Relentless Romero Blogs

When I first told people that I was going to run across America, I received an onslaught of people using the 4-letter word that I dislike the most . . . yes, you guessed it - - - they used the "C" word. CAN'T I absolutely abhor that word.  It should be eradicated from the English language . . . and' I'm not even sure it is a word.  I discussed the word in the movie Running Vision . . . there, I explained that when people say "can't", "they have given up before they have even tried." Well, I believe I CAN, and YOU CAN too. Regarding VISIONRUNUSA, I want to give an example of some of the "can't" statements I heard: - You can't just stop life for 2 months - You can't leave your kids, you'll lose your parenting time - You can't afford the run - You can't run 50 miles a day - You can't run on highways - You can't do it - You can't do this without a major sponsor - ...

There has been so much written on running technique, stride and gait.  Some folks will tell you their way is the only way.  Some will suggest that there are different techniques for different body types.  I am not here to suggest a specific form is correct over another form.  In fact, I have seen many different types of running forms that are successful.  Take for example, the amazing Emil Zatopek ("The Czech Locomotive") who won 3 gold medals in the 1952 Olympics.  when he ran he looked like he was is severe pain, with arms and legs flailing wildly.  According to Chi running, Evolution running, or any other popular running form philosophy, Zatopek's form was atrocious; however, it obviously worked for this amazing runner earning him gold in the 5,000 meter, 10,000 meter and the marathon (his first ever marathon!). EFFICIENCY In order to run long distances, you want your movement to be efficient - meaning use as little energy as possible for ea...

Google earth map of VISIONRUNUSA Elevation profile for VISIONRUNUSA Once I knew I was going to run across America, I had to figure out a route to take.  I had hoped that it would be as easy as typing in a Google search, and I would be able to pull up a route.  I was wrong.  This was one of the hardest parts of the planning process.  It was meticulous, and very detail oriented - a couple things I do not enjoy for long durations of time. First, I had to determine my start and stop points.  I decided to do the run in the Spring time.  The rationale for that was, my kids went with their Mom for Spring Break in 2016 (I am divorced and we switch who gets the kids for Spring Break on an annual basis).  I knew I would be away from my kids for at least 10 days due to Spring Break, so I decided this would be "the best" way to deal with a separation from my kids for 2 months.  I would have been away from them for 10 days already, so we would o...

April 2008, Country Music Marathon - beginning the longer distances I was never a natural runner or long distance runner.  When I was in my teens, I witnessed my step-uncle, Ted Epstein, running a self-supported 6-day run on a 1/8th mile indoor track.  That spurred me to want to run a marathon in my early 20s.  I just ran for training.  I had no idea what I was doing.  I just knew 26 miles was a long way, and I needed to run a lot if I was going to be able to run that distance.  In 1993, I completed my first marathon in 3:14 and change.  Then, I hung up my running shoes for 14 years. In those 14 years, I had gotten married, had children, went to grad school and was busy trying to climb the corporate ladder.  In 2006, I found myself living in Puerto Rico on a corporate assignment while working with GE.  I was growing in my career, adding valuable skills to my resume, entertaining clients, eating tasty cuisine which was mostly fried,...

How do you train for a transcontinental run?  That's what I typed into Google when I first realized I was going to run across America.  I was surprised to find an article by Outside Magazine on point; although when I read it I realized that there was no training plan laid out. Next, I contact people who had run across America before including Marshall Ulrich, Perry Newburn and Rae Ainslee.  I also touched base with Adam Kimble and Lisa Smith-Batchen, people who would be attempting to run across America in 2016.  In all these conversations, I learned that everybody had different training techniques and strategies.  However, there was one commonality - everybody ran A LOT to prepare for the run. I realized I needed to make my own training plan, and it needed 3 key elements: 1) I needed to become a "road runner"; 2) I needed to run everyday and increase my mileage; and 3) I needed to train my mind to not quit despite pain and hopelessness.  On top of the...

I've always dreamt of doing something big and magnificent that would change the world like curing cancer, or ending world hunger.  As I grew up and did many things for a living, I realized that my occupations would all fall short of that huge dream.  I began my working career as an attorney, defending insurance companies when their corporate clients were sued for some accident that happened.  Most of the time, I was trying to mitigate the financial loss of an insurance company - I didn't see that as having a big impact on the world.  Next, I embarked on a corporate career with GE and a couple other companies.  I grew businesses, helped them become more profitable, and created jobs.  I found more meaning in leading organizations and developing people than I had in my legal career; however, it still fell short of the mark of the grandiose dream I had as a child to "CHANGE THE WORLD". Then, my life seemed to "fall apart."  I found myself unemployed...