Lawrence artist Stan Herd, second from left, and his son Evan, 14, second from right, embark on a 12-day, 100-mile run from Lawrence to the Flint Hills. Herd started Monday morning near Clinton Lake with, from left, Chris Ford, Allen Levine and Steve Dinneen.

After his 105-mile trek through the Flint Hills, local crop artist Stan Herd is about 8 pounds lighter, a little sunburned and in good spirits.

“I feel better than I have for a long time,” Herd said.

His journey started in Lawrence on May 29 and ended late Thursday. With his 14-year-old son, Evan, by his side, Herd walked, ran and painted his way through the Flint Hills, pausing in Emporia, Council Grove and Cottonwood Falls.

Along the way, he completed about 15 paintings of the surrounding landscapes. Most of them will be sold to benefit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The main reason Herd made the long journey, he said, was to raise awareness for KDHE’s “Get Caught Recycling” campaign.

Herd traveled between 10 and 25 miles each day through 90-degree heat. He said the beauty of the Flint Hills, specifically near Cottonwood Falls, kept him going.