The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Eat, pray, run
New Jersey native running cross-country through power of prayer

By Kevin Spradlin
PhDispatch.com
MOUNT SAVAGE, April 12 -- At this point, Jeff Grabosky is nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.

For ordinary people, that might be an accomplishment in and of itself. For the New Jersey native, though, it’s simply a minor victory along the way toward a much bigger goal. Grabosky, 28, is slightly more than 2,500 miles into a circuitous cross-country run that started in January in Oceanside, Calif., and will end sometime in May in Smith Point County Park, New York, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

In about two weeks, Grabosky will hit the Great Allegheny Passage near Pittsburgh and run through the Big Savage Tunnel. He’ll pass through Frostburg and Cumberland before picking up the C&O Canal towpath to continue his eastward journey. Planned overnight stays include the Frostburg area, Paw Paw, W.Va., Hancock and Shepherdstown, W.Va., en route to family in Leesburg, Va., before turning north.

“I’m moving! I should be running through Frostburg on April 26,” Grabosky said by phone while taking a rest day in Indiana, with eyes set on the Ohio border. He was originally expecting to cross into Maryland on May 6. “I’m doing more like 40 miles a day. I did 310 miles last week (but) I don’t plan on doing that too much more ‘cause it really hurt.”

“I should be in Ohio by Friday,” he said. “It’s not a terribly wide state.”

Five years ago, Grabosky experienced life-changing events. First, his mother - with whom he was very close - died of cancer. About a week later, his college sweetheart decided she didn’t want to be married anymore. Grabosky moved across the country to Washington, D.C., found a part-time job and went for a six-mile run - his first in many years.

He almost didn’t make it. But the story would have ended there if he hadn’t. Since then, Grabosky has inspired many by finishing first marathoners, then ultramathons including several 100-milers.

“I love the sport,” Grabosky said. “After that, I was looking for, ‘what’s next?’”

He’d always dreamed about running across the country. Suddenly, the dream took a more clear shape. Then it became a plan.

He had a goal. He had a plan. Yet, Grabosky said the plan wasn’t a sure thing until he found the proper motivation. Grabosky thought back to his mother, who prayed while running.

“I needed a reason to get up each morning” during the trip, he said. Now, he prays while on the run - for himself at times; mostly for others who send requests his way.

The year 2006 was “a perfect storm,” he said. “My mom passed away. A week later, my wife walked out. I lived in a car for a couple of months. Even though it was kind of a depressing situation, I really didn’t let myself get down. I really believed God had a plan for all this, even though it was difficult to me. So I prayed to be on the path that He wants me to be on. It was amazing to just how I got led to where I was.”

Each day begins about the same for Grabosky. He wakes before or just at first light, packs his BOB Ironman Stroller and prepares to head out.

Starting times each day vary a bit, but “I do like to start as soon after sunrise as I can. I normally don’t wait too long unless there’s a rain storm.”

He averages about nine minutes per mile on good days and closer to 11 minutes a mile on bad days - whether sore, or running through inclement weather.

Grabosky’s journey is a self-supported one but he enjoys having company along the way. If there is someone living nearby the towns listed above through which he passes, Grabosky appreciates being offered a couch to sleep on and a chance to go to the store and stock up on supplies. Otherwise, it’s just him and his tent along the route.

Grabosky can be followed through GPS technology on his website, www.jeffrunsamerica.com. He also can be emailed with words of encouragement or prayer requests at [email protected].