Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Running for the Gulf Coast

Continuing his inspirational adventure across the United States, Vicksburg, Miss., native Sam Thompson ran a full marathon for the 25th consecutive day when he finished the Louisville Marathon course in four hours, nine minutes today.

Thompson has reached the midpoint in his mission, which he began in Leadville, Colo., on July 1. He intends to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, and in so doing he aspires to remind the country that much still needs to be done to repair the damage that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wrought along the Gulf Coast last September. He also hopes to raise money for the rebuilding effort.

Thompson was living in Dallas but was visiting his parents in Vicksburg when the storms hit. Instead of returning home, he stayed in the area to help in the recovery until he started running earlier this month.

Thompson next will run the Healthy Huntington Marshall University Marathon route in Huntington, W. Va., today.