(PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
SIGHTSEEING … Mitchell visited many landmarks on his trip including the Grand Canyon.
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
FAYETTE – Wyatt Mitchell didn’t get enough during his career at Fayette High School as a distance runner in cross country and track. So, the 2024 grad who has plans to join the US Navy found a way to tour the United States and keep his love to run in place.
Doing his best imitation of his version of “Forrest Gump”, Mitchell saw each of the continental 48 states in 49 days AND ran a 5K on a marked trail, high school track or a course he concocted on his own in every state through the summer months.
Using his own money he had saved and without the benefit of sponsors, Mitchell slept at campgrounds, rest stops and motels during his trek.
“It cost about $5,000 dollars, all my own money I had saved,” he said. “I didn’t stay in a hotel. At the Grand Canyon I stayed in a hammock. That was actually the best part of my trip, seeing the Grand Canyon.”
The travel during Mitchell’s excursion was obviously difficult, having to drive long distances, especially in the western states between runs.
He did not go without facing some adversity. “The mechanism that handles my brake lights malfunctioned, and my car died overnight,” Mitchell explained of one of his difficulties.
“AAA said I had a dead cell in my battery which I had replaced just before my trip. I was near Busch Stadium in St. Louis and after I got going again, I got it fixed all the way in Arkansas for $15.”
Mitchell went on to explain the reasoning behind his run across America. “I just wanted to see the whole country before I joined the Navy.”
“It’s something someone doesn’t normally get to do, seeing all 48 states on the continent, until you retire, and I wanted to do it now before I started on a career.”
BUCKET LIST … Mitchell stands in front of the scoreboard at North Marion High School in North Marion, Oregon.
Mitchell had a number of prestigious types of runs during the expedition, including a back-and-forth jaunt across the Golden Gate bridge.
“I was at the Tigers-Giants game out there and I parked after at one end. It’s a mile and a half plus one way so I ran to the opposite end and turned around and came back.”
“I also ran at McFarland in California (the small town where McFarland USA was filmed in 2015) where they have won many cross country state titles. I ran five miles there but everywhere else I ran the normal 5K.”
Mitchell said he also ran at Prefontaine Track at the University of Oregon and of course his favorite stop, the Grand Canyon.
Many people have a bucket list of things they want to see and projects they want to do as they get older.
Mitchell expressed that he was able to accomplish a lot of what may be a running-junkies list straight out of high school by doing what he did.
Not only has he kept in shape for his indoctrination into the Armed Forces, but he has also seen much of the good America has to offer by touring the country not only by auto, but on foot as well.
