I first attempted to run across the United States in 1986 at the age of 21. That was nearly 40 years ago and that attempt ended with an injury. Then, in 2006 I attempted a coast-to-coast run across the U.S. solo... with no support vehicle or team. I completed that journey from Oregon to Delaware in 108 days on the pavement, averaging 30 miles per day for the 3,260-mile route that included 15 states. I was 41 years old when I finally accomplished my goal.
Over the past 40+ years, I have read news stories, blogs, magazine articles, and more about people taking on the challenge of running across America. I've written in this blog before about those who have been caught cheating on such runs -- skipping portions of the route by riding in a vehicle. Some crossers are motivated by gaining attention, acquiring more social media followers, raising money, and so on. Today's crossers seem to focus more on social media postings of their daily efforts rather than focusing on the adventure itself. Many go less than 20 miles per day and have a support vehicle. There are those rare few who take on the challenge solo while averaging a marathon or more per day. Some make it, many don't.
I've been following the crossing attempts of a few runners lately aiming to add their names to the ranks of transcontinental runners. One recently blogged that he was facing a challenging stretch of his chosen route that was over 100 miles of desolate countryside, so he decided to arrange for a vehicle to transport him over that section. That is NOT a coast-to-coast run -- no matter how he tries to justify it in his mind by saying that he'll make up the mileage somehow down the road. To skip a section (allowable by law for pedestrians) by riding in a car is to take yourself out of the ranks of a true coast-to-coast runner. When I crossed in 2006, I was incredibly focused on making sure that I covered every step allowable by pedestrian laws in America. The only stretch that I was not allowed by our government to run was a high-security bridge near Washington D.C. (Chesapeake Bay Bridge, approximately 4 miles). I had nearly worked out a police escort over the bridge so that I could run across it, but had uninvited interference in communications with the security personnel by someone who had been tracking my progress online -- and the confusion that interference caused with the security office ultimately made them pull the plug on my crossing on foot with an escort.
It's becoming more common for coast-to-coast runners to feel comfortable with simply catching a ride over portions of their chosen route that they deem to be too challenging. That's the idea! It's supposed to be challenging! When I ran 506 miles solo across the Mojave Deserts in 2011 all alone... it was challenging! It was an adventure! It was painful, difficult, and exhausting. That's the whole idea! It should be. I didn't catch a ride on a turtle or flag down the vultures to come and carry me away. I ran. Period. It's a right, left, right, left repetitive and daunting regimen... but that's what it's all about.
When I made my first attempt to run across America nearly 40 years ago, it was a huge undertaking. There was no Internet or social media audience. There was no online fundraising portals, couch surfing sites, or media attention. It was just me and the road, and most people that saw me had no clue what I was doing. Today, it seems that too many continent crossers simply want attention, online followers, money, and to get their name known. Sadly, it seems that true adventurers who take on a run across the United States simply for the challenge of it (and not all of the attention and such) are fading away. You can disagree if you want to. However, being a runner who has followed transcontinental crossings for over 40 years, and who has had one unsuccessful attempt and one successful attempt, I've seen quite a change in how these runs are approached and actually done.
Yes, I believe that coast-to-coast running attempts are losing the "adventure" challenge that they once had. It's becoming easier for runners to simply catch a ride or to find someone to take them in -- thanks to the Internet. With Google maps, there's no wondering anymore what's around the next bend in the road. We've got detailed weather information at our fingertips, so there's no more reading the skies for cloud patterns and what weather might be stirring on the horizon. Using social media, everything is now captured in real time and many things seem staged. I do miss the days of the true grit cross country attempts from one ocean to another. No social media... no electronic maps... no rides in vehicles over tough sections... and no turning to the Internet world for help with problems that arise. I can honestly say that I'm glad that I made my first attempt long before the Internet came around, and that I made my successful crossing in 2006 before iPhones, the world-wide grip of social media, and the popularity of Google maps. The flip phone I used was just fine, the paper maps I used were sufficient, and the blog that I updated with some photos every 5 days or so was fine. In 2006, I had become only the 5th person in history to run solo coast-to-coast across America, and it was truly a genuine adventure.
I wish all future crossers the best of luck and I offer a piece of advice. Be sure to keep your eyes more on the road than on your social media accounts. The real adventure is happening in your strides, not in how many followers you have. Run on!
Gotta Run,
Paul J. Staso
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Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
