The logo for P.A.C.E. Trek 2008.
Paul and "BOB" (his support stroller) ready to begin the 620-mile solo run across Montana on April 28, 2008. This picture was taken at the Montana/North Dakota border.
Day one... lots of open land and a few oil wells.
A family home in far eastern Montana.
BOB and a Montana oil well.
This sign was telling the truth! The winds certainly did blow in eastern Montana!
An old farm in eastern Montana.
The first town I arrived at... Baker, Montana.
The original jail in Baker, Montana.
"No Gas" usually means no towns... no people... nothing at all!
Just doing what I do while pushing "BOB".
A little roadside humor.
Go west young man!
There wasn't much in Plevna, Montana.
An old roadside market near Plevna, Montana.
I primarily ran Highway 12 east to west across Montana.
Ahhh... Ice always feels good after a 30+ mile day on the road.
Doing an assembly in Plevna, Montana.
These eastern Montana cows were rather interested in the runner with the bright yellow jogging stroller.
I ran right by the town of Joe, Montana.
This is the type of terrain I would see for many days in eastern Montana.
A lone windmill on the plains of eastern Montana.
Even though the run began in April, the temperatures were unseasonably warm.
Running through the 90+ degree heat of eastern Montana.
One of the few "sights" along the road for the first few days. There really wasn't much to see.
The remnants of two old cars embedded in an eastern Montana field.
Interesting geology in eastern Montana.
Here comes the first rainstorm!
The temperature dropped to 45 degrees and the rain blew from the north.
In one day the temperature dropped from 92 degrees to 29 degrees. Here I am in a sleet/snow storm in eastern Montana.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
"BOB" slowly becoming a rolling snowman.
A spring P.A.C.E. Trek?
The temperature dropped to 27 degrees and the winds howled around me. It was bone chilling for running 26 miles.
Regardless of the weather, P.A.C.E. Trek continues!
A spring run turned into a winter run.
You know it's serious weather when the snowplows come out!
Freezing up while pushing toward Miles City, Montana.
Battling the elements in eastern Montana.
Leaving Miles City with the temperatures warming up and the snow melting.
From a freezing snowstorm one day, to sunny skies and melted snow the next! P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 was a run of extreme weather.
Miles City, Montana.
My eyes fixed on the western horizon.
A common sight during the run across Montana.
Karen Huckins of Miles City, Montana drops me off at the same mile marker she picked me up at the day before. She and her husband provided lodging for my time in Miles City during both the Montana run as well as my run across America.
Rounds of hay trying to dry out in the spring weather.
The snow was melting quickly!
Working my way up a hill.
Taking a break to "ice" a sore foot along the edge of the road. That was one good use of the snow!
Heading to Forsyth, Montana.
An interesting fence post.
"BOB" and Paul
GREEN! I actually see green! Spring must be coming!
No tub... no bucket... no ice... so, using a waste basket filled with cold water at the end of a 25 mile day.
Sunrise on the Yellowstone River outside of Forsyth, Montana.
A common sight along the roadways of eastern Montana.
Feeling good at the 200-mile mark.
My view on a 42-mile day from Forsyth to Ingomar, Montana.
Yep... running across Montana! The scar on my right forearm is from a surgery I had just 4 weeks before to remove an aneurysm.
At the end of a 42-mile run from Forsyth to Ingomar, Montana. Relief!!
At the "Bunk & Biscuit" overnight lodging in Ingomar, Montana.
A nice room for the night in Ingomar, Montana - especially when there is absolutely nothing for 100 miles in any direction!
Words can't describe how good this feels after a 42-mile run with 80-pound "BOB" the stroller.
A sign at the "Bunk & Biscuit" in Ingomar, Montana.
The "Bunk & Biscuit" in Ingomar, Montana. I also stayed here during my 2006 run across America.
Getting ready to leave Ingomar, Montana.
An old abandoned house on my way to Melstone, Montana.
The temperatures are starting to warm up.
On the road to Melstone, Montana.
It takes an uncommon determination to run through scenes like this day after day... alone.
Another abandoned structure in eastern Montana.
At least I was faster than this turtle!
After a few days of getting whipped by headwinds.
Typical results of running over 30 miles per day.
Yep... I ate the entire pizza myself!
The constant headwinds from running east to west dried out my lips badly.
A little fun in Roundup, Montana.
I didn't spit!
Steve Kosnar and his daughter Eileen drove up to Highway 12 from Billings to encourage me on the road.
Some students and teachers from Ryegate School drove out on a bus to encourage me during a 40-mile day.
Made it to Ryegate, Montana after a 40-mile day of constant headwinds.
An old Milwaukee Train and BOB. Yep... BOB looks small next to the iron beast.
Some of Montana's beauty.
An old tractor becomes part of the scenery after what was likely many years of use.
Getting closer to the mountains!
I got a chuckle out of this sign.
A crazy runner at the Crazy Mountains.
No shoulder on the road, but no traffic either!
Energized by seeing the mountains!
I took a picture of this silly roadside face during my 2006 run across America... and it was still there!
Cute!
Starting a new day on the road.
Enjoying the early morning sun and no winds!
Have you visited www.pacetrek.com?
Having a little fun in the sun on some snow near the edge of the road.
Here's comes the snow... again!
Strong winds... blowing snow... 28 degrees... not how I imagined entering the Helena National Forest.
Had to break out the umbrella hat. My son, Kyler, gave it to me for my 2006 run across America.
I was on a 42-mile day from White Sulphur Springs to Townsend, Montana and met Henry Wong who was cycling from Boston to Seattle.
Two guys from Canada who bought me dinner the night before and came riding up on their motorcycles as I was in the Belt Mountain Range - having brought some hot tea and protein bars.
At Montana's capital... Helena!
The capital building in Helena, Montana.
Heading up the Continental Divide outside of Helena, Montana.
The highest point on the run across Montana.
Absolutely beautiful countryside to run through.
No winds... warm sun... shorts on... the 20-day run across Montana dished me out all sorts of conditions.
Just hanging out.
Nevada Lake.
Kicking up my heels! 505 miles done, 115 to go.
Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the view.
Wrapping up my running on Highway 200.
The Blackfoot River in Montana. Wish I had my fishing pole.
Entering the mountains of western Montana.
Getting closer to home.
I laughed when I read the bottom of the sign: "Dogs: Over 100"
Amazing Bighorn Sheep very near the roadway.
About 10 miles from my hometown of Missoula.
A nice welcome posted on the front of Russell Elementary, where my wife teaches P.E..
In Missoula, Montana with only 41 miles until the finish.
It was 90 degrees when I arrived in Missoula, and my sons couldn't resist getting a drink from "BOB".
Russell Elementary, Missoula, Montana - where all of this "P.A.C.E." stuff began in September 2005.
A very nice sign on the front of my home that my daughter, Ashlin, created for me.
Me and my daughter, Ashlin.
Leaving Russell Elementary for a 34-mile run to Lolo Hot Springs.
Gotta Run!
An encouraging visit from a little runner and his mom.
At Lolo Hot Springs, Montana. Only 7 miles to go!
I love living and running in western Montana!
Feeling strong as I run the final 7 miles up Lolo Pass to the finish line at the Idaho/Montana border.
My sons, Kyler and Brian, walk with me for a ways up Lolo Pass.
My son, Kyler, encourages me in the final few miles.
Pushing the final yards for the finish line.
Literally the final few yards to cross the Idaho/Montana border.
Success! 620 miles in 20 days.
Smiling in relief after logging 31 miles per day for 20 days.
Being interviewed by Ian Marquand of KPAX Channel 8 News.
Doing a post-run interview.
The finish line that I worked so hard to get to.
I've lived in Montana since January 1984 and consider "Big Sky Country" my home.
Some of the snow that remained at the top of Lolo Pass on May 19, 2008.
Gotta have some M&Ms after a run like that!
My family and I (& "BOB") following the run across Montana.
I have now run across Montana both directions: west to east in 21 days, and east to west in 20 days.
