Posted: May 22, 2004

Athletics: TREK USA Is In Pennsylvania.Only 3 Days And 466 Miles To Go

Boston, Mass. - 2,906 miles; ten states; three times zones in 21 days.that is TREK USA (www.trekusa.org). The TREK USA team has averaged over 15 miles at altitudes ranging between sea level and 10,276 feet. Under mostly sunny skies (and a little bit of hail, and some snow), temperatures have ranged between 30 and 112?. With less than 500 miles to run, the team has established a system for everything from running to meals, laundry (approx. 6-8 loads per day!), and myriad other responsibilities that go along with the run of a lifetime, which recently included how to deal with rattlesnakes on the roads of Nebraska.

On May 1 this TREK USA team of runners, led by BAA Boston Marathon Dave McGillivray began this 24-day run from San Francisco to Boston. Why would ten New Englanders, want to face the intense heat of the desert, the snow of the Rockies, the wind on the Nebraska prairies, and the traffic congestion along urban roads across the US? It's all for the kids.TREK USA - Transcontinental Charity Relay for Kids is an extraordinary act of endurance and charity. Collectively, the TREK USA team is running 3,372 miles in a relay format. They began at San Francisco's SBC Park and will finish in front of a home team crowd on May 25th during a pre-game ceremony at their beloved Fenway Park.

Entry from TREK Journal for May 21, 2004 (from www.trekusa.org)

"When Fernando completed his run, he jumped back aboard the RV with a smile on his face. He told us how his five year old son, Shane, always asks him, "Where you goin'?", if he is leaving the house. As Fernando was cruising through his 7.8 mile jaunt, he swore he could hear his son's voice in his head."Where you goin'?" He smiled and continued. Then, again and louder he heard, "Where you goin'?" That time it was a little too real. Again he heard at almost a shout, "WHERE YOU GOIN'?" With that, Fernando looked over his shoulder and saw a little five year old boy on a porch calling out the question to him. He stopped his run to go to the little boy and explain, "I am going home".

We all are.

It was a short day today. We caught a bit of rest so that we'll be at our best for the assault on the hills of Pennsylvania. After that, the Citgo sign can't be too far away. "

The Trek USA Team includes: Paul McGovern, Bill Lapsley, Bob Lussier, Mike Barry, Josh Nemzer, Mike Thompson, Dave McGillivray, Tom Licciardello, Fernando Braz and Harrison ''Hap'' Farber. Relay Director, Ron Kramer. The support crew includes Lyn Licciardello, Bob Ell, Dave Leonard, Zoë Alexi and Bob Whirty.

TREK USA proceeds benefit: The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; The Red Auerbach Youth Foundation; the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism; the Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care; the DMSE Foundation and 32º Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc.

"This has been a once.well actually, twice in a lifetime experience for me," says TREK USA Founder Dave McGillivray. "When I ran solo across the country in 1978 it was just me. This time it's the team approach and we're all working very hard together but also having fun while we cover the miles. We 've met some great people along the way who have made generous donations to TREK USA and that's our ultimate goal here.to raise $250,000 for our charities."

Nearly 2,000 Boston area school students are doing their own TREK USA as they participate in the "Track the TREK" school fundraising program designed to give teachers ideas on how to plan lessons that encourage physical activity as students virtually follow the TREK team along their journey. Track the TREK is a way to complement other school subjects such as math, geography, English and history.

"It interesting to me because the TREK USA website shows the states they're crossing through and shows us pictures. We met Tom [Licciardello] and Bob [Lussier], I like seeing them on the website. If there was no internet we wouldn't know where they were or what they're doing," says Katrina T., a 4th grade student at the Brookside Elementary School in Dracut, Mass Visit www.trekusa.org to donate or learn more about their return to Boston on May 25th. The team will be finishing up their TREK beginning at noon in Hopkinton, Mass. and will follow along the route of the BAA Boston Marathon course. TREK USA officially ends during a pre-game ceremony at Boston's Fenway Park (7:05 game). On the field to help welcome the runners home will be special guests Cam Neely; Bill Rodgers; Darren Flutie; JoJo White; Mike Andrews and others.

TREK USA is sponsored by Nike, Fleet Boston Financial, Pepsi, Accredo Therapeutics, Bitpipe, Inc., American Airlines, E.J. Jaxtimer Builder, Inc., Inkstone Printing, Fuel Belt, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Jeremiah's Pick Coffee, 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc., Motoris, Inc., Primal Blue Software, Road ID, Salter Healthcare, and Verizon Wireless.