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  To assist in motivating the 4th and 5th grade
students in their virtual Run/Walk Across America challenge (pacetrek.com/seeusrun), Paul Staso, the
spouse of Russell Elementary P.E. teacher Vicki Staso, told the
students that he would actually
attempt to run across the United States between Friday, June 23, 2006 and
the end of October if
either the 4th grade class or 5th grade class (or both, but not combined)
successfully completed their 3,200-mile virtual trek across America by the last
day of school on June 9, 2006. The students met the challenge before the end of
the school year and Paul's run became a reality. Paul's U.S.A. run was called
the "P.A.C.E. Run" (Promoting
Active Children
Everywhere) and he maintained an
average of 30 miles per day on his
route across America, taking a few scheduled rest
days while on the road. His family, shown to the left,
were supportive and encouraged him daily.
Aside
from fulfilling his
promise to the Russell
Elementary students, which was his primary reason for running,
Paul also wanted the run to encourage children to be more conscious of their health and
fitness. Fitness statistics
indicate that these are lessons that need to be learned and adopted at a
young age in order for children to have a solid foundation for
maintaining physical fitness as a regular part of their daily routine as
they mature and grow.
The
route for Paul's run across America followed the same route that the
students virtually ran/walked during the 2005-2006 school year, and he shared updates through this web site so that students
and others could follow his progress. At the time of the run during the
summer of 2006, Paul was 41 years old, had been married for 19 years,
was the father of four children (ages 6 to 12),
and a professional web site developer. He truly enjoyed fulfilling his
promise to the kids.
Final statistics about P.A.C.E. Run 2006 can be found
here
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A Message From Paul's Wife, Vicki
 I
want to take a few minutes to share my thoughts and feelings
about Paul’s adventures with
P.A.C.E..
I don’t tend to be public and really feel much more
comfortable behind the scenes... keeping the day to day
activities of our family going and quietly supporting Paul
in a variety of ways. Many who know me have asked how I feel
and I tend to just shrug and smile.
I do, however, realize that there are many people out there
who don’t know me and have faithfully followed Paul’s
journeys and wonder what my position is. So, it is to you
that I write to let you know that I am amazed at the gift of
endurance that Paul has been blessed with and am inspired by
his desire to share his life and to make a difference in the
quality of others’ lives.
Paul is an awesome husband and father and strives to balance
all the roles he has been given. Endurance athletes have a
drive that few truly understand (I not being one of them!);
but, I also know it is part of who he is and when all
aspects of his life are in balance, he is then at his best.
We are learning, as we journey through life together, to
support and encourage each other in all areas we are gifted.
Paul does the same for me.
I know in my heart that by giving him the opportunity to do
P.A.C.E. many blessings come from it. To name a few, I would
have to start with the example for our own children to have
a passion about
 something
where you can make a difference. As a family, we also are
gaining many individual lessons about unselfishness,
teamwork and encouragement. And then there are the many who
have the opportunity to hear his messages of personal
fitness, following dreams and enduring challenges and I pray
that of those who hear, some lives will be changed.
I will never stand in the way of what Paul is called to do
and I trust him completely that he always has his family’s
best interest at the forefront of all decisions he makes. He
has demonstrated that to us over and over. I respect how
hard Paul works and his drive to make a difference in a
world that is so confused, sending contradictory messages to
our children. Thank you for traveling this journey with Paul
and our family. |
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