Hall Across The Country

08/15/2026

Still here, still moving forward

08/14/2026

Just under 33 miles on day 1. Mom was struggling just sitting in the car all day long, and I don’t wanna blow myself up early. We’re going to aim to hit 34 miles per day to make sure I put enough miles up to finish.

08/13/2026

Just some of the tools as I get ready to tackle 203 miles over the next six days. Mom and I drove the course today, most of it is extremely manageable. The middle 30 miles or so will be a rough day or two, but the rest is flat or rolling country hills. Work had me too busy to get any real training, and now on a GLP-1 my nutrition will have to be the most on point it’s ever been. Huge thank you to Anthony Diandrea and Vanessa Kline for their last minute insight and motivation. Tomorrow at 7am the quest for the first buckle….begins again.

Time to see what I am made of I guess!

08/01/2026

Self care…and hard things.

07/15/2026

HELP! Lol

07/09/2026

Well, back to check in with you guys! Been a few minutes again I apologize. Well I know I’d mentioned I was having some tests and scans done for various injuries/worries. Good news is there are no new hernias, so the pains I’d been having were not that serious (they’ve also since stopped so yay!) I had an mri done on my shoulder as well. Nothing major damaged in there aside from some inflammation and potential minor damage to the AC joint. I have a steroid injection next Thursday, and if it doesn’t help then we can figure out where to go, but structurally the shoulder is sound so things are as good as they can be there.

Today however is a day I haven’t been looking forward to. It’s the two year anniversary of the last time I spoke with dad. Two years ago I heard him say “Love you Bubba” one last time. An hour and a half later my dad was gone, spending time with my two aunts Karen and Dodi and uncle Steve. I found a song that I have included in the Hall Across the Country playlist on Spotify (feel free to search the list up and you can take a listen at some of the stuff that helps boost me up on those long, lonely road days). “Monsters” by James Blunt and Iam Tongi (I’ll put the link in the comments). Originally written by Blunt for his dad who’d been given a short time due to cancer (he is still alive however defying odds!) but the words always take me back to that last conversation. The song makes me cry EVERY time I hear it but I leave it on the list simply because it transports me back to that last few minutes with Pap.

Years of working on a concrete wall crew with him he’d always say “I don’t want you to end up like me” I always thought he meant being on a wall crew. But I think he meant being someone who is only defined by work. Dad was very proud of his work as a wall guy. And on a job site even when he was the oldest guy there, no one could keep up. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized I’ve become dad. I take all my value from the work I do in this warehouse I’ve been in for almost 13 years. I’m trying to work on that, but still looking for a therapist as well as that will be the easiest way to work through the “why” for me dedicating my life to only working.

I miss you pap. But I will see you again. But until then, it’s my turn, to chase the monsters away.

All that sad, sappy stuff outta the way, the next big challenge is on the horizon for me. In five weeks time, I’ll begin the Buckeye 200 Mile Endurance Run. A 203 mile out and back race from Lake Erie to Wellsville HS and back. It has a 6 day time limit where I’ll be forced to cover on average 34 miles per day, for 6 consecutive days to finish. This is probably the most insane race-type challenge I’ve ever taken on. But yall know me by now, I’m not one to shy away from stupid! 😬

One day at a time guys. Keep going. We believe in you, and we’ve got your back!

06/26/2026

06/24/2026

Resharing this after it popped up yesterday. To this day this is still one of the most humbling, honoring experiences I’ve had doing all this walking. To have an official day named after us back then was so great.

I am relaxing in Springfield, and the City Manager, Bryan Heck gave me a proclamation. Today is officially “Hall Across The Country” Day in Springfield.

I’m legitimately at a loss for words.

06/21/2026

Earlier this week I lost it. No one saw. But I was in my room bawling my eyes out thinking of dad. This is the second Father’s Day without him. The second Father’s Day with him gone.

I still think of our last conversation. I was granted a lucky opportunity to be able to say “I love you” and hear it back from him. I thought we’d have more time, but, as usual, life has its own plans.

I miss him.

Yesterday accompanied by my former boss, and another gentleman I worked with, Michael Ford (and his son) I took part in the Greenon Quarterback Club annual golf outing to support my alma mater’s football team. Golf was dad and I’s “thing”. Since “Hall Across the Country” was conceived, I have sponsored a hole during the outing. (And as always I took my nearly annual photo at our sign on the course).

It was a beautiful day with some good company and few shots that resembled golf. I still use the golf bag dad gave me years ago, along with an amalgamation of clubs from him and my late grandfather. I will use them till they break. It’s one of a few small tangible connections to my past left.

If your dad is around, call him. Don’t text, don’t post. Visit if you can, but please call. The moments are never enough. There will never be enough so take advantage of the ones you have.