Page 52 - eclipse - Autumn 2018

CLASSNOTES
Rob Pope – The real Forrest Gump! By Rob Pope
Ihad the idea of running across America a long time ago, possibly 15 years ago. I just thought it would be a cool thing to do and I read a couple of books about people who had done the same. I thought it would be an incredible way to see a fascinating and beautiful
country. I had a couple of half-hearted attempts at organising it, but my third attempt was the one where it all started moving. When a good friend said: “Are you actually going to do it this time, or just talk about it?”, it was clear I’d have to put up or shut up!
My mum, who unfortunately isn’t around anymore, was very aware
of our impact on the world and other people and told me “to do one thing in my life that makes a difference”. I hoped that this run would be an opportunity to do just that. I’m sure she would approve massively of everything.
The official total was 15,607miles but it may have even been more. This was done in 422 days of running, between 15th September 2016 and 29th April 2018, with a few inconvenient breaks to allow me to renew my visa. This was an average of 37 miles a day.
There were too many highlights to do justice to:
The start, Crazy Al’s bar in Louisiana (A Cajun Cheers), running across Texas at its widest point, my U2 pilgrimage from Joshua Tree National Park to the actual Joshua Tree in Death Valley (where it snowed!) then seeing them at the midpoint of my third leg in Chicago perform the Joshua Tree album in full. Reaching the oceans: firstly in Santa Monica surrounded by friends; second at Marshall Point Lighthouse in the
mist with a good buddy and me in floods of tears, the third in Bandon, Oregon. Becoming the first person to run across the States three times in a year with Nadine there to witness it, then becoming the Oregon state 10k champion the next day. Heading home for Christmas after reaching the fourth in Beaufort, SC, solo, where a large part of Forrest was filmed... then THE end. We all know that was the best marriage proposal ever.
Challenges took three forms:
Financial: I funded about 80% or more of the run myself from my life savings, in the hope that a major sponsor would help me out. Seeing the reserves dwindle and the efforts to keep the show on the road were very stressful and if it wasn’t for the help of people on the ground, a Just Giving Page set up in the final few months and a kind donation from Zoetis, I’d have ground to a halt regardless of my condition.
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