To Iowa and back!

I walked to Iowa today. It just sounds so cool to say it! I walked to Iowa- across one whole state.

Granted, where I am staying in Omaha (Old Market, downtown) is not too far from Council Bluffs, Iowa- but just the idea that I could walk across state lines, across the Missouri river is a pretty cool prospect! And who'd've guessed that the weather would be so gorgeous today! at least 72-75 in the sun.

Last time I wrote I was finally feeling better after being for almost a week. By that Thursday I was feeling 100% whole again- had my voice back, not coughing, not wheezy or stuffy. It was great! Then on Friday I picked up lunch from a place called Taco John's- which is similar to a Taco Bell out here in the Mid-West. (Note to self- do not trust any restaurant named after a Mexican Bathroom!)


Needless to say- while it tasted great going down- it did not taste great coming back up. And it started coming back up Friday afternoon before class ended. I had to excuse myself from class between presentations to run to the bathroom. I ended up sick Friday night, all day Sat and was feeling better on Sunday- so I decided to venture out and see if I could actually do the 11miles I was scheduled to do on my training.

I started out by walking in downtown Omaha- in and out of the streets. From 10th up to 19th and back down. Up Jackson and down Farnam, and all the streets in between. When I had exhausted the downtown and hadn't gone more than 7 miles, I decided to hear for the bridge. This pedestrian bridge has only been up for a couple years- so its pretty neat to see it like the Brooklyn bridge, all suspension wires and people.


I went across it to Iowa and started heading toward the most recognizable landmark, the HARRAH's casino. Once I made it there I decided to turn back and go back across the bridge. By then I got a text from Jen that they had picked up Katie (a new student from OR) and had returned my rental car to the hotel lot. They were sitting down for lunch- so I asked if I could join them.

I went through the Heartland of America Park near the ConAgra HQ and back out into Old Market. By the time I walked up to the restaurant I was only at 10.85 miles, so I had to walk around the block a couple times to make sure I hit 11miles. I wasn't too exhausted to do it- and I really really wanted to get to that 11mile mark and hear the Lance Armstrong message.

I walked into the restaurant, that said proper attire required- hoping that meant shoes and shirts- not NO SWEATY PEOPLE IN WORKOUT GEAR, and went straight to the bathroom to try to wash up a little. My hands were swollen and I had to pee- but other than that- I was feeling pretty great for having walked 11 miles in one shot! Today I did 11.01 miles in 3 hours- not too shabby!