California man bikes, runs Route 66

LEBANON, Mo. -- Geores Clevenger's cross-country running and biking trek on Route 66 started out as a joke after his 66th birthday.

"Someone asked me how old I was and I replied, 'I'm doing Route 66,"' said Clevenger of Berkeley, Calif. "It started out as a joke, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured it's now or never."

Each day, he runs about six miles in the morning and six miles in the evening.

"I'm not trying to break any speed records," said Clevenger, who started April 6 in Chicago and plans to end the trip Oct. 26 in Los Angeles. "I just want to take it nice and easy, talking to people along the way."

The trip is taking him through Missouri this week and includes stops in Lebanon and Conway.

To keep him motivated through the rough spots, he keeps a picture of World War II icon Rosie the Riveter on his dashboard.

"I can remember the women of World War II challenging themselves for a bigger cause," Clevenger said.

"If those women could do it, so can I."

The Associated Press

LEBANON, Mo. -- Geores Clevenger's cross-country running and biking trek on Route 66 started out as a joke after his 66th birthday.

"Someone asked me how old I was and I replied, 'I'm doing Route 66,"' said Clevenger of Berkeley, Calif. "It started out as a joke, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured it's now or never."

Each day, he runs about six miles in the morning and six miles in the evening.

"I'm not trying to break any speed records," said Clevenger, who started April 6 in Chicago and plans to end the trip Oct. 26 in Los Angeles. "I just want to take it nice and easy, talking to people along the way."

The trip is taking him through Missouri this week and includes stops in Lebanon and Conway.

To keep him motivated through the rough spots, he keeps a picture of World War II icon Rosie the Riveter on his dashboard.

"I can remember the women of World War II challenging themselves for a bigger cause," Clevenger said.

"If those women could do it, so can I."