Running into 2024 and Celebrating 50 Years as a Runner

For the most part, this blog has sat dormant for the past few years. During that time, I underwent a career change and became a grandfather four times. My focus since 2020 has been on my family and my job. During 2022, I had made it a goal to run and/or bike every day of the year. I made it about 260 days before life changed and I left the field of law and became Director of Faith Formation at a Catholic church in Indiana. Since then, I've been focused on my ministry with young people and spending time with my family. I'm three months away from turning 59 and can't deny the white hair I see in my beard. Yes, just in the past week I've started to grow out my whiskers -- something I've not done since I shaved my beard off 33 years ago. As the white hairs appear more each day in my beard, I can't help but to admit that I am indeed getting older. I'm entering the final year of my 50's and seeing my children starting to have children of their own definitely tells me that time is moving forward. That's not a bad thing at all. In fact, I'm embracing it. It's wonderful to see how life changes as the years go by. There may be a few more wrinkles and white hairs as I look in the mirror, but it's all good. God has been very good to me.

With that said, I do believe that I need to become more active again. For the past 18 months, my running shoes have sat under my bed and my bike has been on a hook in my garage. Some know that I had kicked around an idea for another adventure run, something I've not done since age 46 in 2011 when I ran solo across the Mojave Desert. However, I discerned that God didn't want me to embark on an ultra-endurance journey at this particular time in my life. For those of you familiar with my running background, the 2006 BOB support stroller that I use on all of my solo runs across states and countries has been rebuilt and is in my garage. Yes, "BOB" (Beast of Burden) could definitely do another adventure. The fact is, I'm not sure what the future holds for another mega-mileage run. Somewhere down in my heart, I believe there is still a stirring... that there may indeed be something that God has planned for me in running. Honestly, I'm not really pondering it that much. I'm simply loving my life... my wife... my family... my ministry... and this season of wrapping up my 50s.

Running caught my eye at the age of 9. It was 1974 and I was in the 4th grade when my elementary school participated in the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. You had to be at least age 10 to take the test and try to get The Presidential Physical Fitness Award -- the highest award given for performance on the AAHPER (American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation) Youth Fitness Test. I watched the 5th and 6th grade students take the test, which included running, and I knew that I wanted to do well on it when I was in the fifth grade. Running became my sport in the mid-1970s and it has been my primary sport for the past 50 years. The year 2024 will take me into the end of my 50s and will mark 40 years since I first began running distances beyond the marathon (26.2 miles). Back then, I was sponsored by such companies as New Balance, Gatorade, Timex, and a newly-formed eyewear company called Oakley. Today, I'm not sponsored by any companies.

I'm going to aim to keep this blog more up to date, especially as I become more active by running and cycling through 2024. For those new to this blog, I invite you to explore some of the writings I've placed here. I've shared many stories about my adventure runs, as well as writings pertinent to family and fitness. For those of you who have been here before, thanks for coming back! I do want everyone to know that running will never be the priority in my life. My family will always come first. Always. What's the point of reaching for life's mileposts alone? To me, life's mileposts should be shared with those you love. I am truly blessed to have a loving and supportive family, for which I am very grateful.

Gotta Run,

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

Solo Running Across States and Countries Doesn't Make You Famous

Eight years ago I embarked on a 500-mile solo run across the Mojave Desert. The 17-day adventure will be one that I'll always remember. Running 30 to 40 miles per day and then tenting alone in the desert under a sea of stars is something that is truly difficult to put into words. I was fortunate to become the first person to run solo from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California -- the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level.

Death Valley is famous as the hottest place on earth and driest place in North America. The world record highest air temperature of 134 degrees was recorded at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. By the time I reached Furnace Creek on my run, I was ready to log the final 17 miles to wrap up my Mojave adventure.

I've written before in this blog about my 2011 Mojave Run. You really won't find much more about it online. You see, none of my adventure runs across states and countries resulted in much media. In fact, no news outlets reported on my solo run across the land of the hottest air temperature and surface temperature recorded on earth. Those who are familiar with my running background know that I passed on having a documentary made about my Mojave Desert run. Generally, my solo runs across the United States, Alaska, Montana, Germany, and the Mojave Desert resulted in next to nothing from a media perspective. Why? Because I wasn't knocking on the doors of radio stations, newspapers and television studios. I figured if a reporter showed up somewhere, I'd talk to them. Otherwise, I wasn't out there for trying to become famous. As the decades have gone by I've seen many people aim to be famous by running across a state or country, but 9 times out of 10 it doesn't happen. So, if you're reading this and thinking that you might aim for fame by pounding your body across a desert, it's unlikely anyone will notice.

People who I meet these days that happen to learn of my running background are often amazed. I come across as your typical middle-class guy with a receding hairline -- happily married, working at a law firm, and paying on a mortgage. There are times when I step into my home office and look at some of the photos on the wall (me running through some desolate locations) and I have flashbacks to pounding out the miles all alone. No, it's not like a PTSD type of thing. It's just a clear memory of what it was like. Unless you've experienced it, no amount of written words or photographs will ever truly convey the feeling of conquering 30, 40, or even 50 miles per day through some of the most challenging terrain... all alone... for weeks... or months.

The Mojave Desert was quite a challenge. All of the adventure runs I did were a challenge. I believe those experiences contributed to carving out the man I am now in my mid-50s. I'm content. I'm at peace. I'm actually glad that I'm not famous... that I just blend in with society... that my adventure-running background does not define me. There has always been more to me than just the ability to put one foot in front of the other. Over the past 5 years, I've been able to let people see that. Perhaps there are some similarities between the Mojave Desert and I. We've both endured the elements and have weathered over time. I'm fine with that.

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

Running Across The Mojave Desert All Alone

In April 2010, as I was doing a solo run across Germany and was caught in the worst spring snowstorm that Bavaria had seen in 30 years, I came up with the idea of attempting a solo run across the Mojave Desert. I had already run solo across America, Montana, Alaska and Germany... most of those runs involving a lot of mountains and a significant amount of chilly weather. So, the thought of running through a dry, desolate landscape for over 500 miles in less than 3 weeks sparked my adventurous spirit.

Immediately after completing the Germany run, I began planning the Mojave run -- to take place 10 months later. I had never spent any time in the Mojave Desert, but had run all alone across the Great Plains during the heat of the summer in 2006 and didn't anticipate the Mojave to be much different. Well, the Mojave Desert is indeed unique and poses some significant challenges. It is the driest of the North American deserts, receiving less than 13 inches of rain a year. Not only is the Mojave very hot, but it can also be very windy. At nighttime the desert floor comes alive with insects, snakes and spiders, so staying in my tent after sunset would be necessary. There are rattlesnakes, coyotes, tarantulas, lizards, turtles, scorpions, and a host of other living things.

I began with deciding where I wanted to start the run. I chose the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona and would run a 506-mile course to Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, with an elevation of 282 feet BELOW sea level. I envisioned starting alone in the early morning looking into the depths of the Grand Canyon and ultimately finishing on the salt flats of Badwater Basin -- the location of the highest recorded temperature: 134 degrees! I chose to begin in mid-April and do the 506 miles in 17 days, averaging 30 miles per day. The highest temperature I would encounter would be 95 degrees.

To make the run "solo" I would have no support crew and would push all of my gear, food and water in a BOB Sport Utility Stroller, the same stroller I had pushed on my other adventure runs across states and countries. However, this time the stroller would be more of a rolling canteen, because I decided not to store water caches in the desert before beginning the journey -- contrary to the advice of other adventure runners who had contacted me before I started. I decided that I would restock my water supply where and when I could as I traversed the desert, carrying a water purifier to use, if needed. I had enough containers to carry up to 7 gallons of water -- which would weigh a total of 56 pounds. That, combined with the 20 pound weight of the stroller itself and the 23 pounds of weight for my tent, clothes, food, and electronics (used to update my online classroom for students) would bring the maximum weight of the stroller to nearly 100 pounds. I weighed 153 pounds at the time.

To push a 100-pound stroller through the desert for 30 miles per day on roads that are often very rough and sometimes sand covered can be extremely challenging. Near the beginning of the run I was able to stay in some small motels, but as the run progressed I had only my tent on the desert floor to sleep in. Night after night in the desert with no access to ice to help treat my aching legs at the end of the day was difficult. My water supply got so warm that drinking it was like drinking warm bath water. At one point I went over 100 miles before being able to replenish my water supply. My food was limited to what I could carry on the stroller... food that wouldn't spoil.

Late in the run I encountered 40 to 50 mph headwinds and could only accomplish 2 miles every hour while pushing the stroller. With ski goggles over my eyes and ear plugs in my ears, I pushed on through the blowing sand. In some places, I had to take apart the stroller and carry my items up a sandy sloped portion of "road" and re-assemble things in order to continue on -- the combined weight of the gear, food and water being too much to push collectively up the soft/shifting surface.

After experiencing some incredibly difficult days of running, I ran into Badwater Basin, Death Valley, and had completed the first solo run across the Mojave Desert with a start at the Grand Canyon. My footsteps touched Arizona, Nevada and California. I would then have to go through 2 months of physical therapy to treat a couple of herniated discs in my lower back due to the exertion required to accomplish the run. The adventure was an exhausting undertaking and I used a live satellite tracking device so that people around the world could watch my progress via the Internet. I had an "online classroom" for students so that they could virtually experience the adventure with me through my writings, pictures and videos. The run was one of the most physically demanding events I have ever done.

I look back on the Mojave adventure and see how fitting it was to finish at the lowest point of elevation in North America. You see, at the time I was at the lowest point in my personal life. Not long after the Mojave run, I would experience a divorce after 25 years of marriage and having less daily connection with my four children. It has been over 5 years since I crossed the finish line in the Mojave and three of my four children are now adults, with my youngest being 16 years old. Life moves on and I can tell you that the pain I experienced in the Mojave, and in the years immediately following, have made me stronger and given me a greater appreciation for this life I have.

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