My Life Has Greatly Changed Since I Conquered The Mojave Desert

This week marks six years since I completed my solo run across the Mojave Desert. My life is very different, in many ways, than it was six years ago.

Five years ago I went through a divorce. About 2½ years ago I relocated from Montana to Indiana to accept a position with a law firm. In August 2015 I met Kelley and in November 2016 she and I became engaged. Last year I made the decision to retire from running across states and countries. The past six years since completing that 506-mile, 17-day run across the Mojave have been filled with change, adjustment and refocusing on the direction of my life.

I'm 52 years old and am the father of four incredible children, ranging in age from 17 to 24. I've been blessed in countless ways in my life and do not take for granted any opportunities or successes I've been fortunate to have. My fiancé is a wonderful woman who I love and respect with all of my heart, and who has been instrumental in helping me gain a clearer perspective and focus in my life. I am happy, healthy and excelling.

My running cap, shades and stroller have been replaced with office attire and a Buick. The roads of America are no longer my office and school children are no longer my audience. I am working in a field that I first started in nearly 25 years ago — law. I handle an array of cases dealing with securities fraud, construction liability, personal injury, and more. Having previously worked for law firms in Alaska and Montana, as well as in the legal division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, I'm pleased to be with a firm that has a renown reputation for quality work and success.

Are there more changes on the horizon for me? Sure there are! I'll be getting married to my best friend; setting new athletic goals; and, changing the wallpaper in my office! Yes, the past six years have been a time of change, adjustment and refocus. Now it's time to run forward in my life and to look forward to all that the coming years and decades have to offer.

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

The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation Still Exists!

The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation, Inc. is a youth fitness Foundation that I launched many years ago. The Foundation's mission has been to encourage, educate, inspire, and motivate children worldwide to adopt life-long habits toward a healthy lifestyle; to expand their knowledge of the world around them; and, to pursue their goals and dreams with the abilities they possess. I've literally run thousands of miles to try and be a living example of what P.A.C.E. is all about. P.A.C.E. stands for "Promoting Active Children Everywhere."

In November 2016 I announced that I'm retired from running across states and countries. As a result, there may be those who would think that The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation no longer exists. It DOES still exist! In fact, I just filed the corporation's annual report this week with the office of the Secretary of State. The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

So, why would I keep the Foundation operating if I am no longer running across states and countries? Wasn't my ultra-endurance adventure runs the cornerstone of the Foundation? What are the Foundation's plans for the future? How will the Foundation "encourage, educate, inspire and motivate children worldwide" without me pushing "BOB" (my support stroller) across vast amounts of land, speaking in schools, and doing media interviews? Those are all excellent questions, and ones that I'm still thinking through the answers for.

For now, all I can say is that the Foundation is still in existence. Annual reports and tax filings are occurring, and the Foundation is in "good standing" with the Secretary of State. I have no intention of allowing the Foundation to cease.

Sure, there are days when I miss pushing the edge of the envelope on a solo ultra-endurance run... and running up to a school to do an assembly... and seeing the smiles on the kids' faces. It was always the kids that kept me pushing forward. I'll never forget a March 2010 news story in the U.S. military publication, Stars and Stripes, where a 10-year-old boy at Vilseck Elementary in Germany was quoted as saying that my PACE adventures "inspired me to have a goal and take it. It gave me the inspiration to run and do my best." I think that 10-year-old boy summed up the purpose of P.A.C.E. very well. It has always been about inspiration, goal setting, and doing your best.

What is the future of P.A.C.E.? Time will tell.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

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

The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation, Inc.

After I did my 500-mile run through Alaska in 2009, I decided to form a non-profit youth fitness foundation to encourage children on a global scale toward greater health and fitness.

The mission of The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation, Inc. has been to encourage, educate, inspire, and motivate children worldwide to adopt life-long habits toward a healthy lifestyle; to expand their knowledge of the world around them; and, to pursue their goals and dreams with the abilities they possess. P.A.C.E. stands for "Promoting Active Children Everywhere."

Over the years, The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation has aimed to fulfill its mission through an array of projects and events. The foundation has organized and executed ultra-endurance events (called "PACE Trek") in which I – the organization's founder and president – run across states and countries solo while virtually including children worldwide. During these endurance adventures I use an online classroom to teach about locations, health and fitness, goal setting, and running. Students track my progress in real time and run with me virtually in teams at their schools, trying to accumulate as a group the same distance that I'm accomplishing solo. To date, nearly 100,000 school children from 12 countries have participated in PACE Trek events, logging a total of nearly a half million miles – enough to circle the globe 20 times! With each PACE Trek challenge I have had seven teaching goals:

• The importance of good health/nutrition, as well as the benefits of frequent and consistent exercise.
• The benefits that can be experienced from running and/or walking.
• That if you take care of your body it can take you on some wonderful adventures.
• Interesting information about the various locations that I run through completely alone.
• The importance of setting goals and pursuing dreams, no matter what obstacles might be in front of you.
• That a positive attitude and the desire to positively impact the lives of others can be very rewarding.
• That perseverance can take you places that you never imagined you could get to.

The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation has also participated in child-focused health and fitness seminars, as well as presentations at schools, conferences, and other settings. Educational curriculums have also been developed by the foundation to benefit school children, such curriculums promoting an active and healthy lifestyle.

The Board of Directors of The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation is responsible for management and oversight of the organization and affairs of the corporation in accordance with its Bylaws. This includes management of the corporate assets and allocation of corporate resources to projects benefiting youth. The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The organization's tax-exempt status began on June 8, 2009.

I'm proud of what has been accomplished through the Foundation since its inception. I thank all who have served, and currently serve, on the Board of Directors. There are more mileposts ahead and The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation will continue with its aim of educating, motivating and inspiring young people.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

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