By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The United States of America, of course, was established in 1776. Two hundred years later, a group of hikers known as HikaNation traveled the country on foot. In 1995, their route was officially designated as the America Discovery Trail (ADT). In celebration of America’s 250th birthday this year, the ADT is being highlighted once again. Mike Leland, coordinator for the America 250 Relay, worked with a dozen area participants Saturday as special batons made their way across Pawnee and Barton counties.
“It runs from Point Reyes National Seashore in California, which is north of San Francisco, all the way to Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware, both obviously on the beach. It runs through 15 different states because, at Denver, it splits into a north and south. They rejoin again in Cincinnati for the final push east.”
Saturday’s 60-mile stretch began at Doerr Vernon Park in Larned, eventually making its way down Main Street in Great Bend, through Cheyenne Bottoms, and finishing at the Historic Wolf Hotel in Ellinwood. Great Bend’s Chris Saenz and Erick Alcala carried the relay for approximately seven miles. Alcala, who just started running in January, is training for marathons in Kansas City and Hawaii. His wife, Desteny, read about the relay on Great Bend Post and suggested he get involved.
“When I found out about it, I was amazed people actually did this kind of thing,” Alcala said. “I looked at Mike’s social media account, and it was actually amazing to see that. Being able to be part of this, and being able to connect with nature and being out here and trying something different like running in the road, it was awesome.”
Saenz also found out about the relay via Great Bend Post. A former walker who transitioned to running some 10 years ago, he was the first to sign up for the Great Bend leg.
"I thought (participating in the relay) would be cool," he said. "I like to do local 5Ks and was surprised more people didn't participate in this."
As part of the America 250 celebration nationwide, the relay began near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on July 4. Each baton is adorned with words and phrases from the Declaration of Independence, and a copy of the founding document is rolled up inside each baton.
Leland’s association with the trail has varied. For America 250, he began walking the trail from Delaware to California, traipsing some 1,400 miles before bowing out in Iowa with plantar fasciitis in May. He joined the relay west of Denver and will assist with coordination until it reaches Cincinnati.
“I saw a lot of the county that most people don’t see unless they live there,” he said. “Even the people who live there don’t see it. I met some wonderful people along the way who wanted to help me and wanted to know what I was doing. I’m having the same experience now. The relay people are just amazing people.”
But it’s not necessarily easy work. Leland is working in unfamiliar areas with people he has never met. The ADT was inaugurated in 1995, largely following the Santa Fe Trail as it passes through Kansas. For safety purposes, the America 250 Relay takes participants away from well-traveled highways. Though the map was set long ago, participants may not get exact details about their leg until a couple of days before they take a turn.
“It’s difficult to plan more than a day or two out,” Leland said. “We have a couple of big days coming up on Monday and Tuesday – like 50 participants on Monday, and 30-plus participants on Tuesday. Typically, that’s not the case. Today, it was 12, and yesterday it was one.
“It’s tough to plan ahead because it’s really like herding cats. We send out a 30-day reminder and a 1-week reminder, and a 1-day reminder, but I don’t know if everybody gets them or opens them. We try to be proactive about it, but it’s difficult just because of the fluid nature of the relay.”
For a second time, Leland will be cutting a trip on the ADT short. A new coordinator will pick up the action once the relay reaches Cincinnati. Then the trail continues toward its finale at the Atlantic Ocean on Thanksgiving Day.
“I think I’ll feel bad on Thanksgiving when I wake up,” said Leland. “All these HikaNation veterans from the early 80s have booked the entire campground at Camp Henlopen, and they’re going to be there for the finish. It’s going to a big deal. People are going to be jumping into the water because they jumped into the water to start, they might as well jump in the water to finish.”