If the news that Tom Knoll, a native of Oahu, Hawaii, is running across the country isn’t enough to make jaws drop, the fact that he is 79 years old should do the trick.
The retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran set out May 28 from Jackson Square, New Orleans, on a 1,650-mile trek across the country. His endeavor will end Thursday as he reaches his destination — International Falls and the Canadian border.
“I’m very excited,” Knoll told The Journal Friday of almost completing his self-inflicted challenge.
Running at a pace of about 38 miles a day, Knoll has been on the road for 44 days and says he is about one week ahead of schedule for when he originally predicted he would finish. In the same breath, however, he pointed out he is not running against a clock. He said he paces himself and doesn’t push too hard.
“I do what I can and set an even pace,” he said. “One day I did run 51 miles, though.”
This isn’t the marathon runner’s first time facing extreme distances on foot. Knoll is one of 12 runners who finished the 1978 Ironman Hawaii, an intense triathlon event held in Oahu. He has also competed in numerous 100k and 100-mile races and other ultra marathons.
“I’ve run from San Diego to Washington D.C. and from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles, but this time I wanted to run north to south,” Knoll said of the motive for his current journey.
While looking at a map, Knoll chose New Orleans as his starting point and opted to travel up the Mississippi River. He explained that he has heard of the Icebox of the Nation, but has never visited.
“I’ve been to a lot of places,” he said. “But never International Falls.”
And although he enjoys the exercise, Knoll isn’t running just for fun. Along the way, he set a goal to raise $1 million for four charities — the Sunshine Foundation, which aims to grant the wishes of seriously ill, handicapped, and abused children; the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life; the Jimmy V Foundation, which is dedicated to saving lives by helping find a cure for cancer; and the Rotary Club of Honolulu, which works to eliminate polio.
“Helping people is so rewarding,” he said of the four causes he supports. “I wanted to set my goals at $1 million because I knew I could do it. I’m goal oriented.”
As Knoll runs across the Midwest, he noted last week’s extreme heat that blanketed the region.
“Ah, that’s nothing,” he said with a laugh. “In the military, I spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now that is heat. I just ran in 106-degree heat; it wasn’t bad. I actually liked it.”
Most of Knoll’s daily runs begin as early as 2:30 a.m. He said that by starting that early, most of his mileage for the day is completed by noon.
As he wraps up what he says is his last run across the country, Knoll noted he will continue to run while back home in Hawaii.
“The body is a machine,” he said. “It is important to get out and use it. It helps take care of yourself. It helps keep you young.”
To keep himself going, Knoll said along with eight others, he does weekly runs in Oahu.
“We wear ‘Over the Hill Gang’ T-shirts,” he chuckled. “It is a unique group, the average age of us is 84.2.One guy is in his 90s.”
Knoll looks forward to seeing International Falls and welcomes people to Smokey Bear Park at noon on Thursday to meet him, run with him, and possibly purchase his book, “Why Not A Million?” The book is his diary of the triumphs and tribulations of cross- country running.
“People need to know I appreciate the support in helping me achieve my goal,” Knoll said. “I don’t plan to stop with this run, I’ve got plenty left on my plate. I never have a dull day.”
To learn more about the organizations Knoll supports, visit, www.sunshinefoundation.org; www.woundedwarriorproject.org; www.jimmyv.org; and www.honolulurotary.com.
