It's Andy again, perhaps for the last time, perhaps not. I would like to apologize for not getting something up on the site sooner but the last two weeks have been extremely busy. I also wanted to reread my journal and take down a few notes in order to write this final blog. It took me awhile to go back and see how far we have come but without further delay here are all the answers to some of your questions as well as fun facts and random findings along the way. If you can think of anything else you might want to ask us that I have not included feel free to email us. I will be happy to try and answer it for you.
Before I begin, I would like to take a few minutes of your time to talk about my friend Mark Seigers. Mark is the sole reason I got into ultra-running a few years ago and distances beyond what I thought were personally doable. He is the strongest distance runner that I have ever known and one of the hardest workers around. His running resume is impressive, to say the least, and he is always looking to challenge himself as well as his body’s natural limits. The guy simply has heart and he runs with it every time he walks out the front door. On June 29th Mark is attempting to begin his traverse of Vermont’s Long Trail, the oldest long distance hiking trail in America built by the Green Mountain Club between 1910 and 1930. The Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks. It was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail, which coincides with it for one hundred miles in the southern third of the state.
He is completing this trail 100% unsupported by carrying all of his own gear and food he will need. He plans on averaging approximately 42 miles a day, 48 miles the longest day and 24 miles the shortest day (the last day). There is approximately 67,000 feet of elevation gain & roughly the same about of elevation loss over the 272 miles. He hopes to complete the entire trail in less than a week (approximately 6 days and 14 hours) setting a new self-supported record by more than a day. The current record stands at 7 days and 15 hours. Not only is Mark attempting to break the record but he is looking to shatter it by more than 24 hours! Go big or go home. Check out his site (http://mseigers.edublogs.org) and follow his progress along with the rest of us. We wish you luck Mark and we all know you are going to come out on top.
Now back to the show…
San Diego was amazing and it was great getting to spend some time with our family and friends. I think after that first day we all half expected to wake up, pack the joggers and hit the road. Lucky for us we don't have to unless our mind and bodies are in the mood for, something my mind isn't ready for just yet. I know someone (Dan) said we would be updating you about our time in California and for that I am sorry. It was hard to find time and blog about our day when everything was going by so fast. We all had the time of our lives celebrating such a huge accomplishment but towards the end of the week I could tell we were all ready to get back home and to the real world. It has been a long four months of non-stop-always-doing-something-action and I couldn’t wait to just sit down and relax. For the record I am still doing a lot of that.
We were able to go to the San Diego Zoo, two Padres games (which they lost both), Disney Land, Sea World, the beach for a few days and run the Rock N’ Roll Marathon. The marathon was a lot of fun but painful to some degree at the same time. After about 10 miles of actual running we decided to “NationRun” it, which consisted of running for a bit then walking. We figured if we had crossed the entire country with this technique why change now? With about 6 miles left in the day we met a runner who was in a great amount of pain. After running with her and talking we found out she was originally from Rochester, NY only a few hours from us. It was incredible out of all the people running we managed to find someone so close to home. For the rest of the day we ran with her telling stories about our run and even singing to her in order to lift her spirits across the finish line. It was a perfect way to end the trip.
For those of you wondering here are our times:
Matt – 4:09:29
Ken – 4:09:32
Rick – 4:09:34
Andy – 4:09:39
This was Matt, Ken, and Rick’s first official marathon and I was glad to share that experience with them. Some of you might be thinking after running across the country these guys should have ran in the low 2 hours. Unfortunately, that was not the case as we enjoyed the day and never really pushed the pace. However, we did run about an hour faster than what we were averaging while on the road; pretty impressive if you ask me.
We all flew home on June 3rd after a week of fun except Matt. He decided to stay out and catch the four game Mets-Padres series with his brother Mike. The whole reason for staying the extra week was simply to watch these baseball games. For those of you who have not followed the Mets or this series it pains me to say they lost all four games in excruciating fashion. Each game more painful than the last. As I watched from my bedroom in New York I only took comfort knowing I wasn’t at the games as Matt was. How mad I would have been.
Finally, before moving on to what everyone is interested in I must inform you that I have once again shaved my head. After four and a half months of hair growth it was all gone in a matter of minutes. I am still not use to it after having hair for the first time in years but soon I will get back to my old ways. Also, Durkin decided that his mustache had seen enough and shaved as soon as he entered the great state of New York. It was a good run fella and it certainly made us laugh along the way and for that we thank you.
As I already stated I am going to list as many random facts as I can hoping to answer some of the questions we have received over the last two weeks. Most of them will be in a bullet format but some I might have to explain as to what it means. Here goes…
Average Distance Covered Per Day – 25 miles
Average Speed – 5 MPH
Estimated Number of Total Hours Running – 620 Hours
Number of Days It Rained – 2
Number of Days It Snowed – 2
Most Miles in One Day – 40 (when a town didn’t exist)
Least Miles in One Day – 9 (when Matt got sick)
Most Hours Running In One Day – 9
Least Hours Running In One Day – 3
Highest Elevation – 7,796 Feet
Lowest Elevation - -113 Feet below Sea Level
Hottest Temperature – 112 degrees
Coldest Temperature – 20 degrees
Number of Days Taken Off (Planned or Unplanned) – 13
Number of Flat Tires – 25
Consecutive Days Camping Out – 5
Number of Days Between Camping Out – 34 (Day 34-68 we were housed in some way)
Number of Times Our Name Was on a Billboard – 4 (Snyder-TX, Post-TX, Plains-TX, Roswell-NM)
Number of Key’s To the City Received – 1 (Roswell)
Most Miles Covered in 30 Hours – 66
Strongest Winds Faced - 60-65 mph (Bingham, NM)
Number of Shoes Needed - 7-10 (Ken & Andy used 7, Matt used 10)
Number of Blogs Written
Rick DeCarr - 31
Andy Wahila - 26
Matt Durkin - 24
Ken Stannard - 18
Dan Verdi - 10
Nicholas "Pampers" Pampena - 3
Travis Visco - 2
Claire Albertson - 2
Kaitlyn Skelley - 1
Michelle Stannard - 1
Mike Durkin - 1
Gravel Pile Foot Race Records
Durkin – 3-0
Andy – 0-3
Ken – 0-0
Number of State Border Crossings
Andy – 3 (MS, NM, CA)
Ken – 3 (AR, TX, AZ)
Matt – 1 (AL)* He would like everyone to know he was the first in the ocean finishing
Number of Days in Each State
Georgia – 12
Alabama – 10
Mississippi – 8
Arkansas – 9
Texas – 24
New Mexico – 16
Arizona – 25
California – 12
Miles per State
Georgia – 296
Alabama – 231
Mississippi – 201
Arkansas – 199
Texas – 561
New Mexico – 446
Arizona – 536
California – 318
Total Miles – 2,788
All-Time NationRun Cameo Mileage List
1. Rick DeCarr 152 miles
2. Dan Verdi 86 miles
3. Kaitlyn Skelley 37 miles
4. Carlos Miller (Kyle Walcott) 30 miles
5. John Teeples 27 miles
5. Reynold Counts 27 miles
7. Dave Durkin 26.5 miles
8. Owen The Wonder Dog 19 miles
9. Josh "Sunshine" Mitchell 12 miles
10. Mike McWillilams 9 miles
11. Columbus Running Club 7 miles
12. Texarkana Running Club 6.5 miles
13. Josh Kesslar-Reynolds 6.2 miles
13. Pat Sharky 6.2 miles
15. Juwan Nuvayokua 5.1 miles
16. Archie Echols 1.5 miles
17. Scott Mindel .25 miles
17. Lisa Wahila .25 miles
17. Mike Wahila .25 miles
17. Sue Durkin .25 miles
Where We Stayed
Housed by a family – 34 nights
Someone paid for a hotel for us – 32 nights
Camped out – 16 nights
We paid for a hotel – 10 nights
Fire Station – 7 nights
Church – 5 nights
Camper/Trailer – 2 nights
Youth Center – 2 nights
Hunting Cabin – 2 nights
High School -1 night
Police Station – 1 night
Rammed Earth Home – 1 night
College/University – 1 night
Samaritan House – 1 night
Tornado Shelter – 1 night
Number of Times Camping Out In Each State
Georgia – 3
Alabama – 1
Mississippi – 0
Arkansas – 1
Texas – 0
New Mexico – 1
Arizona – 7
California – 3
Different Animals Seen While Running
1. Road runner
2. Coyote
3. Wild Hog
4. Deer
5. Rattle Snake
6. Bob Cat
7. Prairie Dog
8. Armadillo
9. Condor
10. Countless Live Stock
Stopped to bowl (Texas) and hit balls at a driving range during the middle of a run (Arizona)
Shot guns, including machine guns, for the first time in our lives (thanks to Brent, Les and Machine Gun Mike)
We would also like to thank everyone who has helped us along the way reach our goal. Without your help this trip would not have been as enjoyable as it was. For that we are forever grateful to you and your family. We know we can never repay you or the generosity shown to us but we will never forget what you did for us. Thanks again and I apologize in advance for anyone that I left off.
Name City State
Mr & Mrs DeCarr Syracuse NY
Mr Grout Albany NY
Rick DeCarr Albany NY
Mr & Mrs Skelley Wolfeboro NH
Debbie & Jeff Farmer Savannah GA
Mike Durkin NC
Herman Golding Blitchton GA
Scott Mindell Lanier GA
Sarah Stewart Lanier GA
Shannon Arnold Lanier GA
Trieste Singnorino Lanier GA
Kathy Bradford Vidalia GA
Alamo Police/Fire Alamo GA
Mat Rainey Alamo GA
Victor Villegas Alamo GA
Chuck & Sherry Southerland Hawkinsville GA
Don & Dianne Herring Hawkinsville GA
Eric Lee Macon GA
Courtney Anderson Unadilla GA
Jon Daw Unadilla GA
Police Chief Ernest Dennard Unadilla GA
Ervin & Janiece Bauder Ellaville GA
Dave Perry Americus GA
Reynold Counts Columbus GA
John Teeples Fortson GA
Sue Rosso Columbus GA
Beth Swedberg Cussete GA
Cynthia Perry Cusseta GA
Mitch Bain Columbus GA
Andy & Kellye Sparks Columbus GA
Bill Berry Cataula GA
John Cobis Columbus GA
Mike Chancey Phoenix City AL
Dr. Ed Lopez Columbus GA
Troy Espiritu Columbus GA
Cecil & Battye Cheves Columbus GA
Chris & Lori Exum Opelika AL
Donald (Red) & Donna Cowart Opelika AL
Professor Kwesi Daniels Tuskegee AL
Elizabeth Sims Auburn AL
John & Carrie Pennell Montogomery AL
Lisa Carswell Prattville AL
Pam Dorr Greensboro AL
Betsy Ramaccia Greensboro AL
Willy Crichton Greensboro AL
Rebecca Washburn Greensboro AL
Jennifer Pearson Eutaw AL
Katie Cannon Eutaw AL
Kimberly Fletcher Eutaw AL
Ralph Banks Eutaw AL
Dan & Billie Williams Eutaw AL
Larence & Tricia Lavender Aliceville AL
Irvin & Virginia Eatman Eutaw AL
Tom & Connie Kay Aliceville AL
Debra & Greg Duncan Louisville MS
Janice & Robbie Chambliss Kosciusko MS
Teresa Fuller Lousiville MS
Sara cummins Kosciusko MS
Kosciusko Police Department Kosciusko MS
Tony Angelini Jackson MS
Brooke Millman Jackson MS
Random Lady Durant MS
Mr. & Mrs. Durkin Rensselaer NY
Anita Stall MS
Robert Pugh Portland AR
Kevin Black Strong AR
Mike Leveritt El Dorado AR
Sterling Claypoole El Dorado AR
Lori Poole Liquor Store AR
Random guy in snow storm Side of Road AR
Bailey Dlaney Magnolia AR
Kendall Mears Magnolia AR
Joshua Mitchell (Sunshine) Magnolia AR
Terry Ford Side of road AR
Gayla McDonald Lewisville AR
April Allen Lewisville AR
Gayther & Jana Crank Lewisville AR
Mike & Tracy Jones Texarkana TX
Mike Riley Texarkana TX
Barry Brynt Texarkana TX
Edna Walker New Boston TX
Clemons, Lenoir, Dennis, Jimmy Avery TX
Bill Trimm - Mayor Avery TX
Lynn Stephenson Avery TX
Ann Rushing - Mayor Clarksville TX
Diane Peek - Office Manager Clarksville TX
Charlie Martin Clarksville TX
Teresa & Brian Niblett Paris TX
Stephanine Sanders Paris TX
Tommy & Vicky Lewis Paris TX
Becky Semple Paris TX
Dawn Oats Honey Grove TX
Mark & Kathy Johnson Honey Grove TX
Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 7875 Honey Grove TX
Jody Williams Honey Grove TX
Charles Wrenn Leonard TX
Barbara & Billy D Watson Leonard TX
Roby & Sue Watson Leonard TX
Steven Medford Leonard TX
Jerry Scoggins Leonard TX
Michael Mosier Mckinney TX
Les Hawes Mckinney TX
Brent & Vanessa Jones Flower Mound TX
Scott & Elyse Hollrah Flower Mound TX
Pam Ackley Cleburne TX
Dan McGraw Denton TX
Maclain & Heather Jobe Runaway Bay TX
Ben Taylor Bryson TX
Casey - DQ Girl Bryson TX
Amy Willis Bryson TX
Danny Buckalew Bryson TX
Dave & Mary Harris Throckmorton TX
Greg & Angie Scarlett Throckmorton TX
Jim Wahila & Kathy Haskell TX
Lisa Meador Aspermont TX
Cliff Gilmore - Superintendent Aspermont TX
Jeff Sedberry Aspermont TX
Alex Long Aspermont TX
Mike & Terrie McWilliams Snyder TX
Tara Trevey Snyder TX
Kevin Bell Arlington TX
Jacky & Thressa Harp Post TX
Judge Lee Norman Post TX
Jerry Webster Tahoka TX
Mary Jo Collins Brownsfield TX
Justin Jaworski - Executive Director Brownsfield TX
Terry Howard Plains TX
Pam & Jeff Redman - Mayor Plains TX
Saundra Stephen Plains TX
Linda Wall Plains TX
Tommy Box Plains TX
Suzette Meutcheon Plains TX
Sarah Burrus Plains TX
Sonya Cogburn Tatum NM
Deanne Gruben Tatum NM
Rock N' Roll B & B Plains TX
Jack & Reba Luce Tatum NM
Bill & Karen Armstrong Roswell NM
Glaze & Linda Sacra Roswell NM
Archie & Donna Echols Lubbock TX
Dirk & Whitney Sonive Roswell NM
Bella Flores Riverside NM
Curtis & Danella Miller Hondo NM
Dottie Edwards Hondo NM
Don Tineo Roswell NM
Kristi Sepkowitz - Postmaster Capitan NM
Nadine & Kayla Baker Capitan NM
Horseman Grill Capitan NM
Jerry & Tutsie Monroe Capitan NM
Barbara Bradly Carrizozo NM
Welda Grider Carrizozo NM
Monty Bingham NM
Susan & Matt Reynolds Hillsboro NM
James Grider Carrizozo NM
Carlos Gonzales San Antonio NM
Barbara Bradly & Mom Carrizozo NM
Pierre Amestoy Alalbuquerque NM
Ed Ericksen Magdelena NM
Lutter & Toni Broaddus Magdelena NM
Kenny & Laurie Vance Magdelena NM
Mike & Lisa Wahila Endicott NY
John Wallace III Seejohnrun.com
Kathy Knapp Pie Town NM
Josephine Goebel St. Michaels AZ
Bud Paine Ganado AZ
Josh Kesslar-Reynolds Lake George NY
Pat Sharky Lake George NY
Jeremy Begur Ganado AZ
Lolini Sargent Keams Canyon AZ
Rick Baker Second Mesa AZ
Juwan Nuvayokua Keams Canyon AZ
Ann & Pat O'Connor Tuba City AZ
Bill Orman Tuba City AZ
Amanda & Carl Perry Tuba City AZ
Sister Walberger Cameron AZ
Kyle Walcott St. George UT
Betsy Mason & Kirby Cook Prescott AZ
Elbert & Gretie Nitcher Reno NV
Kip & Sherry Koehler Prescott AZ
Steve & Shelley Bergeson Yarnell AZ
Sandra Goddard Wickenburg AZ
Daisy & Mary Guzman Aguila AZ
Patrick Pirtle Bouse AZ
Rusty & Rob - "Somewhere Bar" Bouse AZ
Captain Hiatt - Parker Fire Dept Parker AZ
Jacque Murray Blythe CA
Dwayne Newman Blythe CA
Freddy Cornejo CA
Manuel Sevilla Brawley CA
Ernesto Celis Imperial CA
Steve Kretzschmar Ocotillo CA
Ricky Viesca Ocotillo CA
Enrique Robledo Ocotillo CA
Erik Cueto Ocotillo CA
Dan Verdi Denver CO
Stage Coach Trails Julian CA
Steve McNamara Julian CA
Craig Rembold Julian CA
Ron Stannard & Margaret Dacey Nassau NY
I am going to finish by typing out my journal entry from Day 115, only 32 miles away from the ocean and reaching our goal. I would usually write in my journal right before bed and recap the day and how I was feeling. This probably won’t be the last time you hear from us but until we see each on the road again…keep movin…
Day 115 - May 25, 2008 Julian, CA to Ramano CA – 22 miles
Tomorrow this all comes to an end. It is unreal to think about that and how far we have come. One more day on the road. One more day of dodging traffic and pushing the jogger every other mile. One more day of living with no rules or set plans. 116 days are here and gone. I can play this entire experience back in my head in a matter of seconds and still remember what it was like that first day on the road or the first time someone took us in to their home without really knowing us. It has been a long physical and mental battle yet here we stand only hours from accomplishing our dream. It was good and bad at the same time being away from everyone I love and care about so much. I guess when it comes down to it words can’t really explain what this trip has meant to me. I don’t even know if I understand what I am about to accomplish. Something as simple as following my dream but difficult in its own way. 2,788 miles later I ask myself, am I a changed man? I would like to think so. Maybe someone who can help others just as so many people have helped us. Someone who can appreciate the smaller things in life. Someone that takes things as they come and not worries too far into the future. Worry about today and the rest will follow. One step at a time and before you know it you will be 32 miles from running across the country. I think this trip is exactly what I needed at this point in my life. I feel blessed to be 24 years old, with a masters degree, a girlfriend who loves me and would do anything for me, an unbelievable family, the most amazing parents in the world, the greatest friends I could ask for and the ability to go anywhere on my own two feet (literally). I was able to chase down my dreams and come out better for it. The last four months have been some of the happiest, hardest, painful, carefree, relaxing, stressful and unforgettable months of my life. Thanks for putting up with me guys. I know I can be a pain in the ass at times but someone needed to keep the train in motion. I love you guys and always will.
