I found this story in the Hillsboro Free Press of Hillsboro, Kan., about a man who wrote a book about Oklahoma transcontinental runner Andy Payne. The author, Randy Ellis of Sapulpa, Okla., will speak on Nov. 21 in Tabor Collage.
“I really enjoy telling about a fascinating piece of history: a transcontinental running race that took place in 1928, which was used to publicize the new Route 66,” said Ellis. “My book compares and contrasts my run to that race.”
Ellis began his run on the California coast and ended it at the Atlantic Ocean on the South Carolina coast. His journey and insights are chronicled in his book, “Running with Payne: A Step-by-Step Journey Down Route 66 & Beyond,” published this year by Leathers Publishing.
His lighthearted account of both his dream and the 1928 piece of history is made even more interesting with an ongoing word puzzle and his penchant to play on words, including the word “Payne” in the book’s title.
It refers to both the excruciating physical stress and well as the name of the Indian runner who won the 1928 race. The 180-page paperback will be available at the meeting.
Ellis’ book also can be bought here.
I am interested in getting may hands on this book.Can you help me?
You can order it from Amazon.com. If you do a search called “Running with Payne,” it’ll pop right up.
I’ve read the book. And right now I’m doing a project on it for my Sports In Literature Class. It’s a map of the route Ellis took himself, with highlights from his journey. I titled it “Mapping Ellis”. I also know Randy personally, as for his wife Marcy, was my English teacher as well as my drama coach. He would be pleased to know that someone is promoting his book and enjoyed his antics.