Run Across America for the Children

   

 

When I was an eighth grader my English teacher Mr. Dodge had us do a book report and I decided to write about "Walk Across America", by Peter Jenkins. This awoke in me a spirit of adventure. I ran my first marathon that year and I knew one day I would run across America. In the Fall of 2009 I met Terry Hitchcock who ran from St. Paul to Atlanta during the 1996 Olympic Games. I was very impressed and inspired by Terry. I read his incredible book "A Fathers Odyssey", about single parenthood, the loss of his first wife to cancer and overcoming all odds by running over a marathon a day for 75 days. I knew I had to run across America and do whatever it took to accomplish it.

The following year I ran across this beautiful Country in 2010, from Seattle, Washington to Key Largo, Florida 3,717 miles in 100 days. During one stretch of my run pushing a 80 lb stroller through Wyoming, I ran 45 miles up the Elk Mountain, the next day ran 54 miles to Laramie and another 50 miles to Cheyenne. I have also run 46 marathons and seven ultra marathons many over 50 miles (one was 70 miles the equivalent of over two and a half marathons!). I found my running inspiration when my Dad ran the City of Lakes marathon when I was 12. I thought I should be able to do that, so I ran Grandmas Marathon in 1979 when I was 13 yrs old, the youngest one to finish that year. I credit my Father for getting me into long distance running, he also has run about 40 marathons. I thank my Mother for instilling in me my Spiritual Strength and relationship with God. I remember so many Sunday mornings hoping my parents would sleep in so I could watch the John Gallos Comedy hour, she knew what was important, thanks Mom.