelds and one handheld for me and the pacer. This allows us all to remain in constant communication during the run. This communication plan has been a cornerstone for our safety plan. Then they showed up tonight with encouragement, high energy and beers!

The song for today is Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane and is dedicated to Mike. Who is Mike? Mike is a journeyman who we have seen over the last two days. He has walked over 3000 miles all over the US. He originated in Minnesota and is heading to Tucson, AZ. He is just a man enjoying America, one step at a time. He is doing 17 miles a day and wished us well on our journey. So if you are driving the 62 over the next week or so, keep a look out for Mike in his ASU shirt; he is a good soul. Thanks for sharing the trail today Mike!

Tomorrow, we run into the desert a little further and come back to the Holiday Inn Express in Twentynine Palms, CA. Keep an eye out for us if you are on Highway 62 or in cyber-space (Twitter: CuresRock & CuresRockTour Facebook: www.Facebook.com/CuresRock)

Good night, Jackson!

Pictured:

1. Sign post in Twentynine Palms/CA-62 that reads, "Cross traffic does not stop." No stopping, Mike!

2. Mike Sheehy running with Cures Rock! Founder, Julie Westcott, along CA-62 heading into Twentynine Palms, CA.

3. Mike Sheehy recovering from his 32 mile run from Yucca Valley to Twentynine Palms - grabbing his protein with a Myoplex from Abbott Nutritionals.

4. Part of Mike Sheehy's recovery routine is getting out knots with the evil foam roller...today, he only had room to do it in the Holiday Inn Express' hallway (they've been a GREAT hotel!!)

5. Andre H. & Wild Bill joined the team to support with satellite and radio communication for safety!