#miles2give

Landon Cooper is a man on a mission. He is currently running across the country to raise money to find a cure for Sarcoma. He started in Ocean Beach, CA and will complete this feat in Washington DC mid-July. We caught up with Landon as he touched down in the Mile High City, and asked him some questions on his run, his passions, and what’s next for him. 

So when exactly did you decide running across the country was something you wanted to do?

When I was 15 is when the thought first came to my mind. I had to go out and get my undergrad in street smarts & gypsy corporate travels first. The underground of M2G though, began over a year & half ago when I was running races all over the country in honor of a late friend of mine. This past November in Hollywood, CA, I finally hung up my so called life & combined a dream of running across a country with a universal dream of coming closer to a cure for Sarcoma cancer. That November 15th day, I walked away from the corporate ghosts chase & moved to Utah to focus on M2G & training.

What helps you overcome the ‘wall’?

Well, the "wall" is an interesting place. When you do something like run across the country everyday, the "wall" becomes a daily spiritual visit. The art of being comfortable while being uncomfortable is the spiritual practice of being inside your mind, and aware of the actual world around you. I think of the individual I run for everyday when I get to my own dark places. I think of their fight, I think of their chemo....This is my 5-6 months of chemo. I wanted to highlight how grueling it can be to fight an unwelcomed visitor, cancer.

We have to hear the story of your tattoos. What’s the meaning behind them?

My tattoos? All tribute to life & love....I am certainly a work in progress there ;) 

How was your experience on Fear Factor? Would you ever do it again?

Fear Factor was a cool experience, I would LOVE to appear on FF or Survivor. Heck, I think I am shooting a 5 month show of it now on the road! My honesty probably got a bit in the way of how well I did on this show.  Prior to the show, I filled a questionnaire of potential stunts I would face. The questionnaire was to rank my fears 1-5. The highest I put was a 3, being dropped into open water with no land in site. Sure enough, I found myself miles off the coast of the Pacific.

  Are there any sports that you follow religiously?

I played semi pro soccer for years, you would think I might follow the game, but I don't anymore. I haven't found a lot of players now days I respect or admire enough to watch. Too many swimmers & actors out there now. I do love watching some hockey though!  Big fan of watching Iron Man highlights on YouTube as well.  Pulls my heart strings...

What’s next for you?

Next? Well, we just arrived in Colorado an hour ago...so next up, battle the Rockies. But, after the tour? A lot of projects lined up. Post tour will be making home in Birmingham, Alabama with my girlfriend & her son. There, I will sell my paintings to create a M2G scholarship, Motivational speaking, fundraiser appearances, & helping other foundations. I am also writing a book called "How did I get here?". The story of not only going cross the country, but how I got to that start line in the first place. Also, putting together a documentary of the tour.  And, certainly planning the next country we run across next year. :)

   And now the 2 questions we ask everyone…

What’s your motto?

" If we have miles to go, we have miles 2 give."

What did you have for breakfast?

Oatmeal, Chobani Greek yogurt, fruit, Gnarly protein smoothie, vitamins,& GU energy gel.

  You can learn more about Miles2Give and donate to the cause here http://miles2give.org/

And make sure you like their Facebook page to stay up on Landon’s journey