Born in Indiana, I began running long distance in junior high. In high school, I was running 1000 miles each summer for cross country. In the spring of my senior year in high school, I ran my first 10,000th mile.
After graduation from Hanover College in southern Indiana with a bachelor's in communication, I enjoyed my first long distance trek: the Appalachian Trail. Fourteen states and 1200 miles later and I was hooked.
Living in a primitive log cabin and running to work as a substitute teacher later showed me that I could run far with a small pack. That's when the idea came to run across the United States. Roads seemed dangerous and trails were fun so I researched a route that could get me across on a mostly off-road path. 4,800 miles of the American Discovery Trail offered just that.
Getting married and settling in Arizona, my wife pointed out that I'd already crossed over half of the states and suggested that I just go ahead and finish them off. I decided my criteria would be to not necessarily cross the state in the shortest span, to do as much of the state on existing trails as possible, and to do it all on foot. With the schedule of a school teacher, I have summer vacations where I can continue to cross more states. With kids, home, and work, scheduling anything beyond snacks, lunch and laundry can be trying, but a supportive family helps make it possible.
In June, 2010 I crossed Nebraska, my 28th state in my quest to cross all 50 states. I'll ran approximately 30 miles per day, ate in restaurants along the way and found lodging in motels, a few couches of friendly townsfolk and even on a shower curtain in a state park showerhouse during a raging thunderstorm! I prefer to do my treks unsupported as I feel the absence of a support vehicle allows for additional "adventure".
In the past, I have financed my trips through savings, spartan travel, and occasional donations along the way. Nebraska's travel expenses were provided by sponsorship from two landmark steakhouses: Round the Bend Steakhouse near Lincoln, Nebraska, and Ole's Big Game Steakhouse in Paxton. Round the Bend hosts their annual Testicle Festival and I arrived just in time with my running pack.
Brian R. Stark
RunForrestRun@Hotmail.com