PACE Run Across America… 48 Miles To Go!

If the kids at Russell Elementary in Missoula ran across America, Paul said he would too. Road warrior: Sun, semis and snakes don’t deter cross-country solo runner.

Hello Everyone…

Thought you’d like to read today’s journal entry (for October 18):

Hello from Denton, Maryland! Today was my last full day of running in the
state of Maryland. Tomorrow I will be entering Delaware… my 15th and
final state! Today I ran 30 miles from the east side of the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge to the town of Denton. The weather was in the 70s with partly
cloudy skies. It’s supposed to be that way tomorrow as well.

Vicki and our four children are in Washington, D.C. and enjoyed a day at
the zoo. They will be traveling to Lewes, Delaware tomorrow (Thursday)
where they will stay in a hotel. Then, on Friday morning, we’ll all be
reunited once again at Cape Henlopen State Park where I’ll be completing
this run at 11:00 a.m.

As of right now, I only have 48 miles remaining until I reach the finish
line. Whew! When I’m done the entire length of my trek across America will
be 3,260 miles. Tomorrow’s 31-mile run to Georgetown, Delaware will be my
last full day on the road. On Friday, I’ll only have 17 miles to do.

I want to thank Peter Tracey for picking me up at my hotel this morning in
Washington, D.C. and transporting me to the west side of the Chesapeake
Bay Bridge, where Aaron Lohr met me with "Bob" (which he took care of for
a couple of days) and then transported me 4 miles across the Chesapeake
Bay Bridge. Once on the other side, Aaron kept me company as I put Bob
back together to get ready to head down the road. Thanks for all of your
help Aaron!

I want to address the issue with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge… since we’ve
had several people inquire about that. Essentially, the Bay Bridge does
not allow any pedestrian traffic, or bicyclists, whatsoever. There is no
shoulder or breakdown lane on the bridge and for eastbound traffic there
are only two lanes (compared to three lanes for westbound traffic). Stacey
Rossmiller and Diana Sontag in Missoula, Montana worked very hard to try
to obtain permission from the appropriate state agencies to grant me
access to cross the bridge with an escort. However, permission simply
would not be granted. Likely, if they were to grant permission for my
crossing they would receive requests in the future from others wishing to
cross by means other than by automobile. Stacey even had a personal
conversation with the governor of Maryland, but permission simply was not
given.

You must understand that I went into this run knowing that the Chesapeake
Bay Bridge was a 4-mile stretch of the route that was possible only by a
vehicle. When the kids did their virtual run across America, we told them
that they were riding a bus across the bridge (or taking a boat…
whichever they preferred). This is a high security toll-bridge and even
has police security solely for the purpose of protecting those traveling
over the bridge. Unfortunately, there was an individual not associated
with P.A.C.E. Run 2006 who tried to "help" by contacting various state
agencies to try and acquire permission for me to run across the bridge.
Although I do not blame this person for me not being able to run across
the bridge, I am disappointed and somewhat upset that he proceeded to
contact various agencies without seeking my permission to do so and
without being asked to do so. Essentially, his communications "muddied the
waters" so to say and had several agency personnel scratching their heads
over who they should be communicating with and what were the specific
details of my crossing (date, time, means, etc.).

Stacey Rossmiller and Diana Sontag have been my route and lodging
coordinators in Missoula since day one and have done an amazing job for
the past 3,200 miles… finding a way to get me legally through the
various places that may have been a barrier. However, their efforts with
respect to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge were hindered somewhat by this
individual’s efforts which he initiated on his own. Some people may have
"good intentions", but it’s always the best course of action to ask if
getting involved is appropriate. Ultimately, I was not granted permission
and had to be transported by vehicle for 4 miles over the bridge. I do not
consider this as a "flaw" in my accomplishment of running across the
entire United States. In fact, if someone wanted to get picky about it
they can read my June entry for Portland, Oregon and see that I ran 4
miles off course – which can easily be applied to this particular section
in Maryland. Also, my 3,260 mile run across the United States is further
than most runs done across this country. So, that’s the story on the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge and I’m leaving it at that. I’ve addressed the issue
with the individual and that person is aware of my disapproval of his
proceeding to contact agencies without my approval and even when asked by
Stacey Rossmiller to discontinue such contact. This matter has been
addressed, is closed, and I’ve moved on down the road.

So, here I am… 48 miles from the finish line. I’ve been starting to
reflect back on the journey and have been recalling special moments along
the way. There have also been soooo many special people who have helped to
encourage me toward this point. I can’t even begin to list everyone, but
am going to start sharing some people with you in the coming days. Today,
I want to thank Kristie Boyd (and her husband Brian) for their
encouragement since I began this journey. I coached Kristie in her high
school track and field days when she was known as Kristie Kanduch. Wow,
that was back in 1990. Anyway, Kristie has sent me many uplifting messages
and has truly helped to keep my Spirit soaring through this journey. I’m
blessed to have such a friend and can’t wait to get back to Missoula and
give her a big hug!

Steve Lyons has been a friend of mine since college days in the late
1980s. He has continuously left me encouraging voice mail messages and has
been a gentle ear to listen to me at the end of a long running day. He has
always provided positive words and has truly made a difference in this
run. I have appreciated his support so much and am truly proud to call him
my friend. I’ll be home soon Steve, and can’t wait to see you!

My mother and father have been an incredible source of encouragement
throughout my life, and particularly with respect to my goal to run across
America. As I write those words, my eyes well up with tears because they
were there in 1986 when my first attempt failed so terribly. They won’t be
able to be at the successful finish of this run on Friday, but they have
taken every step with me in my heart. I am so blessed to have parents that
are so encouraging and supportive… even when their son set out to do
something that 99.9% of the world called "crazy". They never labelled me
like that and were always in my corner. It is so sad that Vicki’s mother
passed away in January of this year and could not see me complete this
journey. She knew the kids at Russell Elementary were "virtually" crossing
the United States and that if they were successful that I would then
actually attempt to run their route for real. However, cancer took her
away from us and she never got to see how things turned out. It pains me
to know that Vicki lost her mother, and my children lost "Nana O.". I miss
Lorraine and thought of her many times during my journey. I am, however,
so blessed and grateful to still have my parents alive to see me fulfill
this goal and dream. I hope that I’ve made them proud and I know they will
be cheering me on from their little ‘cabin’ in Alaska. I love you mom and
dad!

I find that writing these words is making me very emotional right now, and
I can only imagine how emotional I’ll be on Friday when I reach that ocean
shore. There’s many more people to thank, and I’ll do that in coming days.

I’ve been careful to not make my journal entries too "spiritual" because I
haven’t wanted to offend anyone with differing beliefs or religious
traditions. However, I want to share with you two Bible verses that I have
daily echoed in my mind and heart as I’ve crossed this country. The first
is Philippians 4:13 – "I can do all things through Christ who gives me
strength." That is a verse I would always lean on, especially when
weakness and fatigue was setting in. The other verse is Philippians 2:5 –
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." I would remind
myself of that when people did bad things to me, said negative things, or
did things to hinder my path. I’m human, and sometimes my reactions were
not always in line with that verse. I’ve done my best in the circumstances
I’ve been in and believe that I’ve run this journey with integrity,
honesty, strength, and a positive outlook.

This is becoming a novel and I’m sure you’re getting weary with reading
it. Please know that I am indeed excited to complete my run across
America, and in about 36 hours it will be complete. What an incredible
experience! There’s more to share, so please stop by for another visit
tomorrow.

Paul

***

Road warrior: Sun, semis and snakes don’t deter cross-country solo runner. If the kids ran across America, Paul said he would too. http://www.matr.net/article-19944.html

Forty-one 5th grade students at Russell Elementary School become the first individual class in the United States to complete a virtual trek across America during one school year (3,200 miles, 15 states). http://www.matr.net/article-19164.html

Paul Staso’s Run Across America. Russell Elementary School Students in Missoula, Montana are ahead of pace in their "Run/Walk Across America" fitness challenge http://www.matr.net/article-18742.html

Montana Kids "Running and Walking across America" need your words of support. Please take a moment to give them words of encouragement. http://www.matr.net/article-17215.html

The 4th and 5th grade students at Russell Elementary School in Missoula are Running & Walking Across America With A Superintendent, A Bear and The Army! http://www.matr.net/article-16649.html

Russell Elementary students find inspiration in running competition, virtual travel – "Run Russell, Run!" http://www.matr.net/article-16243.html

The 4th and 5th grade students at Russell Elementary School in Missoula, Montana, are on a journey of a lifetime. http://www.matr.net/article-15963.html