Team RAUSA to Run 3,000 Miles During 2014-2015 School Year

The 100 Mile Club® challenges kids to run (or walk) 100 miles during the school year. To date, the program has over 700 schools in nearly every U.S. State as well as three other countries – Canada, New Zealand and Japan. Now, a team of ultramarathoners will take their extreme sport to new extremes by running from coast to coast in support of childhood fitness.

On January 16, 2015, the Race Across USA Marathon Series will begin in Huntington Beach, California and pass through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and finally Maryland. During this event, runners will complete marathon (26.2 mile) stages. On Day 2, the runners will stop briefly at the headquarters of the 100 Mile Club® in Norco, CA. On Day 139, the runners will visit the White House in Washington D.C. to show their appreciation for the First Lady’s support of this important issue. On June 2, 2015 the runners will complete their journey at Edgewater Park, Maryland, across the street from Chesapeake Bay which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The running distance from California to Maryland will total 3,000 miles.

In addition to a core team of ultrarunners running across the entire country, state runners will join this traveling caravan with the goal of running across one of the states along the route. The number of stages and total mileage will vary per state. Not surprisingly, the Lone Star State of Texas will account for the most mileage: a staggering 595 miles – or the equivalent of 22 1/2 marathons. The state with the largest elevation gain is Arizona, where the runners will climb more than 26,000 feet, equivalent to the height of Gasherbrum II, the 13th tallest mountain in the world.

The runners will pass by many interesting landmarks, such as the VLA (Very Large Array) in New Mexico which contains 27 massive satellite dishes (82 feet in diameter), each arranged in a Y formation that are connected together into a single large radio telescope. In Georgia, the route will follow the Silver Comet Trail. This wonderfully maintained 61-mile long track follows an old railway path that was in operation from 1897 to 1969. Finally, in Virginia, the route will follow a portion of highway U.S. 1. This route begins in Key West, Florida and travels all the way to the Canadian Border in Maine. This historic highway was originally laid out in the 1920s. Later, interstates were built nearby, taking the majority of the traffic with it.

While making their way across the country, the runners plan to visit schools along the route to challenge students to stay active. All runners, no matter their combined time, will have the satisfaction of knowing that they used their love of running as a gift to the young people of this country. The hope is that this event will motivate students to believe that something that seems impossible can be possible with determination and perseverance. Some students might even take the step of accepting the challenge and joining the 100 Mile Club®.

The Race Across USA is a multistage footrace across the continental United States. Runners will cover over 3,000 miles over 140 days. The goals for this event are threefold: (1) Raise awareness about the need for greater activity and fitness in young people, (2) Raise funds to sponsor students who cannot afford the cost of the 100 Mile Club® (it costs $10 per year to pay for administration, postage and the incentives) and (3) Visit schools along the route with the hope of starting new clubs. More information can be found here: http://RaceAcrossUSA.org. If the RAUSA route passes near your school, feel free to contact us.

Photo Credits (in the order that they appear)

1. Photo taken from Google Maps.
2. Used with permission from Colon Terrell.
3. Photo licensed under Creative Commons from Wikipedia.