Last year I developed a “Best Of” list from my trip. I had a blast creating it, so I figured that I needed to do it again.

Dollars raised for the Iron Phi program – $2,167.50

Worst weather for run – Memphis (Rain)

Best weather for run – Athens

Most used item that I had to borrow – Scented trash bag from Sparky Reardon.

Clutch performer – Gabby Leon (Getting us to the airport on time after daylight savings fiasco)

Best building – Parthenon  (Nashville)

Best mural – Lucky Charms, Atlanta

Best accessory – Cincinnati Bengals T-Shirt

Best digs – Hilton Atlanta

Most unique digs – The Pattee Toy Room (Nashville)

Most dangerous moment – Running into an in-ground fountain (Birmingham)

Best hot lap – Max Chapman in backyard. Peabody ducks in fountain were a close second.

Best monument – Vulcan Statue (Birmingham)

Riskiest moment – Jumping Expo Pool fence to take picture

Riskiest landmark – Top Hat (Fort Dodge)

Best Megabus seatmate – Chuck – We watched Harlem Shake videos (Nashville to Memphis)

Coolest Megabus stop – Union Station, Chicago

Best new travel experience – Uber

Best decision – Not eating fresh juicy pig lips mid-run (Birmingham)

Best fan club – Pattee Kids (Nashville)

Favorite blog post – Fort Dodge

Items damaged – 4 (Cracked phone, top handle broke on day-pack, buckle on backpack broke, sent headphones through washer)

Best tour – Lane (St. Judes)

Best alternative transportation mode – Public bikes in Nashville

Best bar – Tootsie’s (Nashville)

Best homemade breakfast – Oatmeal – Andy Tomka, Chicago (Retains title)

Best run (felt the best) – Atlanta

Funniest running buddies – Charlie and Bret (Oxford)

Most landmarks purchased – Anne & Don Davidson

Most crucial shower – Memphis

Funniest Megabus moment – Chicago Bus Driver Announcement (Don’t be takin’ your time gettin’ off this bus)

Most hardcore running buddy – Blake Utley (Ran 3 miles prior to meeting up with me)

Best gift– Lard Have Mercy Shirt (Sparky Reardon)

Most miles with one person – Jeremy Sale (13.6 miles)

Best food moment – Re-introduction to Taco Tico

Best coffee shop – High Point Coffee (Oxford)

Most frequented establishment – Love’s Travel Stops

Most knowledgeable running buddy – Chris Chapman

Best campus – Ole Miss

Best Phi Delt moment – Reaching the Iron Horse Statue with a fellow Iron Phi

Best local beer experience – Southern Pecan (Memphis)

Worst mid-run decision – Chugging Coca-Cola (Atlanta)

Best beard – Jason of Good People Brewery (Birmingham)

Best fashion – Matthew Porchivina

Funniest conversation – Amelia (Birmingham)

Longest run – Birmingham, 9.35 miles

Shortest run – Athens – 5.1 miles

Best stadium – Sanford Stadium (Athens)

Most random landmark – Tree That Owns Itself (Athens)

Longest bus ride – Chicago to Nashville (9 hours)

Shortest bus ride – Birmingham to Atlanta (2:55 hours)

Cheapest bus ticket – All of them ($1)

Most generous transporters – Four-way tie (Ben Boden,  Matthew Porchivina, Lynn Chapman, Gabby Leon)

Total number of miles (running) – 61.63

Total number of miles on bus – ~1,161

Best collegiate sports experience – Ole Miss Basketball Game

Coolest story – Blake Utley’s high school running program