Every year on the first Saturday of June, thousands of people across all 50 states step outside and run the same 5K. Not at the same starting line. Not even at the same hour. But together — coast to coast, in every time zone, for 30 straight hours.
This June marks the 7th time we've done it. Here's how it started.
Where the idea came from
In spring 2020, our team built software for live events — the kind that helps organizers manage thousands of people, equipment, and logistics in real time. When events everywhere shut down overnight, we found ourselves with a tool and no place to use it.
But like everyone else adjusting to a new normal, we were looking for ways to stay connected and do something useful. Food insecurity was rising. Essential workers were carrying an impossible load. And people who had built their routines around races, gyms, and group activities suddenly had nothing.
So we asked: what if we brought the race to everyone, all at once?
The first-ever Run Across America
The idea was simple: a virtual 5K that anyone, anywhere in the country could run outside — on their own schedule, in their own neighborhood, but as part of a national movement.
We built an app so people could form teams, track their routes with GPS, and see results on a live leaderboard broken down by state, age, activity type, and more. We partnered with Feeding America to help our neighbors in need. And we offered free registration to essential workers.
The event opened at midnight on the East Coast on June 6, 2020, and ran for 30 full hours — ending at midnight in Hawaii. Run, walk, or roll: everyone was welcome.
The response was beyond anything we imagined. More than 12,000 people participated. 3,600 essential workers ran for free. We raised more than $100,000 for Feeding America. For our small team, it was simply remarkable.
Six years later, Run Across America has grown into a season-long program that has helped thousands of people build lasting habits: logging distance daily, finding community, and staying accountable through every season.
The app has evolved. The program has grown. But every first Saturday in June, we come back to where it all started: one 5K, run together, from every corner of the country.
We've now collectively logged 10 million miles and raised 8.4 million meals through Feeding America—and we're just getting started.
If you're registered for Summer Splash this year, we'll see you at the starting line. We'd also love to hear your story. Let us know in the comments what Run Across America has meant to you, whether you ran in the first or are just learning about it today.
7 comments
Run Across America was a blessing during the pandemic and continues to motivate me and my Corgi, Skye, who has walked so many miles!
Run Across America helped me get in shape during the pandemic lockdowns and has given me access to a supportive virtual community.