Running Across America Updates
Posted by planetultramarathon on December 23, 2006
Christian McEvoy recently completed his run across America on December 16.
He raised well over $200,000 on his way to $1,000,000 to benefit cancer
survivors and patients. Christian is the 173rd person to cross America and
around the 25th supported journey runner. His is the 199th overall crossing
which includes walkers, hikers, stilters, crutchers, and handers as well.
He covered 3400.6 miles for an average of just over 20 miles a day. Visit
http://www.coasttocoastrun.org for more information.Out of the eight attempts this year only two were completed and one is still
progressing I believe. Christian and Paul Staso join the list of intrepid
travelers. This is definitely no easy task whether supported, unsupported,
or whatever. I am slowly documenting crossings that came up short because
those folks need some recognition as well.
A quick recap of this year’s attempts:
Dan Isaacson, attacked in Chicago and postponed finish until possibly 2007.
Paul Staso, finished on 10/20/06 covering 3,260 miles in under 119 days.
Christian McEvoy, finished on 12/16/06 covering 3,400.6 miles in 169 days.
Tom Walsh, completed 1,050 miles but stopped due to injuries and heat.
William Hibbard, did not start due to support RV fire.
Steve Bethune, injuries forced a transition to bicycle, finished 11/21/06.
Dean Karnazes, ran 1,254 miles in 27 running days but stopped to be at home.
Lansing Brewer, still out on the roads as far as I can tell, no website.
Using a free trial of a newspaper archiving service, I was able to track
down some more information on early crossings. Updates will be available
from my website soon but here is a quick rundown.
Helmut Schieke started on 4/27/71 and ended 6/25/71.
John Ball (not Bull) ran from 3/5/72 – 4/28/72.
John Lees walked from 4/13/72 – 6/6/72.
Tom Knoll ran from 7/13/83 – 9/15/83
Updated various distances and starting/ending points, added some birthdates.
Updated some of the categories such as walkers and supported.
Found information on locations crossers were living at and nationalities.
Added a distinction between “Elapsed Time with Time Zone Adjustment” and
“Unique Calendar Days Ran On”.
Would LOVE to find out more information on:
Bill Chapman (age/b-day, mileage run, start/end date from 1980)
Chris Devine (age/b-day, mileage run, start/end date from 1981)
Edward Kelley (b-day, start/end date from 1985)
Bill Schultz (b-day, start/end date from 1990)
Jesse Riley (start/end date from 1997)
And of course any other information (with sources) you can gather.
Just for fun, I wanted to find out who is the earliest crosser that is still
alive and a few runners from the 1928 race would be in their upper 90s and
lower 100s now. Andy Payne would have been 99 around now but died in 1977.
Anyone have some anecdotal evidence of who the earliest (not necessarily
oldest) crosser is?
Went overboard on information again but hopefully someone enjoys this.
Happy Holidays to all and have a great 2007!
John
jhwiii@trizera.com
