UMVA has learned that a remarkable relay run, dubbed Relay for America, is currently underway, with over 250 participants carrying the American flag across the country in a bid to reach Washington, D.C., on the Fourth of July.
The runners are traversing an astonishing 3,000 miles, averaging 162 miles per day, and maintaining a grueling pace of about 9 minutes per mile, 24/7, for 20 consecutive days. Each mile of the journey is dedicated to a specific military veteran, adding a poignant layer to the endeavor.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the relay's co-founders, Joe Nail and Wyatt Moss, set out to unite Americans through this extraordinary feat. Their mission, as Nail explained, is to showcase the positive aspects of America, countering the prevailing narrative of what's wrong with the country.
Nail, a member of the U.S. Army National Guard and recent Stanford University graduate, shared that the idea was born out of a desire to do something special for America's 250th birthday. The relay began on June 14, with a crew of 15 people in San Francisco, and has since drawn over 1,000 applicants for the 250 available slots.
The route has taken the runners through breathtaking landscapes, including Yosemite National Park and the Nevada Desert, also known as "The Loneliest Road in America." As of Sunday, they were making their way through Colorado, with stops planned in several states before reaching the nation's capital.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the relay's success relies heavily on the kindness and generosity of people along the way. Runners are experiencing the warmth of local hospitality, with strangers offering support, food, and even joining in on the run.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the final leg of the journey will begin at 10 a.m. on July 4, as the runners cross into the District and approach the U.S. Capitol. A rally is planned at a track in Arlington, Virginia, allowing some participants to run with the flag one last time.
The relay's arrival in Washington, D.C., is expected to coincide with the stroke of midnight on the Fourth of July, marking a poignant conclusion to this 3,000-mile journey.
