We set out to run the length of the Mississippi River for youth mental health — from the headwaters at Lake Itasca, Minnesota all the way downriver to the Gulf of Mexico at Venice, Louisiana. Very stoked to report that, despite some early setbacks, we made it happen!
We began 7:37am on August 20th at the headwater marker with a foot in the source then began running the Great River Road, a national scenic byway that closely follows the river through all ten states — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana. We finished the run 70 miles past New Orleans where the river meets the Gulf at 7:40pm on October 30th.
I initially targeted a 40 mile/day pace but ankle tendinitis flared up on Day 8 (banked roads along the river are brutal on underacclimated ankles, knees, and hips). Ended up spending the next week slowly mending north of Minneapolis… got onto a regiment of epsom soaks, acupuncture, deep tissue massage, The Momentous Three (great for sleep and recovery), and healing balm from Azure at the Suquamish Tribe… with ankle tape and brace, slowly worked my way up to a 30 mile/day pace which we held thru the Gulf.
In addition to my (very stylish) Seattle Mariners bucket hat, I carried an Osprey 15L Duro ruck with FROPRO snack bars + Clif Bars + salty snacks + Garmin InReach Mini and resupplied every five miles with Crew Chief Roc Powell who drove “Henry” — F-150 support truck and our lifeline on the expedition. To be clear, this journey wouldn’t have been possible without Roc Powell. He’s a seasoned ultra runner and his experience was vital at every stage. He planned the route and guided navigation, he oversaw logistics and supplies, delivered several needed pep talks, and attended to a thousand details (including keeping me vertical and Henry rolling). Without Roc, ankle tendinitis would have ended the expedition in Minneapolis — but with Roc, we were able to cruise all the way to the Gulf.
Cheers to Athletic Brewing Company for providing delicious non-alcoholic brews to celebrate each day on the road, including an awesome New Orleans finish line party.
This was a very special journey. Two highlights amongst many = Day 64 running to my Grandma Ruby’s house in Natchez, Mississippi (Mile 1,752) where I began my distance running journey as a little guy with way too much energy and often wondered where all the water in the river came from. Then, on morning of Day 72, learned that my partner Andi and I are expecting a baby girl in 2026! Very joyful way to close out one journey as we begin preparing for the next.
I’m thankful to Brooks for powering the expedition. I wore Ghost 17s, Hyperion Max 3s, and Glycerin 22s which held up great over Great River Road pavement and the occasional gravel farm road alongside the river.
Final stats from Mississippi River source to sea: 2,000.48 miles and 49,054ft of vert (despite net 1,475ft elevation loss) over 72 days.
Considering a run down the Mississippi River? I highly recommend it — truly unforgettable tour of America’s heartland where you’ll meet incredibly kind folks and enjoy some amazing landscapes, wildlife, and historic sites that have shaped our nation. Truly the best of USA. Please reach out if you have any questions or if I can be a resource in your planning -@GregRunsFar
Godspeed!