Rae's Run Across The United States

Talking to kids about soles4souls. :)

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:48:57 -0500

Talking to kids about soles4souls.
:)

3,437.5 miles later.

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:14:00 -0500

(Pardon me for the next bit of word vomit)

November 14th, 2012 ended my seven and a half month trek across the United States of America. And over these past months I have learned that it truly is just that: United.

Sure we share our differences, we have many opinions, views, ideas…but when push comes to shove we pull through it together, we lend a helping hand, we build each other up and propel each other forward. When I looked back at these last 3,400 miles I see a string of people lifting me up, doing anything that they could to make my journey a little easier.

——————————————————————————————————————-I’m not big on crying in public; I’m not big on crying in general…I’m definitely not big on crying while going through security at the Las Vegas Airport. But that is was I did. It was a big, disgusting, sad, scared, horrible cry. I didn’t stop once from the time I left my apartment with my sister until I was picked up on state street by Mr. John Clancy. I wore my sunglasses the entire plane ride, people gave me looks of pity, some even asked if I was alright. You see, I wasn’t alright…I had just said goodbye to my favorite person on earth for almost a year and I was scared to death. But I mean, what would I even tell them? “No, I’m fine, I’m just leaving on this seven month journey to run across America”? Please. No one is going to believe that, and even if they did they would have no clue what to say to me. So I just stuck with a simple response to the questionnaires: “Yeah *sob* *sob* *sob* I’m *wipes snot bubble from nose and wipes it on sleeve of coat* Fine *breaks down in histaria as kind stranger awkwardly walks away*”

Freshly 18 (by a few hours), fresh to the running world (by three years), and pretty fresh to this whole adventure of a lifetime thing (by zero accounts of life threatening adventures). I was scared. But I wasn’t willing to tell anyone this. I’m sure my sister on some level knew (well, she did know…I’m not sure how, it might have been the fact that I kept asking her to break my legs for an entire month prior to me leaving, and it might have been the nightmare I had a week before begging her not to let me go..) I think she knew I was scared before I knew I was scared. She just wasn’t willing to tell me not to go. I know she wanted to tell me to stay home. But she’s not selfish (thank you again, Guildy for not breaking any of my bones), so here I was scared to death on an airplane, crying histerically that I just wanted someone to sedate me, wearing these dumb sunglasses inside of an aircraft. I was so freaking terrified and sad and so many other emotions that all my body could think to do was cry.

And then the plane landed, and I was in Boston. I had just flown all the way across the United States of America, only to run back across three days later. That freaked me out. And unless you’ve been at the starting line of your run across America, you won’t even begin to understand what this feels like. It’s like more than the feeling of the unknown. It’s the feeling of all of the negative thoughts you put into your mind before you left, and it’s the feeling of not letting anyone down because everyone knows that you are running across America now and what if you choke? I couldn’t bare the thought of choking and proving (probably) every single person that knew I was going to run across America, right (let me just say that I know some people legitimately believe I would make it all the way across…just in my mind at this moment, no one believed in me, but I was going to do it anyway). I felt like I was playing for the Chicago Cubs, I had a ton of fans but everyone knew that I wasn’t going to win the world series before they even looked at the roster. They were behind me one hundred percent but they knew I wouldn’t make it all the way and get the big victory at the end.

But then I started running, and my perspective changed, I started to look at my run as a day to day thing rather than a trip of 3000+ miles. I started to realize I was running for all of these people that needed a pair of shoes. And I started to see that people truly believed in me. So I kept running.

To the people that helped me throughout my journey in any way at all: Thank you.

Thank you for caring about me, and worrying about me, and loving me, and making sure I was safe every night. Thank you to those who have supported me from the first day I told them I was going to go.

Thank you to Allie who got to listen to be ramble on for an entire class period about how fun I thought it would be to run across america, and thank you for being like “Rae that would be so freaking awesome, you can totally do that.” because if you wouldn’t have said that to me I never would have emailed my mom and kendall, and I wouldn’t have flown to Boston.

Thank you to Kendall for your concern about me getting eaten by a bear…and thank you for ignoring my pleas to break my legs the entire month before I left, because I know that took a lot of will power to let me go. I love you Ken.

Thanks Mom for taking care of the logistics..and finally getting on board with the whole stroller concept..I love you.

To my sisters and my brother, to my parents (that includes you too bill), and Adam, Thank you for being behind me 100% since I came up with this seemingly ridiculous idea I love you guys so much. I wouldn’t have made it without you.

Jim McCord (blue shirt) Ran across the US in 2002. Paul Both ran...

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:43:41 -0500

Jim McCord (blue shirt) Ran across the US in 2002.
Paul Both ran across the US in 2010

Super awesome guys I’m really glad we were able to meet up and chat…some good advice for once I’m done tomorrow and shared some stories…always fun to meet fellow crossers

Photo

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:49:02 -0500

Thanks for the smoothie, Tiff! (Bowl of Heaven in Huntington...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:48:37 -0500

Thanks for the smoothie, Tiff!
(Bowl of Heaven in Huntington Beach)

Ken, Me, Don, and Patrick 👣

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:47:21 -0500

Ken, Me, Don, and Patrick
👣

Photo

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 19:50:13 -0500

Psycho Herman

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 19:49:54 -0500

Psycho Herman

“We’re here, we’re barefoot, deal with...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:39:01 -0500

“We’re here, we’re barefoot, deal with it.”

WE DID IT!!!! finally made the goal amount for s4s! thank you to...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:02:56 -0500

WE DID IT!!!! finally made the goal amount for s4s! thank you to everyone who has donated and believed in me throughout this journey you are so amazing!!!

Wow. 18 days left. 160 miles until all of the land in the United States runs out. This crazy seven...

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:17:00 -0400

Wow. 18 days left. 160 miles until all of the land in the United States runs out. This crazy seven month journey is almost going to be over. Part of me is ridiculously happy, you know…my own bed, see what the next steps are in life, different conversations…but then at the same time, I’m a little sad; this journey, this wonderful run across the United States was amazing. I met so many fabulous people, I’ve eaten a lot of great food (bill if you’re reading this: bring on the fat jokes.) and I’ve changed. My whole outlook on life, my goals…I’m actually a hugger now and a people person. But I’m happy, really happy. The journey has been hard, but man, it’s been worth it. Everything about these last seven months has molded me and my life a little more…the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the sour, the sweet…it’s all created a run, a journey, that was worth going on. I found myself in the soles of my feet. I laughed, I cried (a lot). But I enjoyed it all. This run healed some relationships even though it killed a few. It is an analogy of life for me. It opened up my eyes to so much good in the world. It taught me that occasionally if you put your trust in people- even perfect strangers, they will rise to the occasion.
Sometimes you’ve just got to go big or go home, you’ve got to prove yourself right by just going out and doing and acting on all of your crazy insane, impossible seeming goals. I mean look at me, 4 years ago did anyone actually think that I’d be running even a mile…doubtful, and then I decided to run over 3000…
Do life people, you won’t regret it.

If it weren’t for the first three people that I mentioned this too (allie schaal, ken doll, Tigges) not thinking I was a complete idiot for wanting to do this, but instead being supportive in their own ways, (ie: “are you on drugs…like I don’t doubt you..but are you on drugs..?” Or “rae…that’d be awesome but you might get eaten by a bear…”) I don’t think I would have even tried to execute my goal. So thank you for not thinking I was an idiot. (Or at least not telling me I was an idiot…you all probably thought that for a few days at least….)
And then thanks to everyone else I told. Thanks to the people who were my voice of reason without being a voice of doubt. And also thank you to the very few people who openly told me not to go because I would ‘get killed..or worse.” Because without you I wouldn’t have had motivation to keep going. I’m 160 miles away. Wow. That’s really ridiculous to me.
Like all the what ifs and the what’s next…
Bizarre, I’m going to miss this.
But I’m ready for the next thing…whatever it may be.

Thanks to everyone in Vegas (and everywhere else) that are still...

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 18:38:29 -0400

Thanks to everyone in Vegas (and everywhere else) that are still donating shoes!

I have about 200 miles left until I run out of land!!

And I’m a little past the California boarder!! Yay! Last state! 👊

October and 90+ degrees is definitely not an October that I am used to. But regardless of the heat,...

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:17:23 -0400

October and 90+ degrees is definitely not an October that I am used to.
But regardless of the heat, I am knocking out the miles and have around 300 miles left to run until I am to Manhattan Beach, which is very exciting. It’s still strange thinking that I am almost done running across america…like less than a month left and this journey will be over…crazy.
On top of the excitement of almost being done with my run, I am pretty excited to see my mom in about a week and a half, I haven’t seen her for a while and it will be nice to have her around for a while.

I’ll update you guys a little more on my next rest day.

-Rae

Last night at Zumba, Trevor brought two pairs of shoes to donate...

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:42:17 -0400

Last night at Zumba, Trevor brought two pairs of shoes to donate to Soles4Souls!

Hi everyone! In the past few weeks a lot of exciting things have happened. Like when my dad...

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:07:12 -0400

Hi everyone!

In the past few weeks a lot of exciting things have happened.

Like when my dad surprised me with a visit.

I made it to Nevada!

I am currently 50 miles away from Las Vegas (home). But seeing as these last few weeks have been pretty grueling I am taking about six rest days before I finish those last fifty into my home town.

I would like to make a special shout out to Ron Nelson (AKA Ron Swanson).

Due to the fact that from Fruita Colorado until you hit Las Vegas it is pretty desolate, it would be pretty dangerous to go at alone. So Ron stepped up and offered to follow me in an RV. And we made it.

Awesome gesture, extremely grateful. Ron- you rock.

(Since I am at the moment lacking a photo of Ron, enjoy this photo of Ron Swanson)

Text I woke up to "Rae update Facebook or blog, people probably think you're dead."

Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:53:25 -0400

I’ve been pretty busy running and sleeping, that’s why there has been lack of updates. I want to be home so I have only taken one rest day since grand junction, co and that rest day was about ten days ago. I’ve been doing 25-30 miles a day. At this point it’s a mental sport more so than ever. My body is listening to my brains’ pleas to be home ASAP. My body is tired but my brain is too jacked up on adrenaline and the motivation of knowing I’ll be with my sister and sleeping in my own bed quite soon, to care. I’m almost to the Arizona border. About 150 miles from las Vegas. In about 100 miles I plan on taking a few rest days, my body will be ready for a break, and then I’ll hit the road again to California.
I’m doing good though. Maybe back in April if my attitude were “I’m ALMOST HOME!” those 30-44 mile days wouldn’t have seemed so exhausting-HA.

Also congratulations to the finishers of the ST. George Marathon today, it was fun cheering you on after my run.

There hasn’t been a crazy amount to blog about in the past two weeks, but here I am to let...

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 17:52:04 -0400

There hasn’t been a crazy amount to blog about in the past two weeks, but here I am to let everyone know I’m still alive.
I’m so lucky to have had the chance to meet so many great people and new friends along my journey. People that have housed and fed me have been so amazing. But there is also the people Like my new friend Carrie, who ran with pretty and hung out with me pretty much every chance she got, I really had a great time and am so glad I go the chance to meet her.
Also a big thanks to Ron who is driving his RV so I have a place to stay every night since Utah is so desolate. I have about 310 miles left until I hit Las Vegas (aka my own bed for a few nights), I’ve been doing between 25-30 miles since I hit Utah and plan to continue doing that many until Vegas, this place is freaky, I want to get out of here as soon as I can. I’m really happy that I’m so close to home, it’s a nice feeling knowing ill get to hang out with my sister and sleep in my own bed for a few nights.
Also, two nights ago my dad surprise visited me! I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to see him in my life. I was really starting to miss him…seriously though, my dad and Kendall are pros at surprising me.

Kait and John:

These two are walking across the country (well, them and four dogs!), we’ve been ping ponging back and forth since nebraska. We finally meet up a few days ago in Green River and got the chance to chat about our travels.
You should check out their blog www.DogBlogUSA.com

September 15th

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 22:22:49 -0400

I ran to Rifle, Co today. It’s a bittersweet feeling knowing that I only have about 90 miles left of my favorite state. Getting towards the end I think about all the great people I met in Colorado, and all of the fun I’ve had. While running through the Rockies was the most difficult terrain I’ve encountered, it didn’t feel difficult. Yes I woke up almost every morning and my body was screaming at me to quit. But all of my runs we’re beautiful and all of the people I ran with were awesome, so the running felt easy.
So here I am still looking at the majestic landscape, but it’s getting uglier (as ugly as Colorado will allow). I guess that’s a good thing…I’m almost done, I know kendoll is probably happy about that. While I’m really excited to finally be home, I’m a little bit sad that my “seven month vacation” is almost over, it’s been a blast.
Anyways back to the point of this blog, really got off topic there for a second. Today I was supposed to run 27 miles, I figured if I was having a good day it’d take me 5 hours (remember I’m pushing a 60 lb stroller)…but I got a tad bit sidetracked, and also maybe a little bit lost…
From glenwood springs to new castle(ish) there is a stretch where there is nothing but the interstate, so like hello that is where I’m going to run. So like 8 miles into my run I obviously get pulled over (I figured it would only be a matter of time, I was like on edge the entire 8 miles trying to figure out which state patrolman it would be). Thankfully this state patrol officer was super nice, and was really understanding and also I think he just got tired of my bargaining that he just let me run. He was like “uh you cant run with a baby on the interstate, I mean you can’t even run alone on the interstate” …I laughed, showed him the lack of child, he laughed too. But then he was like seriously though I can’t have you running out here. And I was like well where do you want me to run??? There isn’t anywhere else for like two more miles, how else am I going to get to California!? We went back and forth for a bit, me obviously making promises of staying off the interstate for the rest of my run if he just would let me go the next two miles. He finally caved, and wished me well and I was on my way.
Until a mile up the road these two girls ran out of gas! They said “do you have a cell phone??” and me being in such a good mood said “of course, here you go.”
Thirty minutes later after they finally got someone to bring them gas I was on my way….with barely any battery left. but you know what? So many people have helped me these last five and a half months that I figured it was gods way of saying “here’s your chance to pay it foreward” so I did.
And then and unexpected news reporter showed up and asked to do an interview…another 45 minutes gone.
So by 2:00 pm I still had another 10 miles to go, it was hot, I was tired, but still my spirits were good…I mean why shouldn’t they be?
Please like adding 4 miles to my run and a few extra hours is going to ruin my day. No way Jose.
So I finally got into dodge at about 3:55. Tired. Dead. hungry.
But all in all today was good. 31 miles never killed anyone.

If you’re in Glenwood Springs and have shoes to donate...

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:47:49 -0400

If you’re in Glenwood Springs and have shoes to donate stop at Treadz!!

Middle school Xc team AND Girls on The Run —-so much fun...

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:46:37 -0400

Middle school Xc team AND Girls on The Run —-so much fun chatting with them about running and s4s