Upon arrival at the capitol building, I was told that Governor Schweitzer would not see me... even though I was literally a few feet outside of his office door. He was "occupied," as I was told. Instead, Mr. Bohlinger met with me alone and offered congratulations on the endeavor I was undertaking (he and I are in the accompanying photo).
At the time of my visit, Schweitzer had been in his role of governor for about 18 months. He stated to the press and voters that he was supportive of childhood education and prior to my visit had signed into law "Indian Education for All" funding. In fact, he invested more in both K-12 and higher education than any previous administration. On July 25 -- just outside of his door -- stood a 41-year-old man, a former elementary teacher, and a father of four children who was running across the United States to keep a promise he had made to 96 elementary students in Montana after they successfully completed a running and learning challenge that encompassed the entire school year. However, he would not open the door to shake my hand.
On the day that I arrived at the Montana capitol, Governor Schweitzer had given out the Governor's Efficiency Award for State Employees. He awarded framed palladium medals to three employees of the Department of Labor and Industry Business Standards Division's Board of Realty Regulation. The reason for the medals? These three employees had scanned documents onto compact disc, exercising -- as he stated in a press release -- "a conservation measure that saves trees and money." I guess keeping a promise to some kids by running 30+ miles alone every day across the country doesn't compare to scanning documents to CD.
That would not be the only time an elected politician didn't meet me as scheduled. When I ran into Washington D.C. during that coast-to-coast run, I was scheduled to meet Montana Senator Max Baucus -- who was supposedly aware of my undertaking and a fellow runner (in 1979, he became the first U.S senator to finish a marathon). At the time I had arrived in D.C., I had run 3,182 miles and was only 78 miles from the finish line. However, upon my arrival at the U.S. Senate building I was told that the Montana senator wouldn't be meeting me.
I didn't run across the country to meet politicians or influential people. I ran across to keep a promise. That I certainly accomplished!
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
