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Pat's Virtual Run Across America
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- North America
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Location Date California 1503702000 Arizona 1500073200 New Mexico 1490914800 Texas 
1486166400 Louisiana 1463698800 Mississippi 1457740800 Alabama 1456012800 Florida 1453507200 -
Location Date El Paso 1486166400 Fabens, Tx 1485561600 Fort Hancock 1483142400 Sierra Blanca 1482537600 Van Horn 1481932800 Balmorhea 1479772800 Fort Stockton 1478822400 Sheffield 1477090800 Ozona 1476486000 Sonora 1476054000 Roosevelt 1474758000 Junction 1474066800 Kerrville 1472857200 Boerne 1472252400 San Antonio
1471647600 Seguin 1470438000 Luling 1469833200 Schulenburg 1469228400 Columbus 1468623600 Katy 1467932400 Houston 1467414000 Mont Belvieu 1466204400 Winnie 1464994800 Beaumont 1464390000
Hello from the Alamo!
Run Stats:
Day: 232
Miles Completed: 843.5
Miles to San Diego: 1256.5
Avg Miles/Day: 3.6
Marathons Completed: 32.2
Longest Run Streak: 9 days
Current Run Streak: 2 days
Shoes: Skora Fit/Skora Tempo
Playlist Favs: Downhere, FM Static, needtobreathe
Bible Verse of the Day: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10
Run Reflections: Yesterday I reached San Antonio so thought I'd share a virtual visit to The Alamo. I'm still heading west on I-10 and am not quite to the middle of TX. The road veers to the north from here with a long leg towards El Paso. I haven't checked the mileage yet, but it looks like there will be plenty of time to learn more about the history and culture of this state. Jody and I got to visit the Alamo and see some of San Antonio several years ago. Jody as still working for Delta and we did a space available trip out there to see Paul McCartney in concert. The concert was awesome (I'm pretty sure Paul waved at us as we were the only ones standing when he was singing "My Love") and we enjoyed the Alamo and their downtown Riverwalk. I hope you enjoy this mini-history lesson.
The Alamo: Sources for this input included wikipedia and an about eduction web site - militaryhistory.about.com. I've included a couple of pictures of the Alamo including a depiction of the actual battle.
The Battle of the Alamo took place from February 23 – March 6, 1836 and was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio).
Several months previously, Texans had driven all Mexican troops out of Mexican Texas. About 100 Texans were then garrisoned at the Alamo. The Texan force grew slightly with the arrival of reinforcements, led by eventual Alamo co-commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis. The reinforcements also included famed frontiersman and former U.S. congressman Davy Crockett.
On February 23, approximately 1,500 Mexicans marched into San Antonio de Béxar as the first step in a campaign to retake Texas. For the next 10 days the two armies engaged in several skirmishes with minimal casualties. Aware that his garrison could not withstand an attack by such a large force, Travis wrote multiple letters pleading for more men and supplies, but fewer than 100 reinforcements arrived there. In the early morning hours of March 6, the Mexican Army advanced on the Alamo. After repulsing two attacks, the Texans were unable to fend off a third attack.
The Battle cost the Texans the entire 180-250-man garrison. Mexican casualties are disputed but were approximately 600 killed and wounded. While co-commanders William B. Travis and James "Jim" Bowie were killed in the fighting, Crockett's death is a subject of controversy. While some sources state that he was killed during the battle, others indicate that he was one of the seven survivors executed on Santa Anna's orders.
Following his victory at the Alamo, Santa Anna moved quickly to destroy Sam Houston's small Texas Army. Outnumbered, Houston began retreating towards the US border. Moving with a flying column of 1,400 men, Santa Anna encountered the Texans at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Charging the Mexican camp, and yelling "Remember the Alamo," Houston's men routed Santa Anna's troops. The next day, Santa Anna was captured effectively securing Texan independence.
Within Mexico, the battle has often been overshadowed by events from the Mexican-American War of 1846–48. In 19th-century Texas, the Alamo complex gradually became known as a battle site rather than a former mission. The Texas Legislature purchased the land and buildings in the early part of the 20th century and designated the Alamo chapel as an official Texas State Shrine. The Alamo is now "the most popular tourist site in Texas" and has been the subject of numerous non-fiction works beginning in 1843. Most Americans, however, are more familiar with the myths spread by many of the movie and television adaptations, including the 1950s Disney miniseries "Davy Crockett", John Wayne's 1960 film and the 2004 remake starring Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton and Jason Patric.
Wikipedia identified that a number of songwriters have been inspired by the Battle of the Alamo over the years. Tennessee Ernie Ford's "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" spent 16 weeks on the country music charts, peaking at No. 4 in 1955. Texan folk singer Jane Bowers composed the song "Remember to Alamo" describing the last days of the soldiers and famous figures who fought at the Alamo. Tex Ritter first released the song as a B-side of "Gunsmoke" in 1955 and the song has been covered over the years by many top country and folk artists including: The Kingston Trio, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Donovan. Special shout out to any of you who know what a "B-side" is :-)
I thought it was cool that an event from the 1800's would continue to live on for hundreds of years. I also thought it was cool that I was a Donovan who was at The Alamo and a guy named Donovan actually sang about the Battle I'm highlighting here. Given that, I've found and included (I think) a youtube video of Donovan singing this song. The video was made by bernie48 and posted 4 years ago. It has had almost 15,000 views and shows pictures and images of the Alamo and the battle as the song plays. I hope the link works and you enjoy it.
donovan remember the alamo
This story reminds me of a couple of things that seem relevant today. First, it reminds me of all our service men and women who are on the front lines defending our freedom and all of the police officers and first responders who step in the gap locally every day to support and protect us. I'm also reminded of the many families who are displaced from their homes and struggling right now in Louisiana, an area I ran through not too long ago. I hope you'll join me in praying for them this week and perhaps join in one of the many relief efforts that are being organized to try to help out.
Hope you all have a great week!
God Bless,
Pat
Run Stats:
Day: 232
Miles Completed: 843.5
Miles to San Diego: 1256.5
Avg Miles/Day: 3.6
Marathons Completed: 32.2
Longest Run Streak: 9 days
Current Run Streak: 2 days
Shoes: Skora Fit/Skora Tempo
Playlist Favs: Downhere, FM Static, needtobreathe
Bible Verse of the Day: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10
Run Reflections: Yesterday I reached San Antonio so thought I'd share a virtual visit to The Alamo. I'm still heading west on I-10 and am not quite to the middle of TX. The road veers to the north from here with a long leg towards El Paso. I haven't checked the mileage yet, but it looks like there will be plenty of time to learn more about the history and culture of this state. Jody and I got to visit the Alamo and see some of San Antonio several years ago. Jody as still working for Delta and we did a space available trip out there to see Paul McCartney in concert. The concert was awesome (I'm pretty sure Paul waved at us as we were the only ones standing when he was singing "My Love") and we enjoyed the Alamo and their downtown Riverwalk. I hope you enjoy this mini-history lesson.
The Alamo: Sources for this input included wikipedia and an about eduction web site - militaryhistory.about.com. I've included a couple of pictures of the Alamo including a depiction of the actual battle.
The Battle of the Alamo took place from February 23 – March 6, 1836 and was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio).
Several months previously, Texans had driven all Mexican troops out of Mexican Texas. About 100 Texans were then garrisoned at the Alamo. The Texan force grew slightly with the arrival of reinforcements, led by eventual Alamo co-commanders James Bowie and William B. Travis. The reinforcements also included famed frontiersman and former U.S. congressman Davy Crockett.
On February 23, approximately 1,500 Mexicans marched into San Antonio de Béxar as the first step in a campaign to retake Texas. For the next 10 days the two armies engaged in several skirmishes with minimal casualties. Aware that his garrison could not withstand an attack by such a large force, Travis wrote multiple letters pleading for more men and supplies, but fewer than 100 reinforcements arrived there. In the early morning hours of March 6, the Mexican Army advanced on the Alamo. After repulsing two attacks, the Texans were unable to fend off a third attack.
The Battle cost the Texans the entire 180-250-man garrison. Mexican casualties are disputed but were approximately 600 killed and wounded. While co-commanders William B. Travis and James "Jim" Bowie were killed in the fighting, Crockett's death is a subject of controversy. While some sources state that he was killed during the battle, others indicate that he was one of the seven survivors executed on Santa Anna's orders.
Following his victory at the Alamo, Santa Anna moved quickly to destroy Sam Houston's small Texas Army. Outnumbered, Houston began retreating towards the US border. Moving with a flying column of 1,400 men, Santa Anna encountered the Texans at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Charging the Mexican camp, and yelling "Remember the Alamo," Houston's men routed Santa Anna's troops. The next day, Santa Anna was captured effectively securing Texan independence.
Within Mexico, the battle has often been overshadowed by events from the Mexican-American War of 1846–48. In 19th-century Texas, the Alamo complex gradually became known as a battle site rather than a former mission. The Texas Legislature purchased the land and buildings in the early part of the 20th century and designated the Alamo chapel as an official Texas State Shrine. The Alamo is now "the most popular tourist site in Texas" and has been the subject of numerous non-fiction works beginning in 1843. Most Americans, however, are more familiar with the myths spread by many of the movie and television adaptations, including the 1950s Disney miniseries "Davy Crockett", John Wayne's 1960 film and the 2004 remake starring Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton and Jason Patric.
Wikipedia identified that a number of songwriters have been inspired by the Battle of the Alamo over the years. Tennessee Ernie Ford's "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" spent 16 weeks on the country music charts, peaking at No. 4 in 1955. Texan folk singer Jane Bowers composed the song "Remember to Alamo" describing the last days of the soldiers and famous figures who fought at the Alamo. Tex Ritter first released the song as a B-side of "Gunsmoke" in 1955 and the song has been covered over the years by many top country and folk artists including: The Kingston Trio, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Donovan. Special shout out to any of you who know what a "B-side" is :-)
I thought it was cool that an event from the 1800's would continue to live on for hundreds of years. I also thought it was cool that I was a Donovan who was at The Alamo and a guy named Donovan actually sang about the Battle I'm highlighting here. Given that, I've found and included (I think) a youtube video of Donovan singing this song. The video was made by bernie48 and posted 4 years ago. It has had almost 15,000 views and shows pictures and images of the Alamo and the battle as the song plays. I hope the link works and you enjoy it.
donovan remember the alamo
This story reminds me of a couple of things that seem relevant today. First, it reminds me of all our service men and women who are on the front lines defending our freedom and all of the police officers and first responders who step in the gap locally every day to support and protect us. I'm also reminded of the many families who are displaced from their homes and struggling right now in Louisiana, an area I ran through not too long ago. I hope you'll join me in praying for them this week and perhaps join in one of the many relief efforts that are being organized to try to help out.
Hope you all have a great week!
God Bless,
Pat
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