Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Trio crosses county in run

Nat Holland El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Socorro County has seen its share of runners during their various cross country journeys. This last week a trio of friends has been making the trek across Socorro and Catron counties.

Matt Durkin, Andy Wahila and Ken Stannard are friends who recently graduated from the State University of New York and are making the run of a lifetime as they head toward San Diego, Calif., from their starting point in Tybee Island, Ga., on Feb. 1.

"We love it," Durkin said. "Every day I'm so thankful when I'm out here and every day we meet someone new that we stay in contact with."

"The focus originally was the run and accomplishing it," Wahila said. "But the trip has become more about the generosity and people we meet."

Stories of their trip and the generosity of the people they have met can be found on their Web site, along with photos and information on the runners, at www.nationrun.com. Stories of generosity range from a man in Columbus, Ga., who loaned his truck to the trio on their day off to a Magdalena couple who treated them to dinner. Astute readers of their blog (a Web log) may recognize some of the names as the group records their travels across the region.

"We really get to meet a lot of different people," Stannard said. "The highlights are the days we really connect with our hosts. The days we spend with them are unforgettable."

The runners take a day off for every 10 days of running to rest up.

"If everyday was camping out and hanging out with these guys it would get old pretty quick," Durkin said. "Thinking that we only have two more days off makes me realize how little time we have left."

The trip didn't originally have a clear reason behind it other than their shared friendship and shared interest in running.

"The core of the run idea happened when we stumbled across a Web site of two other guys who did it," Wahila said. "We started off joking about it. Just recently when my cousin was killed we started a scholarship and we linked the two together, but the adventure of the whole thing is still the core of it."

Now the three are using the run to benefit the PFC Philip J. Diaferio Memorial Scholarship fund, in honor of Wahila's cousin. Donations to the fund can be made on their Web site.

"I think everyone who runs across the country has an inkling to do it for themselves," Stannard said. "We were pretty sure originally that we were going to do it for ourselves, but I think its a good thing to do it for a cause."

"The reason is more of 'why not?'" Durkin said. "This is so big and so important I can't imagine not doing it. It's always been in the plan to graduate, save some money and run across the country."

Their trip across the country has faced a few challenges, including the loss of a fourth teammate who was accompanying them on a bicycle at the start. After about 10 days, the rider decided to call it quits while the runners continued.

They trio did see snow on one day of their trip, but the most challenging day so far according to the team was the long, mostly uphill run against the wind from Carrizozo to Bingham.

"It was a long, brutal day of hills and wind," described Durkin.

"I don't know if there are days we want to quit, but there are days we wish we were over with," Wahila said.

"We try to keep away from the mindset of 'Let's get this day over with,' though," Durkin said. "Some day, we'll be sitting in an office wishing we were on the run from Carrizozo."

New Mexico has offered some of the most unique landscapes they have seen, and a refreshing break from Texas, according to the team.

"Texas was flat," Wahila said. "Everyone said it was going to be flat and nothing, and we experienced that pretty quick, and it went on forever."

The lusher landscapes of the eastern states they crossed closely resembled their own native terrain of upstate New York. Regardless of the location, every day seems to provide new experiences

"One day we're at a farm and the next day we're in a big city," Wahila said. "I've never checked on the cows before. Sometimes I feel like people, if they read our blog or got of the way for us, they'll do something to impress us or make our day unique."

The remaining route the runners are taking will shift them north through Gallup, then toward the Grand Canyon before heading to California.

nholland@dchieftain.com

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