Introducing Mike Ehredt, a retired US Postal worker and ultra runner, from Driggs, Idaho! We (Vasque’s PR firm, also known as Darby Comm, a.k.a. Coral & Mandy) first met Mike via email, when he contacted us with a request for some Vasque shoes to help him on his Project America Run. After reading about Mike’s plans for 2010 (featured below), we immediately knew this was a man and a project to support.
Mandy and I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mike last weekend, in our hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. Speaking with him, hearing about the three years of planning and the magical moments that made this journey a reality had us in tears. This guy is the real deal and also a real hero.
Knowing Mike would have some long, hard runs on his 4500+ mile journey, we thought it would be a good idea to get him out for some solid hill training at the Asheville Shamrock 10k. And we’re glad he was on the course with us! Although we were following in his smoke (he is an ultra runner!), his presence out there keep us going. Surely, if one man can dedicate his life to memorializing our fallen soldiers, we can master the pain of Cherokee hill and be thankful we have the freedom to be out there experiencing it.
Thanks Mike and good luck! We know the Vasque Blur SL’s are going to take you the whole way!
Project America Run by Mike Ehredt
Project America Run was conceived to Honor and Remember our fallen service members from the Iraq war.
On May 1st, 2010 I will depart the Pacific Coast in Astoria, OR, and begin a 4551 mile journey across the Unites States, ending at the Atlantic Ocean, in Rockland, ME.
Family members and friends helped me label over 700 feet of yellow ribbon, which bears the Name, Rank, Age and Hometown of each Soldier and Marine who died in Iraq. We attached the ribbons to 4375 flags, to be placed each mile along the roadways until my task is complete, with the last flag placed at the water’s edge in Maine.
Along the way I will spend each night with a host family, 160 in all. These are people I have never met. Some of them are the families of a deceased service member. All of them have opened their homes to me and my mission.
I will also speak with 30 high school and college cross country/track teams. They will all run a few miles with me and carry a flag. I want our next generation of leaders to understand the sacrifices made by those who led before them.
