I HAVE RUN ACROSS AMERICA!!!! December 29 - Day 276, 8.7 miles, the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, CA!!!

I am crying. My bare feet are in the Pacific Ocean and I am crying, alone, staring out into the endless terraces of waves. I hear seagulls and I see the sun’s rays, yet everyone that just cheered me on for the last mile all of a sudden disappeared. All the beaming proud faces were gone and nothing was visceral to me anymore. Their voices, the patterings of their feet, and their presence all disappeared. It was me and the ocean. It was all intrinsic. It was all my own. It was me and the accomplishment of something so personal. It was me and victory, and memories of the last 9 months, and the love for my family who supported me, and most importantly, the FACT that I just did what I said I would do. The first words that came out of my mouth (yes, I talked to myself), sandwiched by sobs, were, “I did it...I did it!” I then lifted my hands up to the sky knowing that I had just run 3,132 miles across America, coast to coast, baby.

When asked later that night, “what were you thinking about when you hit the ocean?” it took me a while to respond. But when I did, I did with confidence and ease. “Anything in the world is now possible...anything,” I responded. The funny thing is that I knew this before starting my run, and this audacity and belief in big dreams drove me to take my first steps. But when I was in the ocean, I had a reconfirmation that anything in the entire world is possible if you put in the determination, action, and purpose that sings true to YOU. I felt like my life was ahead of me, so beautiful, and I realized my purpose in life so much more deeply.

Accomplishment is a catalyst for new chapters to begin and provokes a reawakening of how you will continue to live your purpose.

I took several long minutes in the ocean, walking in further, feeling that 50-something degree water creep up to my knees. I was still purposefully alone. I saw nobody but my own self. Seeing your own dream come true is like seeing yourself. That is why we have dreams. So we can learn more about who we are and what we are meant to do...for the world and our own selves. I really wanted to savor this moment. I needed to internalize it. It is something I will never be able to recreate. I soaked it up...

After my time in the water alone, I walked out slowly, facing the cheering crowd. I waved everyone into the ocean, but alas, no takers;-) I found mom, and hugged her to death while crying. Found my brother, Tyler, and hugged him with tears. Then I found my dad, video-taping, and ran to him. They know what this is to me. My dad squeezed me with all the love a father could have for his daughter, lifted me up and spun me around. All the while I could hear him begin to soba and I could feel his chest begin to vibrate with emotion and pride. I knew it.

Me and my dad:

This was such a celebration. A friend came over and put leis around my neck and gave me an American flag to hold up and pose with. Amazing. I turned around to the crowd of friends, family and strangers, holding up the flag across my salty body, and felt the need to address them all with what this run stood and still stands for; “you can do anything in this world...you can and must go for your dreams...you can can can get your dreams,” I cried to the hungry ears and souls watching. In the middle of my words, I had begun to sob, emotion overflowing from a deep place within my own soul.

Me and the FLAG!

I know that I had just showed the world, or at least a handful of people in it, something special and important. WHAT A HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The big question is, how can I continue to live my purpose now that my run has ended? I feel a bit deflated because everything about this trip, even the 40 mph snowy wind that blew into my face while in New Mexico, and the really smelly cooler that we had in our van, was beautiful. I was draining the water out of the cooler this morning before we left to start running and it was then that it hit me - I am going to really miss this. I am even going to miss draining ice water out of the stinky cooler every day. I am going to miss Jenny. I am going to miss running 18 miles a day. I am going to miss sleeping in the homes of total strangers. I am going to miss our van. I am going to miss peeing outside, anywhere I deem fit! I will miss this lifestyle of being on the road. Alas, you must adjust to new chapters in life, all the while creating your life. It’s a balancing act, right?

What is next? That is my huge question. I know, because I will follow my passions and create a new dream. I do want to run across Australia next;-) BEFORE THAT, I will be working to keep PaveYourLane.com alive by driving back across the country, retracing my strides in order to revisit people, go for fun runs, talk to groups and at schools, inspire youth and adults, and write my book!!!!!!!!!

Dream by dream, step by step, you become YOU.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
kt

See more pics here and a video here of my last strides!!!!