Running across America for Youth Mental Health
3,156 miles for the mission
With the help of an amazing support team, Greg ran 3156 miles from New York City to Ocean Shores, WA.
He started with a foot in the Atlantic on April 25th, 2022.
And then ran the equivalent of 120 marathons across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington to dip his feet in the Pacific on July 17th.
Here's the route and day-by-day itinerary.
Keep showing up
The mantra that got Greg to the startline and helped him power thru exhaustion and self-doubt while crossing the continent.
You can read this Seattle Times feature and listen to the REI podcast for more on the Run Across America and the obstacles Greg faced reeling in the Pacific (including tendinitis, back spasms, heatwaves, tornado warnings, baseball-sized hailstones, and flooding)
You can follow @GregRunsFar on Instagram to see the beautiful landscapes + sunsets the team enjoyed and read Greg’s daily recaps to meet some of the wonderful folks from the road.
After completing the Run Across America, Greg and his team at Run Far Foundation continue to build a national movement for youth mental health.
As CEO, Greg negotiated a pioneering national partnership. Run Far Foundation is the official mental health partner for the 2023 Pittsburgh Marathon. He produced a “Mental Health Monday” video series to inspire countless runners (including thousands of Kids of STEEL!) across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia to become mental health champions to support friends, family, classmates, and colleagues.
You can read the Pittsburgh Marathon’s partnership announcement.
Closer to home, Greg is working to launch the pilot afterschool Run Far Club in partnership with the Nisqually Indian Tribe. The aim is to enable meaningful community service and help young people find purpose, have fun, and stay healthy by building emotional resilience.
Run Far Foundation also provides Community Grants to get kids active in building their mental health. Sample projects include: hosting a schoolyard concert or picnic, roadside litter cleanup, fun run, art walk, hiking excursion, group yoga or meditation circle, launching a mentoring program, growing a community garden, or painting a mural.
Building youth resilience coast-to-coast
One step at a time... Keep Showing Up!
Greg was the yahoo running but there's no way he makes it without an amazing support team.
Thank you, Elise + Dr. Yoshi + Reid + Roc!! #BestTeamWins
April 25, 2022: Depart Atlantic Ocean at Gateway National Recreation Area, Long Island, New York
April 25 - New Linden, New Jersey
April 26 - Levittown, Pennsylvania
April 27 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 28 - Lancaster, Pennsylvania
April 29 - Biglerville, Pennsylvania
April 30 - Harrisonville, Pennsylvania
May 1 - Schellesburg, Pennsylvania
May 2 - Ligonier, Pennsylvania — Meetup at Pittsburgh's Schenley Park's Bartlett Shelter!
May 3 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 4 - Unity, Ohio
May 5 - Hartville, Ohio — 500 miles logged!
May 6 - Plymouth, Ohio
May 7 - Melmore, Ohio
May 8 - Kalida, Ohio
May 9 - Indiana/Ohio Border
May 10 - Larwill, Indiana
May 11 - Hamlet, Indiana
May 12 - Valparaiso, Indiana — Lakefront Meetup at Chicago's North Avenue Beach!
May 13 - Chicago, Illinois
May 14 - West Dundee, Illinois
May 15 - Rockford, Illinois
May 16 - Stockton, Illinois — 1,000 miles logged!
May 17 - Cuba City, Wisconsin
May 18 - Holy Cross, Iowa
May 19 - Castalia, Iowa
May 20 - Lime Springs, Iowa
May 21 - Austin, Minnesota
May 22 - Walnut Lake, Minnesota
May 23 - Jackson, Minnesota
May 24 - Spafford, Minnesota
May 25 - Magnolia, Minnesota
May 26 - Brandon, South Dakota
May 27 - Renner, South Dakota
May 28 - Salem, South Dakota
May 29 - Canova, South Dakota
May 30 - Howard, South Dakota — 1,500 miles logged!
May 31 - Woonsocket, South Dakota
June 1 - Wessington Springs, South Dakota
June 2 - Stephan, South Dakota
June 3 - Buffalo County, South Dakota
June 4 - Pierre, South Dakota
June 5 - Fort Pierre, South Dakota
June 6 - Philip, South Dakota
June 7 - Plainview, South Dakota
June 8 - Union Center, South Dakota
June 9 - Vale, South Dakota
June 10 - Bell Fourche, South Dakota
June 11 - Alzada, Montana
June 12 - Hammond, Montanta
June 13 -Broadus, Montana
June 14 - Volburg, Montana
June 15 - Lame Deer, Montana — 2,000 miles logged!
June 16 - Crow Agency, Montana
June 17 - Hardin, Montana
June 18 - Billings, Montana
June 19 - Park City, Montana
June 20 - Reed Point, Montana
June 21 - Livingston, Montana
June 22 - Bozeman, Montana
June 23 - Three Forks, Montana
June 24 - Townsend, Montana
June 25 - Helena, Montana
June 26 - Avon, Montana
June 27 - Ovando, Montana
June 28 - Seeley Lake, Montana
June 29 - St Ignatius, Montana — 2,500 miles logged!
June 30 - Paradise, Montana
July 1 - Thompson Falls, Montana
July 2 - Wallace, Idaho
July 3 - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
July 4 - Spokane Valley, Washington — Officially in Greg's home state!
July 5 - Spokane, Washington
July 6 - Creston, Washington
July 7 - Coulee City, Washington
July 8 - Douglas, Washington
July 9 - Dryden, Washington
July 10 - Stevens Pass, Washington
July 11 - Baring, Washington
July 12 - Monroe, Washington
July 13 - Seattle, Washington — 3,000 miles logged! Seattle Arrival Party at Pier 62 including a surprise visit by UW football players who are allies for youth mental health!
July 14 - Tacoma, Washington
July 15 - Rainier, Washington
July 16 - Montesano, Washington
July 17, 2022 - Arrive Pacific Ocean at Ocean Shores, WA!! — 3,156 miles logged.
You can follow @GregRunsFar on Instagram to see the beautiful landscapes we ran thru and read Greg’s daily recaps to meet some of the wonderful folks we connected with along the way.