Two individual fifth grade classes of 48 students each virtually raced each other over 3,000 miles across the United States by logging miles at school... over the course of 9 months (nearly 3 marathons per child)... becoming the first classes in the U.S. to document such an accomplishment... and I (as promised) set out to run their actual route for real over the course of 108 days on the pavement alone... and all of that was considered a NON-STORY in the eyes of the Runner's World magazine editors in 2006. Yet today, 14 years later, they run an in-depth story about a guy who wants to bear-crawl a marathon. I simply shake my head in disbelief.
By definition, a non-story is information that is of no importance or of no interest to anyone. Unfortunately, the 2006 editors at Runner's World magazine felt that the accomplishment of those 10- and 11-year-old students wasn't interesting and that its readers would not be intrigued or inspired by what the young runners did... or my stepping out to keep a promise by actually running the 3,260-mile, 15-state route. In the past 14 years since, I have yet to read any story like it.
Two months after I finished running across America, Running Times magazine published an article through its website titled "Chasing a Promise." It explained my solo USA run and the running accomplishment of the students. Two months after that -- in February 2007 -- Runner's World magazine acquired Running Times magazine and all of the content at the Running Times website was pulled over to the Runner's World magazine website. As a result, the "Chasing a Promise" article can now be found at the Runner's World magazine website, even though it was written by a Running Times writer before the acquisition. In short, Runner's World never did report on the students' accomplishment and didn't want to write about the promise I made to 96 fifth graders. Surprising! Even The Washington Times reported on it!
Before Runner's World magazine called the students' accomplishment and my promise a "non-story," I had subscribed and read the magazine since 1977. However, I am no longer a subscriber.
From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso
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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek
Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
- Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
- Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
- Some Cycling Moments From The Past
