The Route & Timeline

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are you doing this?

I’m doing this run to pursue a life of meaning and sacrifice, to grow beyond comfort, and to support real women and families through the Pregnancy Center with something that costs me personally.

There are three connected reasons: an interior reason, a human reason, and a mission reason.

1. The Interior Reason (Who I’m becoming)

   I want to pursue a life of meaning and sacrifice that is intentional and realistic.

   This season of my life feels like a rare window. I have my health, my youth, the support of my family and faith, and the freedom to attempt something demanding. I don't know when I’ll ever have the time, energy, and ability to do something like this, and I don’t want to waste that gift.

   This run is also part of my personal discernment. I’m seriously discerning a vocation to the monastic life, and I want to test my willingness to embrace discipline, solitude, prayer, and offering sacrifice intentionally for something beyond myself. I’m offering the suffering and difficulty of this run as a prayer for a cause that matters deeply to me, a cause that touches real people and changes lives.

2. The Human Reason (How I want to live)

   I want to choose difficulty for the sake of love and growth.

   As a young man, I don’t want my life to be shaped primarily by comfort, distraction, or ease. I want to push beyond what is comfortable and become someone who is grounded spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

   This run is a way of striving for greatness, not in the sense of seeking recognition, but in the sense of becoming more disciplined, more generous in giving myself, and more rooted in prayer.

   I also hope that by doing something visibly difficult for a meaningful cause, I can invite others into something bigger than themselves, whether through prayer, generosity or courage in their own lives.

3. The Mission Reason (Who this helps)

   I’m running to bring attention to women and families who need real support in moments of crisis, and to support the Front Royal Pregnancy Center that does that work every day.

   I want to put feet, sweat, and sacrifice behind what I believe. The Pregnancy Center walks with people at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, offering practical help, compassionate care, and support.

   This run is my way of doing something costly and demanding to point attention to that life-changing work, and to invite others to be part of making a real difference in real people’s lives.

Where will you stay at night?

I will primarily stay in modest motels along the route. This allows for predictable rest, recovery, hygiene, and safety during a multi‑month endurance effort.

What safety precautions are in place?

Safety is a priority. Precautions include:

• Conservative daily mileage

• Injury prevention and strength training

• Heat and desert protocols

• GPS tracking and regular check‑ins

• Emergency contingency plans

The route and schedule will be adjusted when conditions require it.

What happens if something goes wrong?

If injury, illness, or unsafe conditions arise, the run will pause or adapt. The goal is completion with prudence, not risk‑taking for its own sake.

Why not couchsurf or camp?

For a run of this length and intensity, consistent rest and recovery are essential. Motels provide the safest and most reliable option for maintaining health and sustainability.

How can I help besides donating?

Prayer, encouragement, sharing this mission, and practical assistance along the route are all deeply appreciated.

Where I’m going:

I’ll be running from San Diego to Kill Devil Hills, following a southern route across the United States to take advantage of milder winter and early spring weather. I’m aiming to stay on safer state highways and back roads with wide shoulders, avoiding interstates and long isolated stretches whenever possible.

Rough route (by state):

California → Arizona → New Mexico → Texas → Louisiana → Mississippi → Alabama → Georgia → South Carolina → North Carolina

Towns and resupply:

I’m planning daily stops in towns with basic facilities: motels, grocery stores, gas stations, and places to restock food and water. These facilities will allow me to recover safely and keep moving.

This route has been chosen to prioritize safety, access to towns with facilities, and sustainable daily mileage. While the exact towns I stay in may change, the overall path and timeline are planned carefully to reduce risk and allow flexibility when conditions change.

When I’ll Be Where (By Month)

February - Southern California and Arizona

I’ll begin in San Diego and work east through the desert. This is one of the most logistically challenging stretches, so I’m planning carefully around water, weather, and safe road access.

March - New Mexico and Texas

Long miles through open country and small towns. I’ll be moving between communities that allow for regular restocking, rest, and recovery.

April - Louisiana and Mississippi

Less desert, more greenery, more towns, and more opportunities to connect with local communities and churches along the way.

May - Alabama and Georgia

June - South Carolina and North Carolina

Rolling terrain and more populated areas as I head toward the coast and finish at Kill Devil Hills.