the agenda

The Run

On January 9th, 2010, I will start my Transcontinental Run for Liberty. I will touch the Pacific Ocean in the city where I grew up, Huntington Beach, California and head east to the Statue of Liberty. I plan to average around 25 miles a day. If I go the shortest distance between the 2 points, then I should make it in about 4 months.

My original plan was to do this run “unsupported”. In other words ALONE like this guy . After I came to my senses and realized that having a support vehicle, would be extremely wise, my good friend Chris Swenson, signed on to shoot footage of the run, edit webisodes and drive the support vehicle (does he really know what he’s got himself into?) Since we have started working together on this project, it has already started moving in directions I had not anticipated and I have a feeling it will take on a life of it’s own. That’s a good thing!

This whole Idea of running across the country has been nagging at me for quite some time. I love to run! Since I started running, about 4 years ago, I have logged over 4,500 miles. I have run 4 Marathons, 2 Ultra Marathons, an Ironman and several shorter triathlons and road races. All of this racing takes a good amount of training. Out of convenience, I find myself doing the majority of my training on a treadmill. Frankly, I am tired of the treadmill. Both literally and figuratively. The “rat race” if you will.

I want to run and actually get somewhere!

Liberty

We are facing perilous times in our nation. We are having debates and discussions about issues that strike at the very core of our nations principles. I feel that we are letting slip away, the freedoms and liberties that so many fought and died for. I don’t buy into the whole Democrat vs. Republican or Liberal vs. Conservative thing. If I had to align myself with any party, I would be a Libertarian. I don’t believe in conspiracy theories and I don’t think that there are evil people in Washington that are conspiring against us. I just think that things have gotten wildly out of control and politicians with good intentions are implementing policies with some very negative repercussions.

Our Government seems to be out of control! It’s bailouts, social programs, wars abroad and unrestrained spending has left a huge tax burden on every man woman and child in America. And with this burden, we as Americans are losing more and more of our freedoms and liberties, in the name of “the common good”. I believe there is a better way. As we traverse this great country of ours, we will be talking to people, from all walks of life, and ask the question “do we still have liberty in America?”

Inspiration

In documenting this entire journey through a lens, blogging and twitter, I hope to inspire others to reach for their goals no matter what they may be. I have made my plans for this run, public, pretty much from the moment I first thought of doing it. It was a scary move. I wasn’t sure then if I could do it and am still not entirely sure. But, with every step that I take it becomes more real and I get closer to my destination. I truly hope to show that, even though we may not be able see the road ahead, life is just too damn short not to take that first step. And with that first step, ALOT of hard work and little faith, we may actually find our Liberty.

Paul