ULTRARUNNER STOPS IN VALLEY
‘Stan is an example of what we all need to be doing, just get moving’
Stan Cottrell has run around the world and is making a cross-country run for charity.
Renowned ultra long-distance runner Stan Cottrell stopped in Phoenix Wednesday for his first event on his third cross-country run in 40 years, days after turning 78 years old.
Called The Amazing Friendship Run, Cottrell started in Los Angeles on Friday and plans to arrive in Washington, D.C. after running about 3,000 miles in 100 days to raise funds for charity and encourage friendship, unity and movement.
“If this 78-year old can get out here and run 30 miles a day, surely you can get up,” he told The Arizona Republic. “We’re not designed to sit in place and sit still.”
Cottrell made his first stop at Encanto Park at about 4 p.m. after running close to 30 miles on Wednesday and was met by city officials, the Cesar Chavez Drumline, first responders and cheerleaders waving pompoms.
“This reception, the city of Phoenix, the fire department, police department ... there’s so many people that I’ve met today, my heart just is overfilled with gratitude,” Cottrell said to everyone gathered at the park.
Cottrell ran from New York to San Francisco in 48 days in 1980
Newspapers chronicled when Cottrell ran across the United States, from New York to San Francisco, in 48 days in 1980 and ran across the country for a second time in 1985.
He also ran across Europe in 80 days, ran more than 2,100 miles in 53 days across China and ran through 40 countries, accumulating more than 266,000 miles of running over 63 years.
Cottrell, founder of the Friendship Sports Association nonprofit, said he is also an author, speaker, adventurer and cross-cultural specialist who lives in Georgia. After a year of trying to start his third cross-country run but canceling it due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cottrell said his run finally came together in May.
“Stan is a feel good story for all of us, in our city and throughout out country,” said Daniel Valenzuela, a former Phoenix councilman, at the event. “Many of us have lost friends and family members through the health crisis. Stan is an example of what we all need to be doing, just get moving.”
Cottrell said he wanted to complete this run to encourage others in the same way people encouraged him when he was young.
“When I was 12 years old, a man told me ... ‘You might just grow up to be a champion,’ and I said, ‘Wow.’ It ignited me,” Cottrell said. “Everybody has a spark of greatness in them just waiting to be ignited.”
At the event, Phoenix Councilwoman Laura Pastor also presented a proclamation from Mayor Kate Gallego for May 12, which will be known as Stan Cottrell Day, she said.
Next stop: Albuquerque
Cottrell said he hopes his run not only encourages people to move, but helps bring people together: “Maybe this run can help break down some of those walls that are dividing one human heart from another and get people talking again,” he said.
On Thursday, Cottrell planned to continue his run to New Mexico and his next stop in Albuquerque. He said he plans to run at least 30 miles every day.
Anyone is invited to donate to his run or join him in person or virtually as he makes a total of 15 stops across the nation. Donations made through the run
will go to charities such as Friendship Sports Association, Go Vets Foundation, Larger than Life, WLOC Clothes for Kids and more. Medical professionals planned to closely monitor Cottrell during his run by tracking him through new technology developed by some of the run’s sponsors, AmnioFit and 360 Clinic. Through sensors, medical professionals
will collect his vitals, steps and other personal data.
More information about Cottrell and his run can be found on the Friendship Sports Association website at https:// friendshipsportsassociation. org.