UPDATES/JOURNAL

Check here often for regular updates on the run's progress. Specifically training and fund-raising. When the run is underway check here for journal entries from the road.

Flyers

Diabetes Run Flyer -- B&W and Color
Show your support by posting one of these flyers in your office or by taping a few up around your neighborhood hangouts.

Training Log and Journal

December, 2003 Total: 157 miles January, 2004 Total: 150 miles
February, 2004 Total: 146 miles March, 2004 Total: 146 miles
April, 2004 Total: 172 miles May, 2004 Total: 270 miles
June, 2004 Total: 194 miles


Updates sent from the Diabetes Run on the road.  There are four to date representing the four legs of the run to date:  NYC – Buffalo:  Buffalo – Chicago: Chicago – Kansas City: Kansas City – Denver

BUFFALO
***HI***
Greetings from SUNNY BUFFALO!  We are resuming the run from here on August 3rd.  The first leg of the run is over – we decided to take ample time off in Buffalo for a number of reasons, including to regroup, and most importantly to spend time with family and friends.  As you probably have noticed I have not sent my weekly diabetes run updates since I left! Internet access is spotty at best.  So while I am here I wanted to make sure to get an update out.  I don’t expect to send these on any kind of regular basis...but perhaps in larger cities and if there is more than one day off. 

***THANK YOU***
I will never be able to THANK everyone who has made this run possible.  I have been absolutely humbled and in awe of the response and generosity of everyone. I will never be able to repay you.  From the unforgettable take off in Riverside Park, Manhattan—with 40-50 family and friends to running right to my parents doorstep.  There have been so many acts of kindness on the road as well.  Special Thanks to the Stober Family, Danielle Sass; Friends, and Aaron; Jamie Rasco, for putting us up and supplying food and friendship.  Thanks to Shannon Toney and Dee Schriver for gracing us with their presence, and to Aaron Rasco, Mr. Bowers, Bob Crain, Jo, Mom, and Dad, for running with me and keeping me company.  Please check the website for a complete list of THANKS….

I want to make sure I take this opportunity to recognize three people who are the unsung heros, without whom this run would be absolutely impossible.  I get all the kudos but these people make it happen and deserve your support and encouragement as well.  When we’re on the road all I have to worry about is running.  SPECIAL THANKS to Pulley Bowers, run manager (and human road map) on the road; Dave Boatman, trainer, driver, and cowboy all the way from the UK; and George Awad, doing it from DC, all web work, and liaison with the ADA in DC.  I would do anything (well almost anything) for these guys and I hope they know that.

***FUND-RAISING***
If you are in the WESTERN NEW YORK area please join us for a CHINESE AUCTION fundraiser on FRIDAY, JULY 30, from 5pm-8pm on the Patio at the Buffalo Niagara MARRIOTT on Millersport Highway in Amherst.

The event will be held during happy hour at the Marriott and will feature great prizes being auctioned off, as well as, drink specials, a free buffet and music!  All the money raised from the event will stay in Buffalo – going to the local American Diabetes Association chapter.  I’ll be there and hope to see you there too. Tell everyone you know to stop by. I know it will be a great time.

The American Diabetes Association (Buffalo) along with a group of Health and Wellness students from Buffalo State College put together the event.  I also must send a VERY SINCERE THANKS to the amazing CEFFERATTI and REGAN families for once again going above and beyond in making the magic happen!   We have raised approximately $28,000 so we still need to raise $72,000+ before the run concludes in December.  If you have not done so please make checks payable to the American Diabetes Association and send them to:

Jason Gross
c/o The American Diabetes Association
1200 N St. NW, Apt. 516
Washington, DC 20005
(Checks are still to be sent to “me” in Washington--Thanks)
If you wish to donate using a credit card you can do so online using PayPal at www.diabetesrun.com

***DONATIONS***
Please note, to keep costs down we also greatly appreciate donations of food, drink, music, books, camp sites, etc.   We are specifically in need of TWO BICYCLES for Pulley and Dave. If you can donate one (or two) or know how we can get them very cheaply let us know.  As we get out West it will be important for Dave and/or Paul to scout out routes, and check up with me regularly.  This is nearly impossible riding in the RV.

***THE RUN***
I can’t believe that the run is about 12% completed.  I have run over 400 miles since leaving from Riverside Park in Manhattan on July 4th and arriving at my parents house on July 24th.  I had no idea of what to expect and other than a deep physical exhaustion my body seems to be holding up fine.  My New Balance 991’s are holding up well to the pounding, BodyGlide is keeping me blister free, and ClifBars are keeping me energized.  Also, me, Pulley and Dave get along very well.  We are all very different yet laid back, we compliment one another well.  As a team we are unstoppable!

I get really excited to see the RV pass me on the road – after all it is home!  Generally I am going quite slowly.  Between NYC and Buffalo I walked up many hills and usually spend the first half hour each morning walking before breaking into a trot.  My typical running day has me on the road between 7:30-7:45 and done running for the day between 2 and 2:30pm. I take a 30 minute to hour long break at about 11ish...this usually equates to 25 miles of running...so I really see it as my job right now—one day at a time is how I'm taking it – LA is so far off (geographically and time-wise that it is frustrating to dwell on the finish).  I really think the run is harder mentally than physically (at least for me because I am in no hurry per se, other than having the RV back by Dec 16). By the way, in case you were wondering; from NYC I took route 9 North up to Albany (first two days spent primarily on the Aqueduct trail); Route 20 West to the Syracuse area; Route 20 & 5 West through the Finger Lakes; and Route 5 to my parents house in Amherst (Buffalo).  We are getting new magnetic advertisements for the RV tomorrow courtesy of Novo Nordisk.  Novo Nordisk has been a very generous sponsor of the run
and I appreciate all they’ve done.

***
If you know of any media outlets interested in covering the run please contact me. You can call me at 202.276.9233.  If you want the most up to date information on our whereabouts don’t hesitate to call as well.  It can get lonely out there!

If you are interested in visiting us on the road let us know as well.  If you know anyone in the areas where we are passing through let ‘em know we are coming.  It would be great to see some friendly and supportive faces as we leave the familiar state of New York.

CHICAGO
Greetings from Chicago!  I can’t believe the run is about 1/3 complete 991.5 miles ran since July 4! Thanks to everyone for all your support!

Chicago has provided an absolutely wonderful break from the run.  I love Chicago, it is a beautiful city, the architecture, people, and food (biggie ups to Gino’s East) are great. I feel very comfortable and at home here.  I finished running Friday in Joliet and on Saturday I ran east back to Chicago Heights.  The crew scooped me up and we drove into Chicago—ever try driving a 30 foot RV through a bustling city?  It’s quite a harrowing experience! Kudos to Dave for making it seem easy.  I resume the run first thing Wednesday morning and will be heading South towards Springfield, IL (Abe Lincoln’s old stomping grounds) and then on to St. Louis.  Dave’s girlfriend Jo flew in from the UK to visit and she will be with us for a week.  Dave is taking a well deserved break with her here in the windy city.  The main reason I find Chicago so wonderful is because of my great friends here.  A very Special THANKS to Anand McClurg (half Indian, half Irish, all heart) and Curtis Kadohama for lodging and going out of their way for us.  Their kindness and support has been truly amazing.  I would also like to THANK Stefani Sandow for putting together a fundraiser at the last minute at Solly’s Restaurant.  We had a great time and raised some money.  Stefani is a former DC resident who found out about the run through the DC Roadrunners newsletter which she still receives.  She contacted me as I got close to Chicago and took it upon herself to organize the fundraiser!  I also need to THANK Christine Keth from New Balance for sending more shoes (I started my 4th pair in
Merrilville, Indiana), setting up an interview with MetroSports Chicago magazine (article will be in their October issue), and the great write-up she did at http://www.newbalancedc.com. I couldn’t run without my New Balance 991’s – if you’re looking for a great sneaker wear New Balance. A big THANKS to the Chicago/Northern Illinois ADA for all their encouragement and support.  I am writing this email from their office on Michigan Ave. in Downtown Chicago!  Finally, I want to THANK my parents for driving out to the middle of nowhere (actually near Fort Wayne, IN) to visit last week.  It was great seeing them and it went by too quickly.

***Fund Raising***
Overall I feel great and am confident that I’ll make it to Los Angeles. My biggest problem thus far is not related to running—it’s been my allergies (hayfever hit hard about a week ago)! The purpose of this run is to be a fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association.  Talking with people on the road (and the number of people that honk at the “Honk if you hate diabetes” sign plastered on our fender) I have been struck by how many people are affected by the disease.  I feel that the run will only be half successful when I run into LA if we have not raised $100,000.  I know I will make it to LA, but unfortunately I am not as confident about the fundraising goal.  If you haven’t made a donation please do so, encourage your friends and family to do so as well.  Every little bit helps, no donation is too small…You can donate online using PayPal or you can make checks payable to the American Diabetes Association and send donations to “me” at:

Jason Gross
c/o ADA
1200 N St. NW
Apt. 516
Washington, DC 20005

If we are passing through your area we also appreciate donations to help us keep costs down.  Items such as the following are always appreciated:
• Gatorade
• Bottled Water
• Red Bull
• Non-perishable food items
• Fresh fruit
• Places to stay along the route
• Gas
Please also feel free to call or e-mail anytime – it can get lonely on the road.

***Run Gear***
Order your Jason Gross Diabetes Run T’s, Sweats, Mugs, and gear today. Help support and promote a great cause.  There are some great new designs and a portion of the proceeds from your purchase go to our fundraising efforts.

***WJJL***
I have been calling WJJL, 1440am in Buffalo, NY most every weekday morning and updating morning DJ Dan Krull from the road at about 8:30am (Buffalo time).  If you aren’t in Buffalo you can listen to our chats online at http://www.wjjl.com. If you are in Buffalo listen to WJJL your home for good time oldies!  A huge THANKS to WJJL for all their support!

***Novo Nordisk***
Special Thanks to Novo Nordisk.  Novo is the world leader in diabetes care and our #1 corporate monetary sponsor.  Tim Thompson from Novo has been a terrific advocate and thanks to his efforts Wal Mart in Western New York donated two bicycles for Paul and Dave to ride.  It makes my running much easier when they ride out to keep me company.  It’s a nice break from all the corn fields!

I want to also send special thanks to Chong Kim and the Dahl family for their recent generous donations.  We met The Dahl’s in Granger, IN (outside South Bend),and they are in the midst of a 20,000 mile, 1 year, odyssey across the U.S. and Canada!  Best wishes to them.

For those keeping track at home I have lost about 1 pound since I began, which goes to show that I’m really taking advantage of all those Chinese buffets we dine at.

THANK YOU for all your support.  Together we are giving diabetes a run for the money!  I’ll try to send updates from major cities if possible.  Next major city – St. Louis, in 2 weeks-ish!

KANSAS CITY
Greetings from the Kansas City vicinity!  The run is now over half way done (over 1,500 miles)!  First things first…

***FUND RAISING***
Overall I feel great and am confident that I’ll make it to Los Angeles. Though I’m in a constant state of lethargy my running feels strong.  As you are well aware the purpose of this run is to be a fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association.  Talking with people on the road (and the number of people that beep at the “Honk if you hate diabetes” sign plastered on our fender) I have been struck by how many people are affected by the disease.  I feel that the run will only be half successful when I run into LA if we have not raised $100,000.  And after everything that’s happened I am 100% sure I will run into LA, but unfortunately I am not as confident about the fundraising goal.  If you haven’t made a donation please do so, encourage your friends and family to do so as well—share this email, spread the word.  Every little bit helps, no donation is too small…You can donate online using PayPal or you can make checks payable to the American Diabetes Association and send donations to “me” at:

Jason Gross
c/o ADA
1200 N St. NW
Apt. 516
Washington, DC 20005

***Special Thanks to Susan Cowen Coleman who is hard at work organizing a fundraiser at the Jericho National Country Club in New Hope, PA.  The event is slated for February 5, 2005, and will be a pre-Valentine’s Day auction/dinner/dance.  It will be the final fund-raiser in conjunction with the run and hopefully will push the fundraising total over the $100,000 mark.

***Run Update***
So much has happened since I last wrote from Chicago…let me fill you in! The run from Chicago through Southern Illinois went very smoothly – we made good time and hit a good groove.  In Edwardsville, IL (suburb of St. Louis) we met up with the Galligan family who invited us into their home. Pat and Aimee Galligan and family hosted me, Pulley, and Dave for an evening.  We met the neighbors, had a great cookout, and enjoyed their company and hospitality.  Pat also set up an interview with the local paper the, Edwardsville Intelligencer.  They had a great article on the run (and Pat’s run) which was front page material!  Pat contacted me back when I was in Indiana because he is planning on running across the United States as well.  Pat has a form of macular degeneration and since he turned 30 he has been slowly losing his vision – he is now almost totally blind.  For Pat to do the run he will need guide runners with him the entire way.  When Pat’s website is up I will let you know!  A HUGE THANKS to the Galligan’s for their support and making us feel at home.  From the Galligan’s house in Edwardsville we crossed the mighty Mississippi into Missouri! I finished at the Arch in St. Louis looking forward to two scheduled days off in St. Louis.  I didn’t find the arch too impressive from far away, but up close it really is breathtaking.  I crashed in the RV straight away after the run and when I woke up I noticed my lower back was out of sorts.  The next day it was worse and after icing it for about 20 minutes I could barely stand up – suffice to say I was a little worried about running.  The next day (another scheduled day off) we met with the ADA office in St. Louis and got an appointment that same day to see sports doctor Dr. Tyler Wadsworth.  He had some X-Rays taken and sent me to see physical therapist, Patricia Zorn.  I found out that a lifetime of incorrect posture and the added stress of the running plopped something out of place.  Patricia gave me a litany of stretches to do and popped something back into place and when I started at the Arch the next day I felt almost as good as new.  THANKS to Dr. Wadsworth and Patricia Zorn for going out of their way to take care of me.  I had a live in-studio interview on the Fox morning news in St. Louis the day I left from there. Moving on from St. Louis things were going great.  Missouri was a bit hillier than I expected.  One memorable day I was taking a “shortcut” on county route J – no cars had passed me for a long time and all of a sudden a sign came up that said “Pavement Ends”…sure enough the pavement became gravel then ended all together at the Gasconade River.  There was a ferry across the river.  Luckily it was near my “break” time and the RV pulled up and we went across the river on the ferry on the RV.  The RV barely fit on the ferry!  To get an idea of the size of this ferry operation there was a sign posted on paper on a nearby tree that noted that the ferry was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and after sundown!  Life on the road is always interesting…Last Tuesday I am very proud to say I had my first 40 mile run day.  I left the RV at 7am and returned at 5pm with one long break and one short one.  It was a long day!  Later that very night Pulley felt very ill and Dave took him to the hospital on Wednesday.  Pulley was admitted and had surgery on Thursday to take care of a very pesky kidney stone.  Pulley left the run on Saturday and is at home in Buffalo.  Please send your prayers Pulley’s way.  Early Saturday we parked the RV at the KC ADA’s Walk for Diabetes.  It was a great event and Brent Caswell, Executive Director of the KC ADA, and his staff have been amazing.  They presented me with an awesome Kansas City gift basket and let me have full use of their office – they also took me to lunch on Tuesday!  THANKS KC ADA!  Two great friends, Jay Killian from San Fran, and George Awad from DC, also visited this past weekend and we partied like it was our birthday.  Consequently Dave had to leave on Tuesday to fly back to England to work out his 5 year work visa.  You’re probably asking yourself how the run can go on without a support team?  Well the run must go on!  I finished running in Olathe, KS before Dave left and right now I am camped out at the KOA in Lawrence, KS.  When Pulley was hospitalized last week Dave phoned Simon Clarke to ask if he could come out and help.  Simon was the other support driver along with Dave during Nick Baldock’s 1999 trans-continental run.  Amazingly Simon agreed!  He is flying into Kansas City on Saturday and the run will resume straight away.  Before Simon arrives I will run 100 miles around the Lawrence area and when Simon gets here we will drive ahead 100 miles west from Olathe, KS,  (where I finished with Dave) which will put us near Emporia, KS to start up again. I hate to do this but it needs to be done to stay on schedule.  In the two weeks that Simon will be my support driver I will run through Kansas and into Eastern Colorado and still be on target as far as finishing the run on-time is concerned.  I will be picking up Dave in Denver on October 20th and then we will drive south to start off again where I left off with Simon.  I will send the next e-mail update from Denver in a few weeks!  So here I am camped out at the Lawrence, Kansas KOA.  I want to give very

SPECIAL THANKS to Justin Gressley and Danielle Sass for the amazing CARE packages they sent to me – they couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. And I also need to send mad-props out to Ken DeCesari and Greg Pouget, random cross country travelers (and friends of Sass) who stopped by and kept me company here in Lawrence!  I am not a religious person (in the traditional sense) but I really feel that my deceased grandfather to whom this run is dedicated, Bernie Rosen, is looking out for me, so I want to send a SPECIAL THANKS to my Grandpa!   In the meantime I have email access at this campsite so don’t hesitate to send a message!

If we are passing through your area we also appreciate donations to help us keep costs down.  Items such as the following are always appreciated:
• Gatorade
• Bottled Water
• Energy drinks and bars
• Any Non-perishable food items
• Fresh fruit
• Places to stay along the route
• Gas
• CD’s/magazines/books
If you would like to send anything to me and Dave you can send it to
(remember to send monetary donations to my address in DC):

Jason Gross Run
c/o Suehila Glass
American Diabetes Association
2480 West 26th Ave.
Suite 120B
Denver, CO 80211
Make sure it arrives before October 20th to ensure I pick it up. Thanks.

***Run Gear***
Order your Diabetes Run T’s, Sweats, Mugs, and gear today.  Help support and promote a great cause.  There are some great new designs and a portion of the proceeds from your purchase go to our fundraising efforts.

***New Balance***
This run would not be possible without my New Balance 991 running shoes. I’m on my 5th pair and still love the shoes.  In my opinion New Balance makes the best running shoes on the market – check them out.  Thanks to New Balance DC, Christine Keth and Pat Perry for their support.

***WJJL***
I have been calling WJJL, 1440am in Buffalo, NY most every weekday morning and updating morning DJ Dan Krull from the road at about 8:30am (Buffalo time).  If you aren’t in Buffalo you can listen to our chats online at http://www.wjjl.com. If you are in Buffalo listen to WJJL your home for good time oldies!  A huge THANKS to WJJL for all their support!

***Novo Nordisk***
Special Thanks to Novo Nordisk.  Novo is the world leader in diabetes care and our #1 corporate monetary sponsor.  Tim Thompson from Novo has also been a tremendous advocate on behalf of the run.  THANKS to Tim and Novo for making this run possible.

***Random Notes***
A lot of people ask what I think about when running; another common question is whether I will ever run again after this.  Funny enough, one of the things I often think about when running is running (i.e. how can I improve, what races I want to enter, time goals, etc)! As far as running again after this run, I am registering for the London Marathon in April 2005.  My goal will be to break 3 hours and 10 minutes…so yes I am pretty confident that I will continue running (and hopefully be better than I was before).  With so much time to think on the road I have learned so much about myself, the main thing being that I shouldn’t be allowed to have a beard (I haven’t shaved since July).

***THANK YOU***
THANK YOU for you support.  I am absolutely humbled and in awe of how supportive everyone has been.  This run is only possible because I’ve had so much help.  I am proud to say that we are truly giving diabetes a run for the money!!!

***UPCOMING SCHEDULE***
October 15-20 Denver, CO
November 23-27 Las Vegas, NV
December 10-11 Los Angeles (Santa Monica), CA

DENVER
Greetings from Denver!!!  The run is now about 2/3 over.  “Only” about 1,000 miles to go!  Though the run itself is 2/3 over fundraising is only at about 1/3 of its goal…

***FUND RAISING***
I will be finishing this epic run on Saturday, December 11th in Los Angeles (Santa Monica Pier to be exact), however I will be continuing the fundraising portion of the run through February 5, 2005 – fundraising concludes on the 5th with a gala fund-raising dinner/dance/auction organized by Susan Cowen Coleman at the Jericho National Country Club in New Hope, PA (if you are interested in attending let me know as the event is by invitation only).  This break in Denver has allowed me to re-energize and grasp the reality that the end to this run is within site. As you are well aware the purpose of this run is to be a fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association. As I have stated many times I feel that the run will only be half successful when I run into LA if we have not raised $100,000.  If you haven’t made a donation please do so, encourage your friends and family to do so as well – share this email, spread the word.  Every little bit helps, no donation is too small…You can donate online using PayPal or you can make checks payable to the American Diabetes Association and send donations to “me” at:

Jason Gross
c/o ADA
1200 N St. NW
Apt. 516
Washington, DC 20005

***RUN UPDATE***
Much has happened since I last wrote from the Kansas City area.  Let me try to sum it all up—I picked up Simon at the KC airport on Saturday, October 2.  I knew we would get along great right away when he wasn’t at all upset that I was about 15 minutes late in picking him up at the airport.  Suffice to say we got along very well.  Simon, like myself, is very laid back – it also didn’t hurt that he has experience being a run support driver as he did it with Dave back in 1999 for Nick Baldock.  I figured that Simon’s first full day in the States we would just chill and get to know each other over a few beers (being a Sunday I found a sports bar with the NFL Sunday ticket to watch the Bills game).  As I pulled the RV away from the campsite on Sunday morning I felt a tug – I had forgotten to unplug the electric!  I felt like an idiot, everything looked fine, and Simon assured me it was no big deal so we proceeded to the bar and watched some football, had a few beers, and ate some sorry excuses for Buffalo wings.   After the game we drove ahead 64 miles to Emporia, Kansas – my starting point for the run through Kansas.  I used the miles I had run by myself in Lawrence, KS for this drive-ahead portion.  I hated to do it, but Simon was with me for such a short time it was the only way to ensure I would make it through Kansas in his time working on the run.

When we got to the campsite that night the electric didn’t work! Obviously driving away from the site with the electric plugged in was a bigger deal than expected.  After calling Cruise America they told us we had to go back to a dealer in KC, MO (100 miles back East) to have it looked at.  If you are familiar with RV’s you realize that operating without electric for an extended period would be a nightmare.  I decided I would try to get some miles in on Monday since I was really raring to go after being “stuck” in Lawrence.  I decided to wake up at 5am and get some miles in before driving back to KC to have the RV looked at.  Simon would pick me up at 8:30am then we would drive back to KC.

I woke up on Monday morning a little before 5 and set out from the RV – it was still pitch black outside and thankfully not too cold.  I started out on Route 50 West from the campsite.  It was surreal running in the pitch black – I felt a strange kind of energy, unfortunately not too long after leaving I tripped over a rumble strip on the shoulder of the road (it was pitch black mind you).  I went for a fall and my CD player and headphones went flying.  Now wide awake I was quite in shock and a little scared at first as I felt the tinges of pain and realized I had nice brush burns on my left elbow and wrist.  However, as a few seconds passed I realized I was fine and as I heard the music of the Electric Light Orchestra eminating from my headphones I laid there for a minute on the side of the road at 5:30 in the morning, in the pitch black, in Emporia, Kansas laughing hysterically…the whole thing struck me as ridiculous – it was most definitely a “moment” – as Nick likes to say, the run means everything and nothing – I know what he means.  I got about 15 miles in by time Simon scooped me up.

We drove back to Kansas City – and guess what?  They couldn’t fix the electric – they did add Simon to the insurance however so the trip wasn’t a total waste.  Luckily we had inquired at the RV park and they had recommended a local shop in Emporia.  So we drove all the way back to Emporia and they were able to fix the electric problem in about 10 minutes – they just put a new plug on!  To celebrate our success I showed Simon a proper American buffet – the Golden Corral. He was in awe…and I think by looking at me he thought he would have no problem out-eating me—fat chance!  We went to town for 5 full-on trips to the buffet table.  We were both nearly comatose at the conclusion of our meal.     As we were heading back to the camp site a tire on the RV blew out!!! I told Simon that we shouldn’t have gone for the desert round at the buffet after all!  The very next morning we went to get it fixed straight away.  Luckily the repair shop was about 1 mile from the campsite so we drove the RV very slowly over there….after getting the tire fixed we were finally ready to get running…

This was my first time in Kansas and I must say I was quite impressed. The sky is huge – there is no other way to describe it.  There was also a definite lack of trees (quite often none).  It was breathtaking to be able to see unimpeded for miles and miles.  I started in the Flint Hills of Kansas which I found to be the most scenic area of the state.  Simon and I got into a good groove.  On the evening of Wednesday October 6th  after I had finished running for the day my Aunt Alice and Uncle Robert from Portland, Oregon met me and Simon in McPherson, Kansas!  They literally came out to the middle of nowhere to meet us.  They had flown into Denver and rented a car and driven 600 plus miles to get to us.  It was great to see them.  They treated me and Simon to dinner and presented me with close to $500 in donations they had received from their friends back in Portland!  On Thursday Robert ran with me for about 6 miles and at the end of the day Simon and I were again treated to dinner in Lyons, KS.  Alice had also gone about contacting the local media and a reporter from the Lyons Daily News came out to interview us.  Unfortunately we had to make progress so we weren’t in town to see if we made the front page.  On Friday Robert ran the first 4 miles of the day with me.  Unfortunately Robert and Alice had to head back to Denver – it was great to see them and it was unbelievable of them to have come out.  A HUGE THANKS to Robert and Alice.

Simon and I were on our own again.  I was averaging about 30 miles a day to get through Kansas and after an “easy” 26 mile day on Saturday we asked the woman at the RV park where we were staying in Larned, Kansas where we could go for a few drinks and to meet some of those Midwestern farmers daughters we kept hearing about.  I planned on sleeping in on Sunday and only had 10-15 miles scheduled (I had usually taken Sundays off altogether).  The woman directed us to the local VFW Post.  Simon and I were the youngest people there by about 50 years.  Simon let an old man beat him at pool while I watched the only woman in the bar dirty-dance with the juke-box to the Lynyrd Skynyrd I had requested.  It was quite the night.

Onward through Kansas.  One thing I noticed about Kansas is that when it is sunny I felt on top of the world  - everything was beautiful, however, overcast skies were another matter altogether—when the sky gets overcast in Kansas it’s scary and foreboding – outside is not the place you want to be.  One day in particular I got caught in a driving rain storm with high winds and cool temperatures – I wasn’t dressed for the occasion and luckily for me Simon pulled up without me calling (my hands were numb and I was hoping to reach some commerce before giving him a call)…I got into new warm clothes including gloves and tuuk and headed back out.  On two occasions we parked for the nite on the side of the road where we were literally not in any town.  It get’s unbelievably dark out there.  We went through historic Dodge City, I had a fly fly into my eye and once again Simon came to the rescue, and when it was all said and done I crossed the border into Colorado on Friday, October 15th.  It was a great feeling.  I had a short window of time to get through Kansas and I did it, wind, rain, flies and all!  One thing I need to note about Kansas were the smells. Being outside running I think I have become almost immune to the smell of roadkill in various stages of decomposition however the smells of the cows, cattle trucks, and things which I couldn’t identify the smell of, were unique to Kansas.  One other thing about Kansas which is much more pleasant than the smells is the innumerable number of times people pulled over and offered me a ride – especially in the rain (my favorite was when someone pulled along side me in pouring rain and yelled “do you mean to be out here in the rain?”)   When this first started happening in Missouri I was apprehensive, but as time has worn on I am convinced that these people are genuinely concerned about my well being - it’s quite refreshing. After running last Friday Simon and I made the 3 hour drive to Denver. Simon flew out last Saturday and I have been in Denver ever since!  Dave flies back on Sunday and we will drive back to where I last finished running and start up again on Monday morning.

***
I appeared on the talk show Colorado and Company on KUSA 9 (NBC affiliate) in Denver on Monday morning and helped in a healthy cooking segment.  I am set to appear on Fox Sports Net in Denver tomorrow as well.  I’ve also been a guest-griller at BD’s Mongolian Barbeque (http://www.bdsmongolianbarbeque.com) twice since I’ve been here. When Robert and Alice were in Denver they ate at BD’s and spoke to the manager who told me to call when I got to town about fundraising opportunities.  I went there on Monday and Thursday night and raised nearly $500 total!  On Monday I drove the RV around downtown Denver for nearly 2 hours looking for a parking spot.  As you can imagine big cities are not very RV friendly.  I also got a little burn on my hand on the grill on Monday nite (paying my dues I guess) – it’s much harder than it looks.  Special THANKS TO BD’s Mongolian Barbeque, Matt Wrin, Mike, Glenn, and the entire staff for all their support and to Robert and Alice for doing the leg-work to set it up.  Special Thanks to Niraj and Hetal for going out of their way to meet me at BD’s and making a very generous donation.

Very Special Thanks to my cousin Henry Siegel for paying for two nites at the Residence Inn by Marriot last Friday and Saturday.

We have also picked up a new corporate sponsor Chromax, chromium supplement - the number 1 brand of chromium – http://www.chromax.com. THANK YOU Chromax and Edan Lichtenstein for putting us in touch with Chromax.

Thanks to Jeff Hammond with Red Bull – http://www.redbull.com in Denver for supplying four cases of Red Bull to help me get through the final 1,000 miles.

We have also exchanged links with Davita.com – http://www.davita.com the the premier online resource for information on dialysis and chronic kidney disease.

Special Thanks also to the Denver ADA (http://www.diabetes.org) for their support.

I would also like to send very SPECIAL THANKS to great friends that sent me “care” packages here in Denver – Chris Delorenzo, Keren “YJ” Mandell, and Patrick Young.  I will get much use from these gifts – the packages really brightened my day.

I’m looking very forward to Dave’s return on Sunday – my time off in Denver has been very relaxing and productive but I am looking forward to making west-ward progress again.  The route we are looking at taking now will take us West into Colorado until LaJunta, at which point I will run South on US 64 into New Mexico.  The mountain passes are a bit lower here and hopefully the weather wont be quite as cold…I plan to be in Vegas by November 23rd…this will be the last update until then…Thank you for your support – I couldn’t do this without it.

***ADVOCATES***

Aunt Alice and Uncle Robert will be contacting media along the remainder of the route!  THANKS for all their support and efforts.

Susan Cowen Coleman is organizing a turkey trot walk at the New Hope Solebury school district from which all the proceeds will go to the run. She is also holding a jewelry sale at her house in November and putting together the gala dinner/dance/auction on February 5th.  As you can see Susan is a one woman wrecking crew and her support is greatly appreciated. I can’t wait to meet her.

Novo Nordisk http://www.novonordisk.com : Special Thanks to Novo Nordisk. Novo is the world leader in diabetes care and our #1 corporate monetary sponsor.  Tim Thompson from Novo has also been a tremendous advocate on behalf of the run.  THANKS to Tim and Novo for making this run possible.

New Balance http://www.newbalancedc.com : This run would not be possible without my New Balance 991 running shoes.  New Balance makes the best running shoes on the market – check them out.  Thanks to New Balance DC, Christine Keth and Pat Perry for their support.

WJJL: I have been calling WJJL, 1440am in Buffalo, NY most every weekday morning and updating morning DJ Dan Krull.  If you aren’t in Buffalo you can listen to our chats online at http://www.wjjl.com. If you are in Buffalo listen to WJJL your home for good time oldies!  A huge THANKS to WJJL for all their support!

***FACTOIDS***
• I’m on my 6th pair of running shoes
• I’m on my 3rd bar of deodorant
• I’m on my 2nd bottle of shampoo
• I’m on my 2nd bottle of body wash
• I’m on my 2nd pair of sunglasses
• I have not had a haircut since July 25
• I have not shaved since August 3
• I’ve had 1 blister (thanks to BodyGlide and New Balance)
• I’ve ran through 7 states (NY, PA, OH, IN, IL, MO, KS)
• I’ve eaten at a Chinese Buffet in 6 states (all except PA)
• Weight (I’ve lost 10 pounds since I started):
o NYC: 160
o Buffalo: 160
o Chicago: 157
o Denver: 150
• I’m on my 5th pair of headphones for my CD walkman

***UPCOMING SCHEDULE***
November 23-27 Las Vegas, NV
December 11 Los Angeles (Santa Monica), CA
February 5 Final day of fundraising

Top 10 Running Songs
I need music recommendations. My usual rotation is getting old. What songs motivate you when working out or running?  E-mail me and let me know.  A top 10 list will be posted here shortly based on your responses.

Fundraising and Logistics Updates
As you can imagine an event of this magnitude takes a great deal of preparation and planning to pull off. It is my goal to raise at least $100,000 for the American Diabetes Association. All money raised beyond expenses will go directly to the ADA. All donations are tax-deductible. For information on how to make a donation, please click here.


TOTAL Fundraising Goal: $100,000
Amount Raised through 07/12: $27,119.30

TOTAL GOAL
To Go: $72, 880.70
% of overall goal raised: 27.2%

Final Update – Santa Monica/Buffalo
Greetings from unseasonably warm Buffalo, NY! I hope you and yours are having a wonderful holiday season! I can’t believe that the diabetes run is over – after spending nearly a year planning it and five and a half months running it’s done - 3,150 miles! I am recuperating and trying to figure out what to do next at my parent’s house in Buffalo. I plan on being here for about a month. I figured what better time to be in Buffalo than in the dead of winter!

***FUND RAISING*** The running is over, but the fundraising isn’t. I set a goal of raising at least $100,000 to benefit the American Diabetes Association through this run! We have raised close to $35,000 which I am very proud of, but there is still a long way to go! The February 5th fundraiser being organized by Susan Cowen Coleman in New Hope, PA appears as if it will be postponed until the spring because February 5th also happens to be the date of a well established fundraiser in the area which we do not want to compete with. So as far as I’m concerned fundraising will continue indefinitely. Continue to visit http://www.diabetesrun.com for updates on fundraising. If you haven’t made a donation please do so, encourage your friends and family to do so as well–share this email, spread the word. Every little bit helps. Together we can give diabetes a run for the money!!! You can donate online using PayPal or you can make checks payable to the American Diabetes Association and send donations to “me” at: Jason Gross
c/o ADA
1200 N St. NW
Apt. 516
Washington, DC 20005

***THE END OF THE RUN***
The last time I wrote I was in Vegas preparing for the final leg of the run, now I’m back in Buffalo with nowhere left to run! Let me fill you in on the exciting conclusion… After leaving Vegas (with a lot less money than I went with) I started running again from Kingman, AZ where I had left off. Dave’s girlfriend Jo joined us from England for the last stretch of the run. Jo is a professional masseuse which rocks! The first day back on the road was difficult and I “only” managed 22 miles. I think Boss was happier than me to be back on the road logging major miles again. He had gotten a little rambunctious in Vegas (eating a screen on the RV door for example).

From Kingman, we crossed into the extreme southern tip of Nevada (Laughlin) and into Eastern California. We went through some very desolate areas in that final stretch including trying to run on Interstate 40 in California (for which I got pulled over 3 times), and after being kicked off the Interstate for a good many miles on historic route 66.

This was by far the most difficult portion of the run. I was mentally and physically exhausted and ready to be finished running. After Vegas I never finished running before sunset. My legs felt like concrete blocks (they still do a bit) and every day (most every step for that matter) was a struggle. Whereas earlier in the run I could get out of bed and be out the door of the RV in 10-15 minutes I was now taking over an hour before getting out the door. I alternated between jogging and walking often. Throughout the run it I came to depend on surges of energy that would take me for miles and miles at a time – during this portion of the run however those energy surges, were virtually non- existent. I was very frustrated at being so slow; and being so slow and tired made me quite grumpy at times. The only thing that kept me going was knowing that the end was so close. I’ll never forget one run near Goffs, CA in which Boss stopped abruptly and started digging frantically in the dirt on the side of the road – I was curious as to what he was digging for…so I stopped and watched...when he finished digging he just plopped down in the hole he had dug – it was a bed! I wanted to start digging one for myself but alas I had to drag him out of his homemade bed and pound out the remaining few miles. During the final stretch I was also thankful for Jo joining me on the road to run on occasion and her wonderful leg massages. Dave was also very supportive in this stretch. My times were horrendous, and had this been earlier in the run he would have gotten on me for being so slow, however he offered nothing but compliments at this time.

On Thursday, December 9, I finished at the end of the San Gabriel Mountains in La Crascenta, CA. Some friends and family had started rolling into LA and I was getting excited. Dave parked the RV in a shopping plaza at the foot of the mountains that nite. I woke up Friday the 10th and it felt like old times. I got out of that RV in record time and started the last ‘real’ run of the trip. For the first time since Vegas there was no walking at all, just running, and my legs and mood were great. I was in the Los Angeles area and it was beautiful. The sun was shining and it was near 80 degrees outside. I finished running at the hotel my parents were staying at on Santa Monica Blvd. It was about 20 miles from where I had started and only about 3 miles from the Santa Monica Pier (the finish line).

THE FINAL DAY
I woke up on Saturday, December 11th with mixed emotions, after running for over 5 months and working on this for so long, life as I had known it was ending. Dave and I discussed this many times, though life on the road was often difficult we enjoyed it, it was what we did, so we both wrestled with what getting back to “reality” would mean for us. Though don’t get me wrong – I was ecstatic the run was ending. That last day I had my dad drop me off 10 miles from the finish though I had finished only 3 miles away the previous day. I wanted to work up some sweat and adrenaline the last day and a short 3 mile run just wouldn’t do it. Suffice to say I felt amazing. I could have probably ran 100 miles that day. I was scheduled to finish at the end of Santa Monica Pier at 3pm. At 2pm I had made it back to the hotel – only 3 miles from the finish. At this rate I would have crossed the finish line way too early so I stopped into a Pizzeria next door and had a salad bar and a slice of pizza. After my little snack I set out again but my phone started ringing. People were calling me to tell me to hold up! Not everyone had arrived at the finish yet! Once again I waited for a go-ahead. I finally got it and sprinted those last few miles. Words can’t describe how awesome it was. I felt like I was running on clouds. It felt like people were parting just for me as I sprinted through the busy streets. I ran onto the pier and was overcome with emotion. I could see the Pacific ocean now and I picked up my speed – bystanders probably thought (a) I was a white Carl Lewis or (b) I had just robbed a bank. At the end of the pier were friends and family waiting for me. They had put up an actual finish line and when I crossed it I was drenched in champagne. It was quite a moment. My friend Marc got a video of the whole thing which you can check out by visiting this site: http://www.ronyoung.com/diabetesrun/jasonmpg.html The local CBS affiliate did a short piece on the finish as well (Thanks to Carri Z. and Lisa). We caused quite a scene on the pier – it was surreal. Later that night we went out on the town for dinner, drinks, and debauchery and generally wreaked havoc. I hadn’t partied that hard in months and it felt great (though only 4 hours of sleep and the resulting hangover didn’t feel too good on Sunday).

I want to take this chance to THANK everyone who came to the finish in LA making it an unforgettable experience – I am truly blessed with the best family and friends. Thank you for being there with me: Mom and Dad from Buffalo, Aunt Eileen from San Fransisco, Uncle Jimmy (who I hadn’t seen in 11 years) from Hawaii; Matty Rig, Lynette, Danny Rig, and Nate Ceff all from Buffalo; Danielle Sass from New Paltz; Jessica from Oregon; Kori from NYC, LaCoco from San Diego, George “el Scorcho”, Marc Hurwee, and Pat Young from DC; Kevbro, Sarah, Tate, and Dan from San Fran; and Curty, Brett, Keith, Ami, John, Jon, Lisa, Carri Z, and JessLynn from the LA vicinity; Of course, Dave (from day 1), Jo, Boss Dog! And of course everyone who was with me there in SPIRIT!!!

This run wouldn’t have been possible without YOUR support. THANK YOU! I am awe-stricken at the support I have received from all of you and I know that I am blessed. Without you I could not have accomplished this run. Whenever I felt down and out or like I couldn’t make it thinking of all the support I have helped pushed me to succeed. This was a true team effort. The finish was an awesome conclusion to a 5 and a half month odyssey. I also want to THANK Brett, Keith, and Ami for housing me in LA; THANKS to Dave for being with me from day 1 – he promised to get me through this and he did; George for all his work on the website, and being the GOTO guy while I was running; Thanks to Kay Clark in Michigan for making the guestbook on the website safe from hackers; and Mom and Dad who I talked to almost every day for providing an anchor and their unconditional love and support.

***Mama I’m Coming Home*** Boss and I drove a rented minivan across America in 5 days (had to return it on time) making stops at Joshua Tree NP, London Bridge in Lake Havasu, the Grand Canyon, and Santa Fe before driving 28 hours non-stop between Amarillo, TX and Columbus, OH (with a short tourist stop in OKC). From there we got caught in a blizzard in Cleveland. The only major incident occurred when Boss jumped out the passenger side window near Palm Springs – don’t worry I got him back and the rest of the trip went on without much misbehavior from the dog. It was a great ride and allowed me to reflect on the run. It is still sinking in that I actually ran across the United States! What took 5 days to drive took 5 months to run – and flying would amount to about 5 hours…talk about putting it all in perspective.

I made it back to my parents house in Buffalo on December 19th. I got a tattoo (my first) soon after I returned (like any good Jewish boy would), I’ve started organizing all my pictures (I’ll be happy to show you sometime - just make sure you set aside a few days),I shaved my beard, and Boss got neutered (poor boy). Other than that I have been sleeping and eating a lot – I’ve gained back a few pounds. I’ve also gone on my first leisurely run since the 11th to see how it feels (legs still sore). I am taking my time in getting back to reality and am enjoying this recuperation time immensely. I plan on writing a book about the experience. And of course I will continue fundraising indefinitely.

I also must say that the United States is a truly beautiful country. It is amazingly diverse in its geography and people. I strongly encourage you to get out and see it (and get off the Interstate).

This will be the LAST Email update I send. I have enjoyed sending these updates(I’ve been sending them since February 2004) and hope you’ve enjoyed reading them. Please remember to visit http://www.diabetesrun.com for up-to-date information, including status on the book.

***THANK YOU!***

***Primary Sponsors***
***Novo Nordisk http://www.novonordisk.com : Special Thanks to Novo Nordisk. Novois the world leader in diabetes care. THANKS to Tim Thompson and Novo for making this run possible.
***New Balance http://www.newbalancedc.com : This run would not be possible without my New Balance 991 running shoes. THANKS to New Balance DC. ***WJJL http://www.wjjl.com: WJJL did an awesome job covering the run. I plan on visiting the studios while I’m here in Bflo. A huge THANKS to Dan Krull on the morning show and everyone at WJJL for all their support!

***FINAL FACTOIDS***
• Days on the road: 161 (July 4 – Dec. 11)
• Miles ran: 3,150
• Support Team: 3 (Dave – entire trip except for Kansas, Pulley NY through MO, and Simon in Kansas)
• Pairs of running shoes used: 9 (New Balance 991 – I still have all 9 pairs)
• Avg. mileage per pair of shoes: 350
• States: 11 (NY, PA, OH, IN, IL, MO, KS, CO, AZ, NV, CA)
• Visitors on the road:-in order of appearance: 14 (Shannon, Dee, Mom, Dad, Jo (3 times), George, Jay Kills (2 times), Ken, Greg, Aunt Alice and Uncle Robert, Ben, Steve, Sarah)
• Coldest state: Colorado
• Dogs found and brought home: 1
• Headphones used: 5
• # 2 on side of road: 4 times
• Lost ATM Card: 2 times
• Favorite part of run: Western Colorado and Eastern Arizona (US 160)
• Most difficult part of run: the run after breaking in Vegas (see above)
• Favorite foods on the road: Chinese Buffets, Spag Bolo, Mac-Cheese & Bacon, Clif Bars, Balance Bars, Animal Crackers, Sour Gummy Worms)
• Favorite drinks on the road: Water, Red Bull, Gator(ade), Coors Light
Supplements taken daily: 3 (multi-vitamin, mineral supplement, and niacin supplement)
• Pulled over by police: 8 times
• Photographs taken: approximately 1,500 (approx. 1,000 on disposable camera I carriedwhile running and 500 on digital camera)
• Doctor visits: 1 (to look at lower back in St. Louis)
• Favorite CD’s/Music on the road: Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA, Lynyrd Skynryd– pronounced Linird Skinird, Various Mix CD’s, and local classic rock stations – the best being 93.9 the Mountain in the Flagstaff, AZ area.
• Movies seen on the road: 3 (The Village, The Grudge, Bridget Jones 2)
• Sporting events attended on the road: 2 (Baseball game in Fort Wayne, IN and Rodeo in Laughlin, NV)
•Hall of Fames Visited: 2 (baseball in Cooperstown, NY and Football in Canton, OH)
• Last haircut: July 25
• Last Shave: December 30 (before that it had been August 3)
• Weight:
o NYC: 160
o Buffalo: 160
o Chicago: 157
o Denver: 150
o Las Vegas: 147
o Los Angeles: 150
o Current: 155
• Job prospects: ?

Fundraising Status: approx. 35% to goal ($35k out of $100k)
Fundraising until: Indefinitely

I hope 2005 brings nothing but the best for you. And, one more time I would like to say THANK YOU for all your support. This has been an unforgettable experience. I can’t believe it’s over.

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I finished my run. It was an unforgettable odyssey. Please check this website often for news on fund-raising events, updates on the book I’m writing about the run, and all kinds of new information.

Though, the run is over the fundraising isn’t! The goal of my run across the United States is to raise at least $100,000 for the American Diabetes Association. I’ve done my part by running 3,150 miles. Now help me give diabetes a run for the money by making a donation!

I am currently in Buffalo, NY recuperating from the run at my parents house. I plan on moving back to Washington, DC to once again become a productive member of society (meaning getting a job) the week of January 17th. I have had a great time relaxing and re-cuping at home, but I’m ready to get back to reality again.

For those of you who do not receive my email updates I would like to take this chance to fill you in on the FINAL DAY of my run across America – a day I will never forget…

I woke up on Saturday, December 11th with mixed emotions, after running for over 5 months and working on this for so long, life as I had known it was ending. Dave and I discussed this many times, though life on the road was often difficult we enjoyed it, it was what we did, so we both wrestled with what getting back to “reality” would mean for us. Though don’t get me wrong – I was ecstatic the run was ending. That last day I had my dad drop me off 10 miles from the finish though I had finished only 3 miles away the previous day. I wanted to work up some sweat and adrenaline the last day and a short 3 mile run just wouldn’t do it. Suffice to say I felt amazing. I could have probably ran 100 miles that day. I was scheduled to finish at the end of Santa Monica Pier at 3pm. At 2pm I had made it back to the hotel – only 3 miles from the finish. At this rate I would have crossed the finish line way too early so I stopped into a Pizzeria next door and had a salad bar and a slice of pizza. After my little snack I set out again but my phone started ringing. People were calling me to tell me to hold up! Not everyone had arrived at the finish yet! Once again I waited for a go-ahead. I finally got it and sprinted those last few miles. Words can’t describe how awesome it was. I felt like I was running on clouds. It felt like people were parting just for me as I sprinted through the busy streets. I ran onto the pier and was overcome with emotion. I could see the Pacific ocean now and I picked up my speed – bystanders probably thought (a) I was a white Carl Lewis or (b) I had just robbed a bank. At the end of the pier were friends and family waiting for me. They had put up an actual finish line and when I crossed it I was drenched in champagne. It was quite a moment. The local CBS affiliate did a short piece on the finish as well (Thanks to Carri Z. and Lisa from the ADA). We caused quite a scene on the pier – it was surreal. Later that night we went out on the town for dinner, drinks, and debauchery and generally wreaked havoc. I hadn’t partied that hard in months and it felt great (though only 4 hours of sleep and the resulting hangover didn’t feel too good on Sunday).

I want to take this chance to THANK everyone who came to the finish in LA making it an unforgettable experience – I am truly blessed with the best family and friends. Thank you for being there with me: Mom and Dad from Buffalo, Aunt Eileen from San Fransisco, Uncle Jimmy (who I hadn’t seen in 11 years) from Hawaii; Matty Rig, Lynette, Danny Rig, and Nate Ceff all from Buffalo; Danielle Sass from New Paltz; Jessica from Oregon; Kori from NYC, LaCoco from San Diego, George “el Scorcho”, Marc Hurwee, and Pat Young from DC; Kevbro, Sarah, Tate, and Dan from San Fran; and Curty, Brett, Keith, Ami, John, Jon, Lisa, Carri Z, and JessLynn from the LA vicinity; Of course, Dave (from day 1), Jo, Boss Dog! And of course everyone who was with me there in SPIRIT!!!

This run wouldn’t have been possible without YOUR support. THANK YOU! I am awe-stricken at the support I have received from all of you and I know that I am blessed. Without you I could not have accomplished this run. Whenever I felt down and out or like I couldn’t make it thinking of all the support I have helped pushed me to succeed. This was a true team effort. The finish was an awesome conclusion to a 5 and a half month odyssey. I also want to THANK Brett, Keith, and Ami for housing me in LA; THANKS to Dave for being with me from day 1 – he promised to get me through this and he did; George for all his work on the website, and being the GOTO guy while I was running; Thanks to Kay Clark in Michigan for making the guestbook on the website safe from hackers; Matthew Payne for updating the website; and Mom and Dad who I talked to almost every day for providing an anchor and their unconditional love and support.

***THANK YOU!***

April 2005: My run across America to benefit the American Diabetes Association is quickly receding into the rearview. It was an absolutely unforgettable experience and I now look back fondly on everything about it - the good and the bad. Many times on the road I didn't think it would ever end; but now it seems ages ago. I am still in fundraising mode and hope to raise a lot more money so I can reach the $100,000 fundraising goal. The fundraising gala originally scheduled for February in New Hope, PA has been tentaviley been rescheduled for June 18th. Keep checking the site for updates on the status. Getting back to "reality" hasn't been easy... I came back to Washington, DC at the end of January and started working again in early March. I went to England for the first time before starting work to visit Dave, Nick, and Simon. I had a great time seeing the guys and the UK. It was the first time I met Nick in person - he's an inspirtation, he's planning a run across Death Valley this summer and Australia in the future. I also got to see Dave and Jo for the first time as a married couple and met Jo's son Tim. Dave plans on coming back to the USA (to Cheyenne, WY) to pursue his dream of becoming a rodeo cowboy at the end of April. I also found out Simon (who got me through Kansas) is tenatively planning on coming to the States for good in May. Soon after returning from the UK I began working again for the first time in nearly a year. It has been tough going back to work after nearly a year off. Boss Dogg and I are still crashing with our friends Ben, Kelby, and Sath. We are looking for a place to live for a reasonable price. This seems simple enough on the surface but it aint! I don't have a car so I need to be by the Metro and though I am now working in Alexandria I want to live in the city. So me and my dog are still looking... I am still working on writing a book about the run so keep checking here for updates. It is taking a lot longer than I expected. I hope to have a semblance of a completed book by the summer time. I will be updating the site regularly as well so check back often! As always THANK YOU for all your support and kind words. This run was a team effort!
May 2005: I am no longer running across the United States. I finally found a place to live. I am working. Things are back to normal. I have now not been running for longer than I was running. Dave will be moving to the USA in mid-May and likely starting out in DC. I am still fundraising and here is a short list of upcoming fundraising events:

Please visit this site for more details as they come in.

I hope to have a book together sometime this summer. Hope to have some excerpts up here soon as well.

Upcoming Fund-raising events:
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Flower Kings Concert at the State Theater in Falls Church, Va. (2200 N. Washington St., Falls Church)
Doors open at 7:00pm; Show starts at 9:00pm

Swedish masters of progressive rock, The Flower Kings, will perform at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA, on Thursday, May 26th, 2005. Half of the proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association. I will be on hand to talk about my run prior to the shows start. Tickets are only $36.00 and available through Ticketmaster or the State Theater Box Office.
www.statetheatre.com

Saturday, June 11, 2005
Cheverly Day Festivities - Cicada Crunch Dash for Diabetes 5K Run/2K Fun Walk
Time: 10:00 a.m. walk starts; 10:15 a.m. run begins
Place: Cheverly Community Center/Town Park, Cheverly,Maryland
6401 Forest Road, Cheverly, MD 20785
2005 Beneficiary: American Diabetes Assocation
Cost:   Early Registration: $20 (run); $12 (walk)
  At Race/Late Registration: $25 (run) $15(walk)
www.cheverlyday.com/5Krun
I will be on hand to represent the American Diabetes Association.

--Note: fundraising gala in New Hope, PA has been postponed until the Fall to be a "book release party" and to coincide with the completion (and hopeful publication) of my book on the run.

July 2005: I can't believe it's now been a year since I left Riverside Park in New York City on my 5+ month run across America. I am currently working on a book about the experience and still tentatively planning a final fundraising blow-out in New Hope, Pa in the Fall. Keep checking back to the site for updates on fundraising and the book! Thank you for your support.
September 2005: I am aiming to have the book on the run available by mid - December to coincide with the one year "anniversary" of its completion. I am now working with a company called RunSlim - http://www.runslim.com - as a "fitness coach." We are also looking at putting together a road race in Alexandria for the summer of 2006. I am also in contact with fellow trans-con runner Bruce Johnson about putting together a trans-con run/race for people interested in undertaking such an adventure. Bruce has the rights to Alan Firth's bi-annual trans-con races. If you have ever dreamed about running across the USA drop me an email to let me know if there is in fact a market.
October/November 2005:

I have a definite case of writers block and am having trouble making progress on the book I am writing about my experience running across the United States. I have so many stories from the road that I need to share...I can't say when the book will be done but it will get written - that much I promise!

I am now working with a company called RunSlim - http://www.runslim.com - as a "fitness coach." We are also looking at putting together a road race in Alexandria for the summer of 2006. Stay tuned for details.

I am also in contact with fellow trans-con runner Bruce Johnson about putting together a trans-con run/race for people interested in undertaking such an adventure. Bruce has the rights to Alan Firth's bi-annual trans-con races. If you have ever dreamed about running across the USA drop me an email to let me know if there is in fact a market.

January 2006:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I am very excited for 2006. For me 2005 was quite a horrendous year - I hope it was better for you. It's now been over year since I finished running across the United States and I can't believe it - time flies. After the run ended I felt like my life literally started over... I turn 30 in 2006, and I hear that 30's the new 20, so I still have some time to figure it all out!

I still plan on writing a book about the run. But, as I have found out, it take a lot of time. There are many great stories from the run that I need to share.

In other news: Please Save The Date: Saturday, July 22, 2006, The RunSlim Rock'n'Run 10k in Alexandria, Va. This is going to be an awesome race. If you are in the DC area be there or be square! Details are forthcoming. Visit http://www.runslim.com for more info.

I also recently became an ACE certified personal trainer - so if you're in the DC area and need a personal trainer who will get ya runnin' and healthy drop me a line!

February 2006:

Please visit http://www.adventuresforthecure.com. Patrick Blair and Adam Driscoll will be biking across the USA this summer to raise money for the American Diabetes Association and Kupenda. They are amazing dudes. I know this because I recently met them out for a few beers and their passion, drive, and drinkng ability awed me. Seriously, I urge you to support them!

I turn 30 on May 20 and to mark the occasion I am tenatively planning to do a 76 mile run (I was born in 1976). I am in talks with Pat and Adam about finishing the run at a bar as part of a fundraiser for the Adventures for the Cure! Stay tuned for details.

Save The Date: Saturday, July 22, 2006, The RunSlim Rock'n'Run 10k in Alexandria, Va. This is going to be an awesome race. If you are in the DC area be there or be square! Details forthcoming. Visit http://www.runslim.com for more info.

Book Status: It's coming sometime...

April 2006:

The RunSlim Rock N' Run 10k - http://www.runslim10k.com - REGISTER TODAY!

Please visit http://www.adventuresforthecure.com. Patrick Blair and Adam Driscoll will be biking across the USA this summer to raise money for the American Diabetes Association and Kupenda. They are amazing dudes. I know this because I recently met them out for a few beers and their passion, drive, and drinkng ability awed me. Seriously, I urge you to support them!

I turn 30 on May 20 and to mark the occasion I am tenatively planning to do a 76 mile run (I was born in 1976). I am in talks with Pat and Adam about finishing the run at a bar as part of a fundraiser for the Adventures for the Cure! Stay tuned for details.

Book Status: It's coming sometime...

This run is not possible without your support. All donations are greatly appreciated! Click here to make a donation.

If you have any questions, comments, or you just want to say "Hi", send me an email at JGross@DiabetesRun.com or leave a note in the Guestbook.
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