Today I’m embarking in my 4th 24 Hours From Home Challenge. This is a race created curing the COVID-19 pandemic. Its design is simple, start at your house and walk or run as far as the crow flies (straight line) away from your house. Efficiency in route planning is rewarded along with being able to walk a long freaking time. I’ve typically gone west and I decided to walk east this year. I had a decent route set up and my training was decent. My primary goal was to walk 32 or more miles. That would be one mile further than my best ever in the event.
Like any good plan, it has to adapt. Unfortunately, my cousin Tara Bryant died suddenly. This weekend was her funeral and it was not something I was going to miss. This meant that I had less time for the event as I needed to drive to Kansas City on Friday.
I started off around 3pm after work on Thursday from my house. I started walking east towards downtown St. Louis. I wanted to cross the McKinley bridge as it has a separated pedestrian walkway.
It was an easy day without too much sun. I was wearing long sleeves and a hat to stay protected from the sun. I enjoyed a few strange decorations as I walked along. Somewhere in north St. Louis, I discovered what looked like a burnt out helicopter. But if you look closer, you’ll see its just a metal frame. And in the background is a building. Its a training center for firefighters.
Eventually deep into the evening, I came across a bar with a nice welcome sign. I went in to rest my feet and drink a beer. The bartender was very friendly and we chatted a little about what I was doing.
I walked on. Danelle and Sonora called as they had just finished watching a St. Louis Blues game in person and came to meet me with more water. They met me at the entrance to a trail I was about to walk on. The first pedestrian only trail of the trip. Also what I would be taking for most of the rest of my walk. The girls were tired but I was feeling fantastic. I was topping off my phone in the car while I mixed a caffeinated drink in my water bladder. I was about 20 miles in and feeling great to walk through the night! All good thing must come to and end and I finally told the girls I needed to start walking again. I sent them on their way and smiled as everything was tracking as good as it could be.
Then I reached for my cell phone to start my music and continue walking and panicked! My phone was still charging in the car that was rapidly leaving me. I pulled off my headlamp and moved it back and forth to no avail. I watched Danelle and Sonora drive off with my phone. It was my only method of tracking progress for the race. I was now in the middle of nowhere with no communication or tracking for the race. I let out a few choice words. Okay, I let out a lot of choice words. I wanted to be extremely angry at Danelle and Sonora for driving away with my phone. However, it was fully my fault. I needed to be responsible for my gear.
I spent the next hour slowly walking back the way I came looking for any open business or person with a phone to call Danelle. I tried to stop at least fifty different cars. One person ran a red light to get away from me! Frustrated, I knew my race was over. I didn’t know if I needed to walk all the way home. I decided my best bet was to go back 2 miles to the bar and use a phone there. So I began the walk.
Back at the bar, the sweet bartender let me use her phone. It turns out that when Danelle answered, she was back at the trailhead with Sonora putting a bike together to ride down the path and find me with my phone. I explained where I was and to come get me. I was 10 miles short of my goal and probably could have beat it.
Rather than be angry, I centered myself and found peace. I would have enough time to sleep and be able to drive to KC the next afternoon to take care of family business. Hopefully next year, I’ll bring all my gear with me and get that elusive 32 mile mark!
On the map below, the stop point is the bar I originally stopped at and walked back to.
Hogan Haake