From February 23 – March 1, 2012, I (Steve Good) celebrated turning 30 by running 65 miles in eight states in eight days and spent $65 in transportation costs via Megabus. The journey took me from Des Moines to Washington, DC (with stops in Chicago, Indy, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, NYC and Baltimore), and I was able to raise $1,500 for the Iron Phi program that benefits The ALS Association and the Phi Delta Theta Foundation.

Because my initial trip was such a blast, I decided that the run should become an annual adventure.

In 2013, I ran 61 miles in eight cities in eight days, including Fort Dodge (IA), Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Oxford (MS), Birmingham, Atlanta and Athens (GA), and raised $2,100+ for Iron Phi.

In 2014, I ran 55 miles in seven cities in seven days, including Austin (TX), San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola and Baton Rouge, and raised $3,600+ for Iron Phi.

In 2015, my pal Brad Carlson and I ran 52 miles in seven cities in seven days, including Savannah, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Asheville and Knoxville and raised $3,712 for Iron Phi.

In 2016, I drove the entire Mississippi River with my dad and ran a mile in 50 different cities along the way and raised $3,500 for Iron Phi.

In 2017, my friend Ross Roti joined me, and we ran 70 miles in seven cities in seven days, including Philadephia, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Providence, Cape Cod, Boston, and Portland and raised $3,500 for Iron Phi.

In 2018, my friend Travis Griffith joined me and we ran Tucson, Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Page, and Monument Valley and raised $3,400 for Iron Phi.

In 2019, my friend Bret Zimmerman will join me, and we plan to run, Salt Lake City, Park City, Capital Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park.

I’ve learned that exploring a city by foot, publicly thanking those who support you, and doing this while raising funds for a good cause is a liberating experience. The annual running trip is my thing, and it has greatly enhanced my life.