Out of the 199 runners who left Los Angeles on March 4, 1928, at 3:30 p.m., only 55 runners finished on May 26, 1928. The race took 84 days to run from coast to coast. Andy Payne won the event in 573 hours, 4 minutes, 34 seconds. It was called the Bunion Derby by newspapers and was also held in 1929. The race was organized by C. C. Pyle.
Johnny Salo, who finished in 2nd place in 1928 and in 1st place in 1929, became the fastest person to twice run across the continental United States in consecutive years.[2]
A coast-to-coast race has taken place several times since, including four races organized by Jessie Dale Riley and Michael Kenney from 1992 to 1995. Alan Firth organised two events in 2002 and 2004.
In 2011 ultrarunner Serge Girard planned a new edition running from Los Angeles to New York starting June 19 and lasting for 70 days.
On May 20, 2012, ultrarunner
On August 18, 2012, ultrarunner Jennifer Bradley[4] became the second British woman to cross America on foot but the first to run across and make it in 80 days during the Run Across America on Trail 2012.[5] Her trip started May 31, 2012, at Twin Harbors State Park in Washington, and she was on the trail 720 hours 26.7 minutes.[6]
Also on August 18, 2012, ultrarunner Mike Samuelson[7] of Tennessee completed the same Run Across America on Trail 2012 of 3,303 miles (5,316 km) at Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware on a journey that had started May 31, 2012, with four runners. He was on trail 719 hours 47.2 minutes.[6]
On June 2, 2015, British ultra runner