July 28th
- Runner: Richard Johnson
- Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Currently Resides: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Language(s): English, Spanish
- Family: Son: Kareem, age 4
- Statement: "You have to help the people in need if we are all going to survive in a decent, happy world.” – Richard Johnson, 2007
Wow was China a rough place for the whole team to be. I know 13 of the 21 runners got sick and 4 staff members. Trying to run 10 miles while sick for three days is nothing nice at all but thanks to my team members they helped me get through all my runs more or less in one piece. This is how all the sickness got started. The very first night at the hotel we all ate at the same hotel restaurant and we all went crazy with the amount that we ate. The past few weeks we had been warned numerous times on what to eat and how much so we had no problems. Once we arrived in China and saw all this wonderful food that we were used to eating in the states we let loose. The thing we overlooked was how they prepare the same food. What ever they put it took out three teams on the blue planet run squad. The only teams and people that the food did not affect was the people that did not stay at the hotel or that did not eat there. The great thing about this unfortunate situation is that all the members that could still run did and the ones that did not get sick stepped up their mileage to help out the ones that could not run. This run has truly been an extreme high level of team work.
Song for the day- “Road Runner” band- Joan Jet
August 19th
Well in about 3 hours it will be my birthday and I am still out here running my 10 miles at least everyday.
August 14th
Tonight here in Colorado we were joined by a host of guest runners. The grey team arrived to the exchange point about 25 minutes late because their guest runners slowed them down.
August 13th
This evening my friend Ken Bechtel joined me for my 10 miles run outside of Denver at 10,000ft. Ken walked across the country with me last year for the Steps Across America program.
August 6th
Today my team started the 9am-to 3pm shift. We have been on the night shift now for three weeks due to injuries, time changes, and unfortunate luck.
August 1st
Well the time has come for the Unit Blue to set foot on United States soil. We have been waiting for this day actually since we started the whole blue planet run.
July 31st
This is my 5th time to Japan and I love it every time I come. The first place I look to go is Moss Burger.
July 28th
Wow was China a rough place for the whole team to be. I know 13 of the 21 runners got sick and 4 staff members.
July 21st- Cable Television or Water?
We crossed the border into Mongolia today and it was not that bad. It took a total of about 60 minutes to leave Russia and 30 minutes to enter Mongolia.
July 20th- Last in Line!
Today marks the last day of running in Russia. I fortunately had the honor of running the last 10 miles to the border.
July 15th- To the Mountain Top!
Up, Up, and away is what my run felt like today. The first part was pretty nice and flat through a small Russian town.