Special Notes Written To Paul:

"I feel like today we are finding, more and more, that people and their accomplishments aren’t quite what they seem. And I must admit that when I took my 3-year-old daughter to watch and meet you on a remote section of Highway 12... I didn’t quite know what to expect. Watching you run directly into a pounding wind, over miles of tough, hilly road, what I found was an authentic inspiration. Someone that I feel fortunate to have met and that my daughter can truly look up to."
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"Nice to have virtually met you and let it be known that I truly admire what you are doing with them legs of yours!"
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"You are a motivating force and an inspiration to far more than the school children who took part in Pace Trek."
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"You never fail to amaze me. You are a real inspiration to young and old alike."
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"I am awed by what you accomplish. I am glad that there are people in the world that are doing good for others the way you are. You are an inspiration and a positive force in the world."
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"It has been a healthy realistic experience for all of us to follow your disciplined trek. THANKS for the novel experience."
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"Thank you for this fantastic opportunity. Many of our kids were able to accomplish things that they never thought possible. We were able to set smaller goals along the way and there were numerous triumphs on our own trek."
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"Thanks for getting us off our seats and moving!"
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"Congratulations Paul! What you are doing is phenomenal and a really great inspiration for the kids."
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"Your journey is such a great inspiration. Thank you for taking the time to to incorporate such an interesting and multi-grade curriculum."
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"This was so wonderful I can't express it in words. This was so motivational to our classes and parents."
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"You've made it very easy for teachers and students to plug in and feel a part of your journey."
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"Congratulations to you Paul for an excellent job in your Trek and the website. This was exciting for my students, myself and the school. Thanks again for all your hard work. What a great experience we all had."
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"Thanks for a successful fitness project! We loved to do it!"
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"We made it and the teachers wore your Pace Trek t-shirts with PRIDE!!!! The kids were so excited!"
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"Congrats on finishing your trek! The message you have sent to thousands of kids will continue on!"
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"As the PE teacher it was really great to see classroom teachers outside and encouraging their students to move during class time. It was a positive experience for the students and teachers. As the Kindergarten teacher said, "I really like this because it gives the kids a purpose for their running.""
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"Thank you for the challenge - the kids in our elementary are always talking about it and most of them look forward to our daily mile."
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"All the physical education teachers here would like to thank you for letting us participate in this magnificent event. Paul, we want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to help spread the word about keeping our kids, and all the children around the world, healthy by staying active. Be sure to include us in next year's PACE trek activities."
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"This morning we had our Marines, Sailors, and Civilians come out and run the final mile with us. It was so touching to see fathers and sons walking or running hand in hand and moms inspiring and running beside their children. We had one of our Commanding Officers participate, various youth sports coaches, parents representing our military base fitness team, and so many others. The parents were "VERY IMPRESSED" with our efforts pushing for healthier children. I spoke about you and what you have done, are doing, and why you do what you do. It has inspired us here on Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. This was a way for you to give back to those kids of the military that have had to have parents gone many times in harms way. They appreciate what you chose to do. We have also enjoyed watching your video clips and reading your blogs."
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"It is about the "journey" and traveling with you has been a great adventure for our students. You truly have shown our students what dedication is about."
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"My kids are reaching new running goals they never before thought possible!"
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"You are sending such a great message to our kids. Thank you for your time, effort, pain, and commitment to Promoting Active Children Everywhere!"
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"The kids are so excited each day to walk! A parent told me today that "this is what education is all about.""

  HOW DID THE P.A.C.E. TEAMS DO?
The Results Are Below

8,000+ Kids... Over 42,000 Miles... Over 80 Million Steps!

During P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 team leaders had the option of submitting their team's mileage to Paul so that he could post updates on this site about their progress. Not all of the teams submitted their distances, but of those that did Paul compiled a list of how those teams did.

Click To See Which Reporting Teams Gave A Good Effort

Click To See Which Reporting Teams Completed P.A.C.E. Trek

Click To Learn Which Team Completed P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 First

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: A school located in a little Connecticut town logged more miles during P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 than any other registered school. Wells Road Intermediate School in Granby, Connecticut had four teams registered for the trek and cumulatively they logged 6,163 miles - which is about the equivalent of running across the United States and back again, and they did it in three weeks! Here's the breakdown of their four teams:

Wells Road Greyhound - 1,944.86 Miles (85 team members)
Wells Road Cheetahs - 1,495 Miles (85 team members)
Wells Road Gazelles - 1,461.84 Miles (85 team members)
Wells Road Antelopes - 1,211.23 Miles (85 team members)

The teams were registered on March 12, 2008 by team leaders Kathy Waddington and Mark Acquaotta. Their teams did an absolutely fantastic job during the virtual trek across Montana and based upon the numbers submitted the average participant logged 18 miles during the three weeks of P.A.C.E. Trek 2008. The team leaders wrote, "We are from a small town and it is fun to see the kids jogging in the evenings around their neighborhoods. We had a great time - kids and teachers are clamoring for more! We all want to keep running! Everyone is running our homemade half mile loop at school." Here's information from an article in their school's May newsletter:

Each student has been asked to run three miles a week so that their team can keep the pace with Mr. Staso. Students are already running/walking a mile a week in their twice weekly physical education classes. Mr. Acquaotta has set up a half mile trail at school and teachers will be available to run/walk at recess. Students will be logging running or walking distances at home and school. Running at practices, walking the dog or talking a walk after dinner all count; please help your child estimate their exercise at home so that they can contribute to their team or better yet – join them!

This is an example of using P.A.C.E. both in the school setting and encouraging involvement outside of the school - building more active kids and families. Here's an article that team leader Kathy Waddington submitted to the Hartford Courant News on May 22:

Wells Road Intermediate School in Granby participated in an exciting fitness program during April and May this spring. The entire school virtually raced Paul Staso, a former fifth-grade teacher, as he ran 620 miles across Montana. Divided into four teams of approximately 85 students and teachers, everyone tried to run at least 3 miles every week in order to keep pace with Mr. Staso. A half mile track was set up around the school, and students and staff ran during physical education classes, recess and other times during the day. Students were sent home with log books to input the miles that they ran or walked at home or at practice. The school was inspired by the daily online journal entries made by Paul Staso as he ran through wind, rain and snow. He posted video and audio broadcasts from the road that motivated everyone to run their best. In three weeks, Wells Road ran an incredible 6,163 miles -- equal to running across Montana ten times. Brady Hoddinott, a sixth-grader, said, "It was great to see everyone running and having the school committed to being active." Wells Road School was the only school in Connecticut that participated among 90 U.S. teams representing 21 states through 58 schools and organizations. Many Wells Road students and teachers have committed to continue their running and hope to "run together" across another state in the fall.

So, who finished P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 first? Based upon the date/time stamp of information received from participating teams, it appears that Fellowsville Elementary School of Fellowsville, West Virginia finished first overall (a team of 51 members). They submitted their information about completing the virtual trek across Montana on Tuesday, May 6th. Their team went 691 Miles! Congratulations!! I, Paul, actually spent an evening at the home of Mr. Stanley Shaver, principal of Fellowsville Elementary, during my 2006 run across America. It's great to see their school showing such a strong effort! The P.E. teacher at Fellowsville Elementary, Bonnie Moore, did a great job at keeping the kids on track and getting them involved in the P.A.C.E. Trek project. Their total was 1,320 miles!

Distances Are Those That Were Last Reported By Team Leaders

Bmberg Elementary (Germany) - 105 Miles
Coper Comets (California) - 32 Miles
Dalat International School (Malaysia) - 372 Miles
Danish Elementary (Texas) - 90 Miles
Davidson Elementary - Taylor (Maryland) - 269 Miles
Davidson Elementary - Rose (Maryland) - 443 Miles
Davidson Elementary - Madden (Maryland) - 319 Miles
Davidson Elementary - Pelura (Maryland) - 291 Miles
East Evergreen School (Montana) - 548 Miles
Eureka Elementary (Montana) - 300 Miles
Finger Lake Elementary (Alaska) - 78 Miles
Gibraltar Elementary (Wisconsin) - 439 Miles
Hohenfels Elementary School - 1 (Germany) - 424 Miles
Hohenfels Elementary School - 2 (Germany) - 429 Miles
Hohenfels Elementary School - 3 (Germany) - 390 Miles
Hohenfels Elementary School - 4 (Germany) - 466 Miles
Meadow Hill 8th Grade (Montana) - 324 Miles
Powell High School - Sophs 1 (Montana) - 110 Miles
Powell High School - Sophs 2 (Montana) - 103 Miles
Powell High School - Sophs 3 (Montana) - 100 Miles
Romeo Elementary (Florida) - 191 Miles
Rondout School (Illinois) - 546 Miles
Roosevelt Middle School - Cords (Montana) - 409 Miles
Sigonella Middle School (Italy) - 95 Miles
Sigonella High School (Italy) - 55 Miles
St. Louise School (Washington) - 423 Miles
St. Luke School (Pennsylvania) - 84 Miles
State Street School (Vermont) - 273 Miles