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"Last Mile" Celebration
This afternoon's celebration was definitely a capstone to the Coast-to-Coast experience. It was great to celebrate RIT's accomplishment with our family, friends, teammates, the community and with RIT administration. President Simone certainly ran a good pace, especially at the start, down the hill on John St. We weren't used to the police escorts, so having flashing red lights in front of us rather than behind us was a welcome change. Running towards the Sentinel, with a great crowd making a lot of noise made us all feel very welcome and proud of our accomplishment. For me, the most exciting part of the festivities was when President Simone indicated that the Coast to Coast Run is now an RIT tradition that will continue in the future. To me, this means that from 1979 forward, RIT runners will have a chance 4 times per century to run coast to coast. The commitment indicated today is not an entitlement to this incredible learning experience by any means. The 2029 team will have to have the commitment to their University, their team, and commitment to honor the 1979 and 2004 teams. They will have to work towards their goal, from planning, to running, to celebration. I think that the commitment to this tradition that President Simone spoke about today will extend beyond the current President's tenure, and will endure throughout RIT's future. My heart is filled with pride, for the 1979 and 2004 team's accomplishments, and I eagerly look to 2029, when the torch of this tradition will be passed to the next generation of RIT runners. Again, to our history; 1979 team, Coach Todd, and RIT cross country alumni, thank you. Thank you for tradition. Thank you for the pride. Thank you for the history. Thank you for the success. RIT runners are a model for RIT tradition and success, and we should be proud. RF. And to today; runners, coaches, Mossman, Dr. Lamas, President Simone, campus safety, student health, advisors, and all support staff---thank you. Thank you for taking a huge gamble on supporting this experience. We had a lot of luck, but even more support. Again, my heart is exploding with pride. Pride for us as a team, and definitely pride for RIT. Thank you.
River Road Rats Running Club
This blog has been amazing, in getting back I have still only gotten through 2/3 of it, and I know it's still growing. I'd like to use it while we still have everyone's attention to see if I can get another great thing running. I have gotten some positive feedback thus far from current runners, but I'd really like to start up the River Road Rats Running Club, as an informal running club for former RFXC runners. I think this would be a great way to keep a contact network together for all the RF Alumni, as we didn't know who to email/call when we put on this event. There would be nothing formal to start other than just providing your contact info and location, and if you run a race independently in your neighborhood just put down the River Road Rats as your club affiliation. Eventually I think we'd get some jerseys made up for people who wanted to race with them. If I get a positive response from any Alumni that are out there and still reading the blog, we'll see what we can do on the logistics end. Cause not only would this be cool, I think some of the RF alumni could take on groups like GVH or the Syracuse Chargers in the area too, which would be pretty cool as well. Thoughts... Comments... Sheik ( crb3587@rit.edu) RF
Team - Submit your Pictures and Videos
Per Lugie's suggestion from the comments in the '1979 Coast-to-Coast Video' posting: ************************ Leon and I were the two people in which had video on the trip. Others also had short videos on their digital cameras too. I was wondering If we can get all of this video together so someone can put together a video of this c2c. I volunteer to do this...I have a good amount of experience...unless someone else is more qualified or was already planning too? ~Lugie ************************ Please submit whatever pictures, videos, and other media you may have to the website FTP server ( ftp://abe.rh.rit.edu ). You can login using your RIT user ID, and your nickname as the password (lower-case). Don't worry about file sizes. Others who are non-RIT members or non-team members, please contact me to submit what you have. (I know there were several cameras rolling at our finish in Annapolis). Together with the media from tomorrow's festivities, Greg Moss has suggested that we can make a DVD compilation of everything related to this historic event. -Abe
1979 Coast-to-Coast Video
With the gracious help of NTID media services, I have tracked down the old 1979 coast-to-coast video and copied it to DVD format. This should be much better than the copy currently owned by the team, and will allow anyone to view it. The video is about 25 minutes long (1.8GB), with audio and CC; either a DVD-burner or Daemon Tools are required to view it. Enjoy! Download DVD Video
Poster Picture
Howdy, I am trying to figure out what picture people like most for a possible poster shot. I know some people had mentioned that the shot on the beach of the team running down the beach in San Diego was a good poster shot. Some guys on the '79 team said that even though the poster they had was great, they would have rather had a shot that showed the whole team, and I know that that is the case now. I guess just let me know what people like best out of the pictures, so I can push RIT in that direction. Thanks, Matt "Krackle" Hartman
FAVORITE RUNS: Bobbo
Elevated from the comments under Sanford's favorite run. -Todd ******************** I'll have to agree with Flipper and say my favorite run was the first night leg in Missouri. It was so quiet and peaceful. The only problem was the sound of the minivan behind me. I wish that it could have been just a little farther back. I could hear the streams and creeks churning and flowing. The slightest sound was heard in the trees and snow. The moon was so full that everything glistened on the slightly iced over snow. It was just amazing. It was one of the few legs where I did not even notice if there was an uphill or downhill coming up in the road. I was too busy admiring the sight of the sky and all of my surroundings. It was simply the most relaxing 2 mile segment of the trip. It sure beat all those nasty runs in Kansas. Other than that, most of the legs just seemed to blur together. I think I can remember only a handful off the top of my head. Something had to happen on a leg for it stick out. If nothing different occurred, it was just like every other 2 mile journey on the trip.
FAVORITE RUNS: Nate "Flipper" Lowe
I elevated this from the comments under Sanford's favorite run posting. -Todd ****************** I would have to say my favorite run was my first night leg in Missouri. There was just a little bit of snow on the ground, and the moon was full, so everything was lit up by an unearthly sort of glow. You could see everything, but nothing in detail. Just running up in the Ozarks, up in those twisty little roads, looking around at the woods and houses and he stars. And then I ran past a horse pasture, and four of them came out to meet me, just watching me run by, looking like they kinda wished they could come with me. A very satisfying run, on the whole. -Flipper
FAVORITE RUNS: Kevin "Lugie" Turko
I elevated this from Sanford's blog comments, because it was pretty intense. ****************** I'd have to say that many of the legs that I ran were breathtaking. California, Arizona, and New Mexico can't be topped. The three states have so many beautiful views of the mountains. My favorite run in the trip that I can most distinctly remember was on the first night. Our RV was parked in a gigantic gourge in California, and It was probably about 1am(10 mph back-wind/50 degrees). Before we ran we all chilled up on top of the RV and peered into the night sky. We saw so many things including shooting stars(Spaceman), and an UFO, possible a fighter jet, flew by at an incredbile speed. We sat on top of the RV probably for over an hour, then Bert decided to take a #2 in the bathroom and open the vent. Well what Can I say...It drove us all off the roof. I was warned about a half a mile before J.J would hand off to me. I recieved the Gold baton from him and took off. I was left alone with nothing but my two batons, and a reflective vest. Since I was the start of a new rotation I was left running out by myself for over a mile. In between the gourge, towering cliffs to both sides, and stars above. I'll be honest, I was scared to death. Whenever I heard a russle, I'd bang the two batons togther in attempt to scare anything away. (Thats how I got a banged up baton...thank god the gold one wasn't so cheap) It was out of a SCI-FI movie. I was just waiting for the Aliens to come and grab me from the planet, but then the headlights of the RV and Van rolled over the hill and I was saved. Being the start of the rotation could sometimes leave you out in the dark, navigating the road by only the sound of your footsteps on the pavement. I wouldn't even run around my block at night back Home without a flashlight. -Lugie
 Chris "Mitch" Kudla and Eric "Kermit" Enwright, running next to the United States Capitol on the final day of the Coast to Coast Run. 
 Jesse "Lamar" Williamson spraying Champagne in celebration of the conclusion of the run, in Annapolis, Md.
 The team, together and not running, at last, doing the team cheer.
 The runners emerging from the mucky and cold waters of the City Docks after completing the run.
 Jesse "Lamar" Williamson, getting a running start before jumping into the Bay.
 The Coast to Coast Runners running together near the Cheasapeake bay at Annapolis, Md, about to jump into the Bay.
 The RIT Coast to Coast runners with the USNA Cross Country team at Annapolis, Md.
 The Coast to Coast participants at City Docks in Annapolis, Md. The team was a little cold and a little wet from jumping into the Chesapeake Bay.
 Greg "Mossman" Moss speaking to the participants, USNA Cross Country Runners, parents, supporters at the finishing point of the run in Annapolis.
 Chad "Shiek" Byler exchanging gifts with the members of the United States Naval Academy Men's Cross Country Team.
 Trisha "Moto" Sliker running on the rolling hills of Virginia on the final day of the Coast to Coast Run.
 Curtis "Moose" Howard running in Virginia.
 Eric "Kermit" Enwirght showing the stylistic advantages of greasy hair.
 Chris "Leon" Schauerman on an exit ramp in West Virginia. A number of parents joined us for our last few days of the run. We were about to do a television interview about the run.
 Kevin "Lugie" Turko handing the baton to Trisha "Moto" Sliker in Clarksburg, WV.
 Some proud Buffalo Bills fans in RV2 after Buffalo's victory over Seattle on Sunday. Chris "Mitch" Kudla, Eric "Kermit" Enwright, and Dereck "Bojangles" Bojanowski.
 Ryan "Sanford" With his parents, after finishing the leg with his dad in West Virginia.
 Ryan "Sanford" Pancoast driving the RV with Sean "Okie" McVeigh navigating on US 50 in Ohio.
 Todd Spivak and Curtis "Moose" Howard at 5:30am, with Melinda F. (Edwards) King (Textiles '84). Ms. King was waiting on the side of US 50 near Athens, OH. since 3:30 am, waiting for the group to pass through town.
 The Coast to Coast Runners garnered fans, running through Milford, OH.
 Bob "Bobbo" McCoy running in Milford, OH, during that town's Thanksgiving festival.
 Ryan "Sanford" Pancoast, running in the suburbs of Cincinatti, OH.
 Eric "Kermit" Enwright, at a roadside stop just east of Cincinatti, OH.
 Sean "Okie" McVeigh, running through downtown Cincinatti, OH.
 Curtis "Moose" Howard and Chris "Leon" Schauerman enter Ohio, being cheered on by members of the Coast to Coast team, with roadside junk in hand.
 Kevin "Lugie" Turko gets into his stride after receiving the baton from Maxwell "JJ" Ferguson in Indiana.
 John "Bert" Tomac, running east on the roads of Indiana.
 Chad "Sheik" Byler handing the baton off to John "Bert" Tomac in Indiana at sunset.
 Chad "Sheik" Byler running into dusk in Indiana.
 Bob "Bobbo" McCoy handing off the golden baton to Nate "Flipper" Lowe at the Indiana Border.
FAVORITE RUNS - Ryan "Sanford" Pancoast
Thanks to all our friends and family who kept this blog alive. We are all enjoying catching up on all the posts and comments. Now, I thought it would be a good idea for the runners to share some of their experiences. So I'm asking every runner to comment of their favorite run of the entire trip. For instance, my favorite run was my first in Missouri. Running at sunset, I had a bright orange sky to my back and a pastel-colored evening sky in front of me, complete with a bright full moon. I passed through some amazing farmland along rolling hills. It was perfectly quiet, so the sound of my footsteps made the cows lift up their white faces and stare at me as I passed. Zero wind, and just slightly cold. It was one of those runs that made you realize how vast the country really is. Fellow RIT XC runners, please share your own experiences! -Girlie Lookin' (according to Gillian '96) Ryan "Sanford" Pancoast
12 days 3 hours 48 minutes
We've completed the run. Just after dusk at Dock St. in Annapolis, Md. We were received by the USNA Cross Country Team. They were extremely hospitable and allowed us to use the shower facilities at the Academy. Details will be posted later.
12 hours to go
We're 60 miles outside of Washington. The Appalachians were nasty in West Virginia. While the peaks weren't as high as the Rockies, there were 9 - 9.5% inclines, which was equally as intense as the Rockies. I'm sorry about not posting in awhile, cell service is lacking in West Virginia, and I've been busy. Doing what, I'm not sure. Things just happen here on Coast to Coast, and you forget about things quite quickly. It's quite a trip, literally and figuratively. We met with a reporter this morning in Winchester, Va, and we recounted some of our experiences, from early in the trip and more recent experiences. D.C. should be interesting to get everyone through it quickly and efficiently. We're going to be going through the metropolitan area at a very busy times. We'll get through it alright, but it is going to be a little hairy at times, without a doubt because the runners will most likely be passing through the city faster than the vehicles. I think the ride back to Rochester late tonight is going to be a long, sleepy ride.
END LOCATION CHANGE:
THE ENDING LOCATION FOR THE 2004 COAST-TO-COAST RUN HAS BEEN CHANGE FROM "SANDY POINT STATE PARK" TO THE "ANNAPOLIS CITY DOCKS," NEAR THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY. ARRIVAL TIME TO THE CITY DOCKS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 7PM. The reason for the change is that there is a major fireworks display taking place at Sandy Point State Park, where 20k - 30k people are expected. Authorities have notified us that we will be unable to use this location. The new location shortens our route by approximately 7 miles, and we will arrive at the new location at approximately 7pm.
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