The Pacific Ocean!
And just like that... It’s over!
It’s hard to put into words what finishing this 3055 mile journey across America and jumping into the Pacific Ocean feels like. It definitely wasn’t easy to get there but despite all the obstacles along the way, physically, mentally and emotionally, it was a life changing experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
My epic journey lasted just over 6 months, where I averaged 20 to 30 miles a day. I began running in the scorching heat in the middle of the summer through the urban streets of New Jersey, went on to the green rolling hills of Pennsylvania, and then through the Midwest, corn as far as the eye can see. I pushed through and ran passed the plains of Kansas before reaching the Colorado Rockies, where temperatures reached negative -30 degrees Celsius and experienced snow storms and strong winds. South-bound to avoid the cold, I ran along the northern border of New Mexico, through the Navajo Nation and into the desert of Arizona before making it across his final and 13th state, California.
There were a lot of extreme physical challenges along the journey, from the soreness to the tightness in my back and joints, to the blisters and the injuries, this 6 month journey was definitely not easy. But despite the obstacles along the way, my main mission to bring the oceans to landlocked America motivated me and pushed me to continue to run day in and day out.
📷 Devin L’Amoreaux
After speaking and engaging with over 8,000 people face-to-face along my journey, from students, small town mayors, business owners, to state governors, there was a lot to learn about the plastic industry in this country, the lobbying behind it.
Unfortunately, I witnessed a huge lack of awareness, education and action when it comes to plastic. I have seen the worst of the worst by kayaking down the world’s most polluted river 3 years ago, the Citarum River, and I felt like this country is not that far behind. I ran through the most desolate parts of this country and no matter where I was, sometimes 150 miles away from the nearest city, I would still see plastic everywhere I ran.
Before jumping into the Pacific yesterday, I was accompanied by a group of over 70 runners for my last 3 miles, which included my sister, Kelly, and brother, Gary, (the other two thirds of Make A Change) the LA Adidas Runners community, and college friends and supporters who had flown-in specifically to witness this final day.
A HUGE thank you to all of you for making this project happen and believing in me since the very beginning!
Thank you also for all your messages and calls along the way and I’m beyond grateful for all your encouragement and support.
Now I get to say I ran across America. I think it’s going to take a while for that sentence to sink in.
For the oceans!