*2,800 mile run across America coming to an end today in San Diego*
*Averaging a marathon a day for four straight months, three former cross-country stars have used their adventure to raise funds in honor of a fallen Iraq Veteran*
By Seth Odell
(518) 928-2962, [email protected]
Three longtime friends and former college track teammates are set to complete the biggest race of their lives, running across the entire length of America. The 116 day coast-to-coast journey, which kicked off Feb. 1 on Tybee Island, Georgia, has taken the runners across eight states and will
end with their Memorial Day arrival on the beaches of La Jolla, California.
As part of “Nation Run 2008” the Upstate New York natives are one of only a handful of groups to ever traverse the continent on foot without the aid of a support vehicle. Pushing their entire lives in two baby joggers, the runners carry their tents, clothes and food supplies everywhere they go.
Relying heavily on the kindness of strangers, the trio have continuously found themselves the recipients of Southern hospitality, whether it was spending the day with border patrol agents in California, receiving the key to the city of Roswell, New Mexico, or simply being invited in by new
friends for a much needed home cooked meal.
Stories of such generosity played out on the groups website www.nationrun.com where tens of thousands of fans logged on to catch their latest blog entries and view hundreds of photos from life on the road.
For Andrew Wahila, Matthew Durkin and Ken Stannard, all 23 years old, planning the transcontinental run was a daunting three year task. Originally an idea hatched in their college dorm room, Nation Run was meant to be about the ultimate challenge, a life changing adventure and an opportunity to
experience life one step at a time.
But for Wahila, reasons for doing such a run changed. In November, 2007, his first cousin PFC Philip Diaferio, an Iraq War veteran, was killed in a car accident while home on leave from the U.S. Army. Determined to keep the memory of his cousin alive, Wahila, along with the rest of Nation Run, have
since crossed the country raising money for a scholarship fun in Diaferio’s name that will be granted to a selected graduating senior from Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, N.Y.
Now, 15 weeks after leaving the Atlantic Ocean, Wahila and his two best friends are set to finish their iconic adventure in style, arriving in San Diego on Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day. A fitting end to the adventure of a lifetime.
And though Monday will signify the end of their cross country quest, these longtime friend’s running days are far from over. Having been invited to participate in San Diego’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on Sunday, June 1, the Nation Run guys will hit the pavement one more time for another 26 mile jog.
After all, once you’ve run 2,800 miles, what’s one more marathon?
*MEMORIAL DAY, MONDAY, MAY 26*
*WHO:* Members of Nation Run 2008 along with their family and
friends
*WHAT:* The completion of a 2,800 mile, 116 day, cross country run in
honor of a fallen Iraq Veteran.
*WHERE:* 50 yards south of Children’s Pool in La Jolla, California.
Appropriate stairs to the beach will be marked with red and
blue balloons.
For the purpose of driving directions use the following
address:
800 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
*WHEN:* UPDATE: Runners will arrive between 11:30-11:45 a.m.
*CONTACT:* Seth Odell
(518) 928-2962,
[email protected]
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