From: Subject: Alyasiri race report Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2003 17:31:11 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://home1.gte.net/res0thxu/tsunamiruns/articles/run_the_usa.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1165 Alyasiri race report

"Running a 5,000 K !!!"
by Seanan AlYasiri
April 9, = 2003

The Ride The Wave intermediate training=20 group was fortunate to enjoy the company of Dave=20 Bronfenbrenner (age 24) and Scott Sehon (age 25) on April 9, 2003. = The=20 former cross country stars of Bucknell University (Pennsylvania) have = been=20 planning a road trip for over 4 years. Rather then jumping in the car, = they=20 decided to hoof it, Forrest Gump style. Running an estimated 3,200 miles = from=20 the frigid beaches of New Jersey's Atlantic to the balmy shores of = Oregon's=20 Pacific. They average 20-25 miles a day anywhere from 6:30 to 8:15 per = mile.

The thought of this daunting journey is incomprehensible to most. = However,=20 they wanted to separate themselves from the rest of those who have = attempted=20 trans-continental runs. Their rules, no support vehicles, no money and=20 absolutely no shaving. "We rely on the goodness of the American spirit" = noted=20 Sehon. Three months of detailed mapping and preparation equipped them = with a=20 website for friends and family to track their progress. Their research = even=20 identified fresh water streams where the geography is too desolate to = expect=20 food, water and normal civilization.

Within 20 days of their website being published, www.runtheusa.com = exceeded 1=20 million hits. This "American spirit" quickly grew, as their site became = ranked=20 as Yahoo's most popular weekly hit. The generosity was overwhelming as = host=20 families located on their route offered dinner and lodging for the = majority of=20 the anticipated 145 stops.

Their equipment includes a set of running attire, comfortable sweats, = sleeping bags, cell phones, GPS technology and a baby jogger to haul = their=20 belongings. And now, a couple of "Lake Run Club" sleeveless t's to enjoy = on the=20 way. Their favorite running store ships two new pairs of Adidas shoes = every 20=20 days.

After an enjoyable dinner at Avanti's, host and Ride The Wave = participant,=20 Jesse Baird welcomed Scott and Dave into his house. Hot showers, = internet access=20 and XBOX seemed to be on the agenda.

Once their jaunt is complete, these patriotic dream chasers have = visions of=20 sub 2:22 marathons (5:24 pace) and qualifying for the Olympic Trials. As = training partners, they logged 100 mile weeks in preparation, and both = competed=20 in the sand storm conditions of the 2003 Las Vegas Marathon. Infact,=20 Bronfenbrenner posted the overall win, despite 40 mph dessert winds and = dodging=20 uprooted port-a-johns.

Sehon's visions of the finish line include spending time with his = girlfriend,=20 while Bronfenbrenner is motivated to start graduate school. "It's going = to feel=20 weird taking 5 months to run across the US, then flying home in 4 = hours", noted=20 the Pennsylvania natives.

It was an honor to meet these gentlemen and become further inspired = by their=20 dreams. I was fortunate enough to join=20 them on a segment of their journey from Gridley to Secor, Illinois. = During=20 the run, I got a true feel for the conditions, confused looks by passers = by and=20 landscape of their trek.

Special thanks to Jesse=20 Baird and Jana Kiefer for hosting them, and to the Lake Run Club and = Dead=20 Stagg Society for sponsoring dinner. And of course to Dave and Scott for = their=20 conversation and further inspiration to accomplish my goals.

"Some people say we're crazy for doing this, but I think it's crazy = to NOT=20 follow your dreams". --- Scott Sehon


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