20 Years Since I Ran 3,260-Miles Solo Across the U.S.A. at Age 41

Twenty years ago today, I started a transcontinental run at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon... heading for the Delaware coast. I averaged 30 miles per day for 108 days while pushing a 65-pound jogging stroller loaded with gear, food and water. That 15-state journey included the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, and the Appalachian Mountains -- all to promote youth health and fitness. Now, at age 61, I'm looking back on that adventure and remembering all that I was feeling on that first day.

Actually, the first day was one of the easiest of the entire journey. I ran 22 miles from the Oregon coast to "Camp 18" on Highway 26. It was an 88-degree day with only 443 feet of elevation gain. My journal entry for June 23, 2006 included this:

"What a wonderful first day of this trek... The weather was perfect, with sunny blue skies and only a slight breeze. I gathered some sand and water in a small jar from the Pacific Ocean as a keepsake and then said a few words to those who had come to the start. After hugs and handshakes, it was time. I began the run with my four children (ages 6-13) running alongside me down the beach a ways to where the beach access ramp was. After getting the stroller ("Bob" - short for "Beast of Burden") out of the sand, I had to empty the sand from my shoes before beginning. Then I took off down highway 101, waving goodbye to family. It was definitely a day of varying elevations. The road seemed to either be going up or down, with very little flat ground. Getting up the coastal mountain range was like an initiation into this trek... I stopped for lunch at mile 11, taking a 1/2 hour to enjoy some shade. I then continued on the narrow coastal road where there was often either a very narrow shoulder to run on, or no shoulder at all. After running 22 miles, I stopped at Camp 18... It was a challenging first day with plenty of traffic heading to the coast for the weekend (I run facing traffic). All in all, it was a good day and this journey is now underway."

I remember that first day so vividly. I had waited so long to start the run across America, my first attempt in 1986 at age 21 being a failure. To succeed 20 years later, in 2006, was such a blessing!

You can click here to see various statistics and details about my solo U.S. run.

Gotta Run,

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

A Lifelong Journey -- Making a Difference One Milepost at a Time

During my life, I've made concentrated and deliberate efforts to try and be an example to young people. Most of those young people have seen me as I am seen in this photo from 2008 (when I was on my 620-mile, 20-day solo run across Montana). The thumbs up... the shades... the running gear and cap... it was my 'image' as I endeavored to encourage and inspire children toward a healthier lifestyle. I gave presentations at countless schools, hoping kids would see that adventure is right outside your door and that if you take care of your body it will take you anywhere.

Along that decades-long journey, I endured endless lonely mileposts, striding along day after day... week after week... month after month... and year after year. The message was always the same and the conviction with which I placed each step never lessened. I feel good about what I was able to accomplish in my running career, and although I've been retired from running for a few years I still appreciate the very kind and thoughtful words that were written to me from people around the world. Today, I want to share a few of those with you from my 2008 solo run across Montana.

• "I feel like today we are finding, more and more, that people and their accomplishments aren’t quite what they seem. And I must admit that when I took my 3-year-old daughter to watch and meet you on a remote section of Highway 12... I didn’t quite know what to expect. Watching you run directly into a pounding wind, over miles of tough, hilly road, what I found was an authentic inspiration. Someone that I feel fortunate to have met and that my daughter can truly look up to."

• "Let it be known that I truly admire what you are doing with them legs of yours!"

• "You are a motivating force and an inspiration to far more than the school children who took part in Pace Trek."

• "You never fail to amaze me. You are a real inspiration to young and old alike."

• "I am awed by what you accomplish. I am glad that there are people in the world that are doing good for others the way you are. You are an inspiration and a positive force in the world."

• "It has been a healthy realistic experience for all of us to follow your disciplined trek. Thanks for the novel experience."

• "Thank you for this fantastic opportunity. Many of our kids were able to accomplish things that they never thought possible. We were able to set smaller goals along the way and there were numerous triumphs on our own trek."

• "Thanks for getting us off our seats and moving!"

• "Congratulations Paul! What you are doing is phenomenal and a really great inspiration for the kids."

• "Your journey is such a great inspiration. Thank you for taking the time to to incorporate such an interesting and multi-grade curriculum."

• "This was so wonderful I can't express it in words. This was so motivational to our classes and parents."

• "You've made it very easy for teachers and students to plug in and feel a part of your journey."

• "Congratulations to you Paul for an excellent job in your Trek. This was exciting for my students, myself and the school. Thanks again for all your hard work. What a great experience we all had."

• "Thanks for a successful fitness project! We loved to do it!"

• "We made it and the teachers wore your Pace Trek t-shirts with pride!!!! The kids were so excited!"

• "Congrats on finishing your trek! The message you have sent to thousands of kids will continue on!"

• "As the PE teacher it was really great to see classroom teachers outside and encouraging their students to move during class time. It was a positive experience for the students and teachers. As the Kindergarten teacher said, "I really like this because it gives the kids a purpose for their running.""

• "Thank you for the challenge. The kids in our elementary are always talking about it and most of them look forward to our daily mile."

• "All the physical education teachers here would like to thank you for letting us participate in this magnificent event. Paul, we want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to help spread the word about keeping our kids, and all the children around the world, healthy by staying active. Be sure to include us in next year's PACE trek activities."

• "This morning we had our Marines, Sailors, and Civilians come out and run the final mile with us. It was so touching to see fathers and sons walking or running hand in hand and moms inspiring and running beside their children. We had one of our Commanding Officers participate, various youth sports coaches, parents representing our military base fitness team, and so many others. The parents were "VERY IMPRESSED" with our efforts pushing for healthier children. I spoke about you and what you have done, are doing, and why you do what you do. It has inspired us here on Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. This was a way for you to give back to those kids of the military that have had to have parents gone many times in harms way. They appreciate what you chose to do. We have also enjoyed watching your video clips and reading your blogs."

• "It is about the "journey" and traveling with you has been a great adventure for our students. You truly have shown our students what dedication is about."

• "My kids are reaching new running goals they never before thought possible!"

• "You are sending such a great message to our kids. Thank you for your time, effort, pain, and commitment to Promoting Active Children Everywhere!"

Words as these (and I have enough to fill a book) will always mean so very much to me. I am humbled by such words and grateful that God gave me the vision and strength to step out and make a difference through a unique program. I will forever have the memories of pacing along with students from around the world as we reached for a common goal. I hope that when they think of me they think... "Gotta Run!"

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 Shadowbox -- "Each Grain Like a Step That is Taken in Time"

The guest bathroom of my home has a beach theme. On a small shelf in that room sits two bottles of sand... the sand that I collected from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans during my 2006 solo run across America. I'm sure that most people who use that bathroom just glance at the sand and think that it's a cute touch to a beach-theme bathroom. Most don't know how much blood, sweat, tears, sacrifice and prayers went into obtaining those two small glass bottles of sand.

There is actually only a couple of inches of sand in each bottle. I had more, but many years ago I gave some of that sand away to one person whom I believe deserves to have it. You see, my daughter Ashlin is the one who triggered the entire run across America in 2006. Those of you who have followed the story already know that. She was there during the planning; she was there at the start; and, she was there at the finish. She and her fifth grade class encouraged me and literally put me on the starting line of that 3,260-mile endeavor -- one that would last for 108 days. Ashlin turned 12 years old one week before I finished that coast-to-coast journey. Today, Ashlin is 24 years old and engaged to be married.

On her 17th birthday I gave Ashlin a shadowbox (shown below). I wrote a poem to her and surrounded it with a few photos of the two of us. I also included a mixture of sand in the base -- which I had collected from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans at the start and finish of my Oregon to Delaware run. It was made with love and gratitude for all that she contributed to that incredible endeavor, and for being a daughter that made me so proud each day for her choices, her work ethic, and her heart. A portion of the poem I wrote to her includes the following lines... and they are as true today as they were then -- and always will be.

"The sands of time will continue on, like an endless melody in a favorite song. And no matter how many grains of time that pass, always know that my love will last. It will endure anything that comes our way, and is unconditional and committed to stay. I ran across America with you in my heart, and in each step you were truly a part. The sand in this frame is from the start and end, a mixture of grains like two hearts as they blend. Each grain like a step that is taken in time, two lives as they look for their rhythm and rhyme."

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

What Became of My Old Domains -- PaceRun.com and PaceTrek.com?

Those of you who followed my running adventures across states and countries from 2006 through 2011 know that I owned two Internet domains where I posted information about my journeys. Those domains were PaceRun.com and PaceTrek.com. Everything that I have posted online can now be accessed exclusively through this blog. I chose "PACE" for the domains I operated between 2006 and 2011 because it is an acronym for "Promoting Active Children Everywhere" and it is also included in the name of the non-profit foundation that I have been the President of for 10 years -- The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation. Here is how the PaceRun.com website looked in May 2006, just one month before I began the solo run across America:

And this is what the PaceTrek.com website looked like in May 2008 -- the first year I had it online (and after completing my first "PACE Trek" running challenge involving schools worldwide):

Again, if you want to access anything that I now have online regarding my past running adventures, this blog is the best portal.

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