A Solo Run to Visit 21 Catholic Schools
Paul Staso's Background
Paul Staso's Background
Paul Staso's Background
I am the Director of Faith Formation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Peru, Indiana -- a parish within the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. A former 5th grade teacher and high school track and cross country coach, I have been a Christian since age 7 and a runner since age 10. In 1984, at the age of 19, I began to explore my endu
I am the Director of Faith Formation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Peru, Indiana -- a parish within the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. A former 5th grade teacher and high school track and cross country coach, I have been a Christian since age 7 and a runner since age 10. In 1984, at the age of 19, I began to explore my endurance limits and never looked back. Over the past 50 years I've logged over 60,000 miles in running shoes -- more than two laps of planet earth. I've completed the following solo and self-supported runs across states and countries:
• 3,260 miles across the United States (108 days at age 41 from Oregon to Delaware);
• 620 miles across Montana (20 days at age 43 from North Dakota to Idaho);
• 500 miles through Alaska (18 days at age 44 across the state I grew up in);
• 500 miles across Germany (21 days at age 45 by invitation of the U.S. Department of Defense); and
• in 2011, at age 46, I became the first person to run 506 miles alone across the Mojave Desert (from the Grand Canyon to Badwater Basin, Death Valley). Required 17 days.
During such running adventures I have averaged 30 miles per day while pushing all of my required gear, food and water in a support stroller nicknamed "B.O.B." (Beast of Burden), which weighs 65 pounds when fully loaded. It is a 2006 Ironman Sport Utility Stroller from the BOB Gear company and I use the same stroller for all of my runs across states and countries. You can find photos of my running adventures near the bottom of this page. I was a Torchbearer for the 2002 Olympic Games; was inducted as the first European PTA Youth Ambassador; and, am the recipient of the Health Hero Award from the Mayo Clinic for my efforts in promoting youth health and fitness globally. After growing up in Alaska, I lived in western Montana for 32 years and have been an Indiana Hoosier since 2015. I hold Bachelor of Arts degrees in Religion and Journalism and have done graduate studies in Catholic Theology from the Augustine Institute. I'm blessed to be the father of four adults; a step-father to three adults and a high school teen; a grandfather of four; and, married to my lovely bride, Kelley. It is my prayer that "The Cross Run" through the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana will encourage and inspire people while bringing honor to the Lord, who has blessed me with the ability to endure.
The Sept. 2025 Journey
Paul Staso's Background
Paul Staso's Background
This will be a 300-mile solo run through the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana to visit 21 Catholic schools and offer a presentation to students and teachers that I pray will encourage and uplift them in their faith. I've run thousands of miles completely alone across states and countries (without a support crew or pilot vehicle) using a jo
This will be a 300-mile solo run through the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana to visit 21 Catholic schools and offer a presentation to students and teachers that I pray will encourage and uplift them in their faith. I've run thousands of miles completely alone across states and countries (without a support crew or pilot vehicle) using a jogging stroller that carries my gear, food and water. At age 60, I'll do the same for this Indiana run -- literally running from one school to another, as I've done many times before (such as across Germany). You can find photos of my running adventures near the bottom of this page.
When the Apostle Paul became a follower of Christ, one of the results was that he became a outcast among his own people. He was beaten, tortured, and persecuted. Eventually, Paul gave his life for the cause of Christ. That was what taking up his cross looked like, and he rejoiced in it. But what does the idea of “taking up your cross” mean for us today? For most of us, the kind of cost Paul paid for following Christ isn’t anything we can conceive of.
Christ said: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). So, how can we apply his words? What does it mean to take up our cross with joy in the present day? As I run to and visit each of the Catholic schools within the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, I'll be offering a message about this -- as well as sharing stories from my own faith life and running adventures. Ultimately, what “taking up your cross” meant for Christ and many of his followers was what Paul describes in Acts 20:24: making God's goal their goal, despite the cost. Jesus and his early disciples didn't consider their own lives more important than testifying to the gospel.
Finally, during "The Cross Run" I'll be accepting prayer intentions at pray@thecrossrun.com, which I'll pray as I run the 300 miles throughout the diocese.
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The 21 Catholic Schools
Paul Staso's Background
The 21 Catholic Schools
The planned route for "The Cross Run" is shown below and a detailed map showing specific roads will be made available in the future. The 21 Catholic schools include:
-- 09/02/25: St Augustine School in Rensselaer, IN (starting line) to Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School in Fowler, IN (31 miles)
-- 09/03/25: Sacred Heart Catholic Elemen
The planned route for "The Cross Run" is shown below and a detailed map showing specific roads will be made available in the future. The 21 Catholic schools include:
-- 09/02/25: St Augustine School in Rensselaer, IN (starting line) to Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School in Fowler, IN (31 miles)
-- 09/03/25: Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School in Fowler, IN to St. Lawrence Elementary School in Lafayette, IN (30 miles)
-- 09/04-05/25: From St. Lawrence Elementary School in Lafayette, Indiana, will run a route to the following locations, which are all on a 3-mile route from St. Lawrence:
- St. Francis Early Learning Academy
- St. Boniface School
- St. Mary Cathedral School
- (Visit at the Office of Catholic Schools)
- Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School
-- 09/06-07/25: Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School in Lafayette, IN to St Patrick Catholic Church in Kokomo, IN (46 miles)
-- 09/08/25: St Patrick Catholic Church in Kokomo, IN to Sts. Joan of Arc & Patrick School in Kokomo, IN (6 miles)
-- 09/09/25: Sts. Joan of Arc & Patrick School in Kokomo, IN to St John the Baptist Preschool in Tipton, IN (20 miles)
-- 09/10/25: St John the Baptist Preschool in Tipton, IN to Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Noblesville, IN (18 miles)
-- 09/11/25: Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Noblesville, IN to St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church & School in Westfield, IN (12 miles)
-- 09/11/25: St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church & School in Westfield, IN to Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic School in Carmel, IN (4 miles)
-- 09/12/25: Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic School in Carmel, IN to Guerin Catholic High School in Carmel, IN (4 miles)
-- 09/12/25: Guerin Catholic High School in Carmel, IN to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Preschool in Carmel, IN (5 miles)
-- 09/12/25: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Preschool in Carmel, IN to St. Louis de Montfort Catholic School in Fishers, IN (5 miles)
-- 09/13/25: St. Louis de Montfort Catholic School in Fishers, IN to Holy Cross School North in Anderson, IN (27 miles)
-- 09/14/25: Day off the road. Attending Mass in Anderson, IN.
-- 09/15/25: Holy Cross School North in Anderson, IN to Holy Cross School South in Anderson, IN (2 miles)
-- 09/15/25: Holy Cross School South in Anderson, IN to St. Michael Catholic School in Muncie, IN (21 miles)
-- 09/16/25: St. Michael Catholic School in Muncie, IN to St Mary School in Alexandria, IN (18 miles)
-- 09/17/25: St Mary School in Alexandria, IN to St Paul Elementary School in Marion, IN (23 miles)
-- 09/18/25: St Paul Elementary School in Marion, IN to St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Peru, IN -- finish line (29 miles)
St. Charles in Peru, IN
Paul Staso's Background
The 21 Catholic Schools
Since 2015, I have attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Peru, Indiana. I am currently the Director of Faith Formation for the parish and oversee catechists (teachers) in the religious education program for pre-K through 12 grade; Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA); and, lead the high school youth group. I also condu
Since 2015, I have attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Peru, Indiana. I am currently the Director of Faith Formation for the parish and oversee catechists (teachers) in the religious education program for pre-K through 12 grade; Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA); and, lead the high school youth group. I also conduct Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Holy Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. For nearly 200 years my home parish has stood to serve the needs of God's people in Miami County, Indiana. The parishioners truly care about one another, about their Catholic faith, and about their fellow man. I'm blessed to be both a parishioner and director at St. Charles Church. The time required for this running endeavor will come out of my accrued vacation time, and the cost of the journey will come out of my own pocket.
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www.instagram.com/stcharles.parish.peru
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