

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."
- Haruki Murakami

Hi. I´m Chris. And I´m going to cross America on foot, carrying all of my supplies in a Thule baby jogger. No, I´m not crazy. Actually if you met me, you´d probably be surprised at how calm I am.
I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I´m an English teacher and a Master's student in Spain. I served in the Peace Corps in Honduras and Colombia, and I like to run marathons. I love the marathon distance, especially the feeling during the last 10 kilometers of the race. I had never dug deeper than I did when I finished my first marathon, and as soon as I crossed the finish line, I decided to sign up for another one, and then another one, and then another one, and so on and so on.
Running is my way of meditating. It gives me a voice, and I´d like to tell a bigger story with it. Chris Cross The Nation is the title, and the rest will be written on the road. I haven´t lived in the United States since 2011, so this is kind of like a homecoming. Above all, it´s a rite of passage. I view this run as the transition from my 20s to the next chapter in my life, my 30s. This journey is about accepting the past, connecting with people across the country, finding out what´s best for people struggling with addiction, learning about the best options for long-term recovery, and looking forward to a better future.
I appreciate you taking the time to look at my website and read this message. I hope that you like my plan and maybe I´ll see you out there on the road.