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Personal Background:
I am 57 years old, born and
raised in New Kensington, PA. I am a graduate of Washington and Jefferson
College (AB Physics). I live in Stow, MA a western suburb of Boston near
Concord and Acton, MA. I am married and the proud father of three daughters
and four grandchildren.
I retired from Compaq Computer Corp. this past April after 29 years as
a sales and marketing executive with Digital Equipment Corp. and Compaq.
I was previously employed by Gulf Research and Development Corp. in Pittsburgh,
PA (5 years) where I was a Senior Research Engineer and earned a U.S.
Patent.
I've been a lifelong athlete, including high school track, high school
and college football, industrial and city league basketball and softball
teams, recreational tennis, snow and water skiing, etc. I coached in the
Assabet Valley Little League Baseball Program (Stow and Maynard) for three
years.
I've always enjoyed the outdoors including hiking, camping and mountain
climbing (including Mount Washington several times and Mount Fuji). I
am an Eagle Scout, member of the Order-of-the-Arrow and worked three summers
(13 weeks per summer) as a counselor at a Boy Scout Camp in Pennsylvania
during my high school summer vacations. I was a Scoutmaster in New Kensington,
PA for three years and Stow, MA for three years.
I started long distance running in 1975 during the Frank Shorter and Bill
Rodgers running boom; ran 4 marathons in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York
in 1978-80, the Boston Marathon in 1993, the Bay State Marathon October,
2001, the Sheraton Hyannis Marathon this past February 24, and the Boston
Marathon again this past April 15.
In addition to athletics, I have been an amateur musician since high school.
I play fiddle, guitar and mandolin in "Roaring Jellies" (Contra
Dance Band), and "The Heritage String Band" which focuses on
Americana music from the mid-1800s including Civil War era and Stephen
Foster songs. I have previously played in Folk, Country and Bluegrass
Bands.
Run Across America--For Enduring Freedom (RAA--FEF) Summary:
I first thought of running across America as a "personal athletic
challenge" this past August. My original Transamerica idea was to
run the shortest route between San Francisco and Boston (approx. 3200
miles). After September 11, deep feelings of patriotism expanded my plans,
and I am now dedicating the Run to the victims and families of the terrorist
attack, the emergency response organizations (firefighters, police), disaster
relief organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.), support for the
US Military, and to keep focus on the importance of freedom and homeland
security, so that we never again take it for granted,......and to express
my patriotic feelings for America!!!.
Since my RAA-FEF is primarily a patriotic event, I plan to carry a small
American Flag and wear shirts, jackets and caps with symbols of patriotism
including the Flag, armed services, service academies, and the N.E. Patriots
logo.
My RAA-FEF Plan now covers 5300 miles in 288 running days over a 324 day
period (36 planned rest days).
I altered my route to include more states and all the venues involved
in the recent terrorist attacks; these include Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Oklahoma City, Shanksville, WDC, and New York City. I plan to run to all
the service academies (USAFA in Colorado Springs, USNA in Annapolis, Marine
Officer Training Center in Quantico, Merchant Marine Academy in Kings
Point, USAA in West Point, and the Coast Guard Academy in New London).
I will also run to and through other "Americana" historic and
geographic landmarks (e.g.: Valley Forge, Gettysburg, the California "Gold
Country", Donner Park and Memorial, the Stephen Foster Memorial in
Pittsburgh, Kit Carson and Bill Monroe boyhood homes, RFK, JFK and MLK
assassination venues in L.A., Dallas, and Memphis, the U.S. Olympic Training
Center in Colorado Springs, and numerous National monuments and memorials).
I plan to visit military bases, firehouses and police stations along the
way to express my support and appreciation for the many Americans involved
in protecting our homeland and freedom.
I will also make myself available to give presentations to high schools,
athletic clubs, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, community organizations, colleges
and universities, etc.
RAA--FEF Timeline and Venues:
On Monday April 22, I will fly to L.A., then start the Run on April 23.
The Run will go through 25 states and finish in Boston in March, 2003.
To my knowledge and research, it will be the longest continuous run across
America.
I plan to run 18-22 miles per day with an occasional day off every 3-4
weeks.
If I am feeling strong after the first four months, I would like to run
the Pikes Peak Marathon in August while running through the Colorado Springs
area.
Cities and towns that I will run through include Los Angeles, Big Sur,
Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Napa, Sacramento, Donner Pass, around
Lake Tahoe to Carson City, through Utah, Aspen, Colorado Springs, Pueblo,
Raton Pass, Cimmaron,NM, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Shreveport,
Memphis, Nashville, Bowling Green, Rosine,KY, Louisville, Fort Knox, Cincinnati,
Dayton, Columbus, Wheeling, Washington,PA, Pittsburgh, Shanksville, Gettysburg,
Washington DC, Quantico, Annapolis, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia,
Valley Forge, Newark, New York, Kings Point, West Point, Peekskill, Yorktown,
Bridgeport, New Haven, New London, Concord, Lexington (along the Battle
Road), and Boston (along the Freedom Trail) and finish near or at the
Paul Revere memorial and Columbus Park in the North End.
During my RAA-FEF, I will participate in the following "Distance
Running Big Three" (my terminology):
1. The largest media-covered single day sporting event in the world --
"The Boston Marathon" April 15, 2002.
2. The largest participation sporting event in the world -- The San Francisco
"Bay-to-Breakers Race" (8.5 miles) with ~120,000 runners May
19, 2002.
3. "America's Ultimate Challenge" -- running the Pikes Peak
Marathon August 18, 2002.
At the conclusion of the Run (planned for mid-March, 2003), Massachusetts
State Senator Richard Moore has offered to host a reception at the State
House in Boston.
Sponsors:
Coca-Cola will provide all the fluids I will need to maintain proper hydration
and electrolyte balance. I will be using Coca-Cola's "Powerade-Liquid
Hydration and Energy Drink" and "Dassani Bottled Water"
products.
Slim-Fast will help provide the essential nutrients and vitamins that
I will need via their "Meal On-The-Go" Bars and the "Slim-Fast
Liquid" products. Per my personal analysis and discussions with sports
nutritionists, both products have an ideal ratio of carbohydrates, proteins
and fat for long distance runners.
Charitable Contributions:
My wife Marge and I have decided to have contributions generated by the
Run go to "The Brain Center" in New Seabury (Cape Cod), MA.
The Brain Center was founded by Dick and Eleanor Grace in 1976 to bring
science about the brain and its diseases to the public; be an information
center for distressed families about diseases and head trauma that have
struck their loved ones; provide research and education in neurological
and psychiatric diseases.
Contributions can be sent to:
The Brain Center
Promontory Point
New Seabury, MA 02649
For additional information about the Brain Center, please call 508-477-5300
or FAX 508-477-1616.
Bob Alessio Contact Information:
Home: 31 Robert Road Stow, MA 01775
Cell Phone (primary phone): 978-808-5494
Home Phone: 978-897-1992
e-mail: AlessioBob@aol.com
Best Regards,
Bob
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