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The Plan |
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The idea of running across the country was batted around in high school, but we’ve never been experts in practicality, and our thoughts never got much beyond the idea of knocking on doors and offering yard work in exchange for food or a shower. (We are, by the way, still disposed to do this.) However, in the summer of 2009, Ashley hatched the fantastic plan of traveling with a support car, which has since turned into an RV. This gives ample room to sleep for us and for any friends who care to join us and drive part of the trip. (We are still looking for an RV if anyone wants to donate or sell us one cheap.)
From there, we decided to take off from somewhere other than our current residence of San Diego, as the desert and the summer mix poorly. We share a great admiration for American distance great Steve Prefontaine, and his Southern Oregon hometown of Coos Bay seemed like the perfect starting point for our adventure. The first day will include a lap around his high school track. The end point was obvious, though it will be winter by the time we run through our hometown to Boston and the Atlantic.
The total distance looks to be about 3,500 miles, a little under 8 months at 105 miles per week. Now for the most important part. What we want to do more than anything on this trip is get to know as many people as possible from all walks of life in the different areas we run through. What follows is a tentative list of cities and towns we will be running through. It is still subject to change. If you live within 50 miles of these places and would like to help us out by letting us sleep in your house, take a shower, giving us a meal, running with us, showing us around town, or simply keeping us company for a while, we would be eternally indebted. The best way to contact us is at AdamLassila@gmail.com. Any warnings, suggestions, or creative ideas are welcome as well. Here goes: |
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City/Town |
Host Family |
Coos Bay, OR |
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Fairview/Coquile, OR |
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Sitkum/Myrtle Point, OR |
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Reston/Tenmile, OR |
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Roseburg, OR |
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Glide, OR |
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Steamboat, OR |
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Toketee Falls, OR |
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Diamond Lake, OR |
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Crater Lake N.P., OR |
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US 97, OR |
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Winema Nat’l Forest, OR |
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Silver Lake, OR |
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Christmas Valley, OR |
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Wagontire, OR |
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Riley, OR |
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Hines, OR |
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Burns, OR |
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Buchanan, OR |
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Drewsey, OR |
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Juntura, OR |
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Harper, OR |
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Vale, OR |
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Nyssa, OR |
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Parma, ID |
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Caldwell, ID |
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Meridian, ID |
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Boise, ID |
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Mountain Home, ID |
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Dixie, ID |
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Hill City, ID |
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Fairfield, ID |
Yes |
Gannett, ID |
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Carey, ID |
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Arco, ID |
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Atomic City, ID |
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Idaho Falls, ID |
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Rigby, ID |
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Rexburg, ID |
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St. Anthony, ID |
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Ashton, ID |
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Box Canyon, ID |
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Island Park, ID |
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West Yellowstone, MT |
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Yellowstone, WY |
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Pahaska Tepee, WY |
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Wapiti, WY |
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Cody, WY |
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Burlington, WY |
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Basin, WY |
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Manderson, WY |
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Hyattville, WY |
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Ten Sleep, WY |
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Big Trails, WY |
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Barnum, WY |
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Kaycee, WY |
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Sussex, WY |
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Linch, WY |
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Wright, WY |
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Clareton, WY |
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Newcastle, WY |
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Custer, SD |
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Hermosa, SD |
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Scenic, SD |
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Interior, SD |
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Wanblee, SD |
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Cedar Butte, SD |
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White River, SD |
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Wood, SD |
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New Witten, SD |
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Winner, SD |
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Dixon, SD |
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Platte, SD |
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New Holland, SD |
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Corsica, SD |
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Dimock, SD |
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New Elm Springs Colony, SD |
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Bridgewater, SD |
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Sioux Falls, SD |
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Hills, MN |
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Rock Rapids, IA |
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Little Rock, IA |
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Ocheyedan, IA |
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Spirit Lake, IA |
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Estherville, IA |
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Armstrong, IA |
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Swea City, IA |
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Buffalo Center, IA |
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Leland, IA |
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Joice, IA |
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Grafton, IA |
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Osage, IA |
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Elma, IA |
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Protivin, IA |
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Calmar, IA |
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Castalia, IA |
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Monona, IA |
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Prairie du Chien, WI |
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Patch Grove, WI |
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Fennimore, WI |
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Monfort, WI |
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Dodgeville, WI |
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Barneveld, WI |
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Mt. Horeb, WI |
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Fitchburg, WI |
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Madison, WI |
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Door Creek, WI |
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Coopers Shores, WI |
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Johnstown, WI |
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Walworth, WI |
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Wonder Lake, IL |
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Volo, IL |
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Wheeling, IL |
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Chicago, IL |
Yes |
Gary, IN |
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Town of Pines, IN |
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Rolling Prairie, IN |
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Lydick, IN |
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South Bend, IN |
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Elkhart, IN |
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Middlebury, IN |
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Lagrange, IN |
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Angola, IN |
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Columbia, OH |
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West Unity, OH |
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Wauseon, OH |
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Perrysburg, OH |
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Woodville, OH |
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Fremont, OH |
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Castalia, OH |
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Huron, OH |
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Vermilion, OH |
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Avon Lake, OH |
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Cleveland, OH |
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Mayfield, OH |
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Chardon, OH |
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Rome, OH |
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Andover, OH |
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Conneaut Lake, PA |
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Meadville, PA |
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Little Cooley, PA |
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Buell Corners/Titusville, PA |
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Youngsville, PA |
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Warren, PA |
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Rew, PA |
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Bradford, PA |
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Allentown, NY |
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Andover, NY |
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Canisteo, NY |
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Bath, NY |
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Pine Creek, NY |
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Watkins Glen, NY |
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Mecklenburg, NY |
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Ithaca, NY |
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Freeville, NY |
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Cortland, NY |
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Sherburne, NY |
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Barrett Corners, NY |
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Cooperstown, NY |
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Carlisle, NY |
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Duanesburg, NY |
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Albany, NY |
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Stephentown, NY |
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Cheshire, MA |
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Hawley, MA |
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Greenfield, MA |
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Orange, MA |
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Gardner, MA |
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Fitchburg, MA |
Home |
Leominster, MA |
Home |
Bolton, MA |
Home |
Maynard, MA |
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Boston, MA |
Yes |
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