Run Across America -- For Enduring Freedom
Los Angeles to Boston -- 5550 Miles
April 23, 2002 to March 20, 2003
Bob Alessio
Run Summary:
On September 6, 2001, I first thought of running across America as a "personal athletic challenge". My original Transamerica plan was to run the shortest route between San Francisco and Boston (3250 miles). After the September 11 Terrorist Attack on America, deep feelings of patriotism expanded my objectives and plans. I am now dedicating the Run to the victims and families of the terrorist attack, the emergency response organizations (firefighters, police, EMTs), and support for the US Armed Services. My objective is to keep focus on the importance of freedom, homeland security, pride in the Flag and the liberties it represents, so that we forever remember the sacrifices Americans have made to preserve liberty and freedom, and never again take the fundamental values of America for granted.My RAA-FEF Plan now covers 5450 miles in 288 running days over a 324-day period. To my knowledge and research, this distance will be the longest ever Run Across America.
My route now includes and unites all the venues impacted by the September 11th Attack; where the planes departed (Boston Logan, Newark and Dulles Airports), their destination (Los Angeles and San Francisco Airports), and where they landed (New York City, Washington DC, and Shanksville). I will also run to Oklahoma City (site of the April 19, 1995 Murrah Building terrorist bombing), RFK, JFK and MLK, Jr. assassination sites (L.A., Dallas, and Memphis), and to all the service academies (USAFA in Colorado Springs, USNA in Annapolis, Marine Officer Training Center in Quantico, Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, USMA in West Point, and the Coast Guard Academy in New London).
I will run to "Americana" and historic landmarks e.g. (geographic west-to-east): Big Sur, portions of El Camino Real ("The King's Highway" along which Father Junipero Serra established 21 missions and 4 presidios), portions of "Historic Lincoln Highway and Highway 40" (the first transcontinental highway in the U.S.), the California "Gold Country", Donner Pass, Donner Park and Memorial, U.S. Highway 50 through Nevada ("The Loneliest Highway in America), portions of the Pony Express and Overland Stage Trails, along the right-of way of the first transcontinental telegraph line (where a new in-ground transcontinental fiber-optic communications cable is now being installed!!), several sections of the "Grand Army of the Republic Highway", portions of the "Mormon Corridor" (between Salt Lake City and San Bernardino), portions of the Old Spanish Trail in Utah, portions of The Rio Grande Trail, the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, portions of the Santa Fe Trail, portions of the Taos ("Trapper") Trail, portions of old Rt 66 (the "Main Street of America" and first paved transcontinental highway in the U.S.), TX125 ("Woody Guthrie Highway"), portions of the Chisholm Trail (old trading wagon trail later used by cowboys as they drove their cattle to market), Gene Autry's boyhood home in Tioga,TX, "Great River Road" north through the Mississippi Delta, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace in Hodgenville,KY, Bill Monroe's boyhood home in Rosine,KY, the Stephen Foster Memorial in Pittsburgh, Gettysburg, Valley Forge, "Battle Road" (includes Concord's Old North Bridge and Lexington Green), "The Boston Freedom Trail" (includes Old North Church and Paul Revere memorial) and numerous National monuments and memorials.
I plan to visit military bases including Fallon Naval Air Station where the Navy "Top Gun" pilots train, Fort Carson where the Army Special Forces 10th Mountain Division and Green Berets train, Barksdale AFB where all B-52 combat crews train and where President Bush gave his first public statement after the Attack, Fort Knox, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base. I will also visit firehouses, police stations and sheriff's offices along my route to express my support and appreciation for the many Americans involved in protecting our homeland and freedom.
I will give presentations to schools, athletic clubs, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, youth groups, community organizations, veterans meetings, colleges and universities.
Since my RAA-FEF is an expression of patriotism, I carry an American Flag and wear shirts, jackets and caps with symbols of patriotism including "Old Glory", armed services, service academies and the New England Patriots logos.
RAA-FEF Timeline and Venues:
Monday April 22, fly to L.A., start the Run on Tuesday April 23 from Playa Del Ray (on the beach south of Marina Del Ray).The Run will go through 25 states and finish in Boston on or about March 14, 2003.
I will run 20-26 miles per day with a day off every ten days. I plan to climb Mt. Elbert (the highest peak in Colorado14,433') on August 3 while in Twin Lakes, CO, and run the Pikes Peak Marathon on August 18, 2002 while running through the Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs area.
Cities and towns that I will run through include Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Napa, Davis, Sacramento, Donner Pass, Truckee, King's Beach, around the north and east shores of Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, Carson City, Fallon, the historic mining towns of Austin, Eureka and Ely,NV; Delta, Salina and Green River,UT; Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Independence Pass (the "Great Divide"), Twin Lakes, Divide, Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Raton Pass, Cimmaron,NM, Clayton,NM, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Shreveport, Monroe, Greenville, Memphis, Nashville, Rosine,KY, Hodgenville,KY, Fort Knox, Louisville, Madison,IN, Lawrenceburg,IN, Dayton, Columbus, Wheeling, Washington,PA, Pittsburgh, New Kensington, Shanksville, Gettysburg, Washington DC, Quantico, Annapolis, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Newark, New York City, Kings Point, West Point, Yorktown, Bridgeport, New Haven, New London, Hopkinton, Marlboro, Stow, Concord and Lexington (along Battle Road), Cambridge, Boston (along "The Boston Freedom Trail") and finish at the Paul Revere memorial and Columbus Park in Boston's North End. I envision future reference to the route of this Run as "America's Freedom Trail".
During my RAA-FEF, I will participate in the following "Distance Running Big Three" (my terminology):
1. "The Boston Marathon" April 15, 2002 -- The largest media-covered single day sporting event in the world;
2. The San Francisco "Bay-to-Breakers Race" (7.6 miles) May 19, 2002 -- The largest participation sporting event in the world ~85,000 runners;
3. "The Pikes Peak Marathon" August 18, 2002 -- "America's Ultimate Challenge".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. I plan to run the Boston Marathon again on April 21, 2003
Personal Background:
57 years old, born and raised in New Kensington, PA. Graduate of Washington and Jefferson College (AB Physics). Reside in Stow, MA a western suburb of Boston near Concord and Lexington, MA. Married and proud father of a son (deceased), three daughters, and grandfather of four grandchildren.Retired from Compaq Computer Corp. April 2001 after 29 years as sales and marketing director with Digital Equipment Corp. and Compaq. Vice President of Marketing for Digital's Japan subsidiary. Previously employed by Gulf Research and Development Corp. in Pittsburgh, PA (5 years) as a Senior Research Engineer and earned a U.S. Patent.
Volunteer Fireman for three years (1967-1969) at Engine Company No.2 in Arnold, PA. Fought a fire in which two young children lost their lives. Worked with and developed a deep appreciation for emergency response personnel who daily support the public. Giving recognition to their commitment and dedication is one of the goals of this Run.
Lifelong athlete, including high school track, high school and college football, industrial and city league basketball and softball, recreational tennis, snow and water skiing, sailing, long distance cycling including a 100-mile "century ride". Coached in the Assabet Valley Little League Baseball Program (Stow and Maynard, MA) for three years. Private Pilot since 1992.
Always enjoyed the outdoors including hiking, camping and mountain climbing (including Mt. Washington and Mount Fuji). Eagle Scout, member of the Order-of-the-Arrow, and Counselor at a Boy Scout Camp in Pennsylvania during my high school summer vacations (13 weeks per summer for three summers). Scoutmaster in New Kensington, PA for three years and Stow, MA for three years.
Started long distance running in 1975 during the Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers running boom; ran 8 marathons in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, the Boston Marathon in 1993, the Bay State Marathon October, 2001, the Sheraton Hyannis Marathon February 24, 2002 and the Boston Marathon again April 15, 2002.
Amateur musician since high school. Play fiddle, guitar and mandolin in bands including the "Roaring Jelly" 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. Previously played in Folk, Country and Bluegrass Bands.
Support:
In addition to the on-going support of my extended family and friends, I have had the day-to-day support of Ray Napoli, Sheryl (our middle daughter), Bruce Crumley and Judy Game (met at a John Sommers concert in Colorado), Hank Humphries (met during the Pikes Peak Marathon), and Albert Brien (friend from The Fiddlers Loft in Kingston, NH).Local police, sheriffs, and highway patrol/state police have provided excellent day-to-day support as I run through their jurisdictions.
I have met with the governors' staffs of several states and have received letters of support, best wishes and commendation from the governors of each state I have run through.
Sponsors:
Nike is providing twelve pairs of running shoes and year-'round athletic apparel.Coca-Cola is providing Powerade Sports Drink and Dasani Water.
Slim-Fast is providing "Meal-On-The-Go" Bars, and "Liquid and Powder" products.
The Cooper Institute and Sports Clinic in Dallas, TX is providing "Cooper Complete Multivitamins" and "Joint Maintenance Formula" (chondroitin sulphate, glucosomine sulphate and bromelain) products.
Dick and Eleanor Grace, founders of the Brain Center, provided RAA-FEF running T-shirts, "P.R. flyers", and signage for my RV camper.
The New England Patriots are providing "patriotic" red, white and blue apparel with their logo.
Charitable Contributions:
Marge and I 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, Fax 508-477-1616, or send mail to mfgdir@tiac.net.Media and Communications:
Albert Brien is hosting a web-site at www.RunAcrossAmerica.com <http://www.RunAcrossAmerica.com> for my RAA-FEF updates. Michael Pavan, a Boston area music friend, is communicating information about the Run to friends, Newspapers, Chambers of Commerce, etc.On 4/13/02 Bianca de la Garza of Fox News Network (Channel 25 in Boston) produced a four-minute story about my RAA-FEF including Run objectives, route, preparation, etc. Fox aired this story in Boston and many cities in the U.S. Fox, NBC, CBS, and ABC have covered the Run via local affiliates across the USA.
On 5/19/02 I met with Willie Brown, Mayor of San Francisco, prior to the start of the Bay-to-Breakers Race.
Many newspapers have covered the Run including The San Jose "Mercury", The Napa Valley "Register", "The Nevada Appeal", the Fallon Naval Air Station Newspaper "Desert Roundup", the Grand Junction "Daily Sentinel", the Glenwood Springs "Post", the Aspen "Times", the Aspen "Daily News", the Colorado Springs "Gazette", Clayton, NM "Union County Leader", Amarillo "Globe-News", and Shreveport "Times".
Numerous local Radio and TV stations have aired live and recorded interviews.
Bob Alessio Contact Information:
Cell Phone (primary phone): 978-808-5494
Web-site: www.RunAcrossAmerica.com <http://www.RunAcrossAmerica.com>
e-mail: AlessioBob@aol.com <mailto:AlessioBob@aol.com> (only weekly access to e-mail after April 20, 2002)
Home: 31 Robert Road Stow, MA 01775 978-897-1992