September 29, 2006

Staso keeping his promise to run across the USA

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE—Paul Staso listens to a question from one of the children he visited with on Thursday afternoon at Lancaster Elementary School in Bluffton. (Photo by Paul Beitler)

In the midst of his 15-state, 3200-mile run across the United States to promote physical fitness for American children, Paul Staso took a day off Thursday in Bluffton.

The 41-year-old runner from Missoula, Mont., used the day to re-energize himself in preparation for a big push into Ohio.

Staso also took time out to meet with local children at Bluffton-Harrison and Lancaster elementary schools. He told his attentive audiences that he would wake up early Friday and begin a 40-plus mile jaunt east to Converse, Ohio.

He told the children, part of the Wells County Operation Wellness fitness program, that he started his trek in June and plans to finish it in October, ending up in Delaware. One of the final highlights of the trip will be a meeting with President Bush at the White House.

Staso explained to the children that he took up the cross-country run as a promise to his wife’s physical education students at Russell Elementary School in Missoula. She had challenged her fourth and fifth grade classes to run a virtual race across the United States and he promised to actually make the trek if they would complete that journey, and they did.

Staso made his appearances yesterday without his three-wheel cart that he pushes in front of him as he runs and walks. He told the children that he calls the cart, “Bob,” which stands for “beast of burden.” The cart holds all of his belongings and a 2 1/2-gallon supply of drinking water for each day.

After explaining why and how he was doing his project, he fielded questions from the children.

He was asked if he ever got lonely and replied, “I miss my family and I miss my kids. I’m looking forward to getting home to see my friends.”

He admitted that one day after he had completed about 1,000 miles of his run he was sitting down somewhere in South Dakota and questioned himself if he could continue. After a time of introspection, he vowed to keep going.

Staso explained that this is a “once in a lifetime thing.” He has no plans to do anything like this again. Although he will keep running, he said. He enjoys running.

He explained that he started running when he was about 10 years old. Recalling one of his elementary school days, he said that a teacher, Mr. Cummings, observed that Staso would be a good runner, and he was right.

Staso also mentioned that he stops at pre-arranged points for the night. He also makes pit stops at gas stations, convenience stores and other locations along his route. He also has mailed six pairs of running shoes to certain places along the way. Before he started his run, he broke all of the shoes in so that they would not cause blisters on his feet.

He truly is an amazing man.

sports@news-banner.com

Email Paul Beitler

Talk about this story in our forums!