Family’s epic journey stops off in hometown
Well-wishers greeted them along the way, on their journey in from the Bay Area.
Some local runners joined the quartet’s final strides into Davis.
The Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh trumpeted their arrival at Central Park — where more friends and fans were waiting at a special health fair, which celebrated the four harriers’ cause célèbre.
All this fanfare … Who was in town Wednesday? Did Lance Armstrong come back? Was this an event built around Davis’ triathlon legend Dave Scott?
Actually, the ruckus surrounded Davis’ own Godby family — doctor/dad Dennis, sons Isaiah and Jeremiah and their cousin Jonah Ely; all of whom started four days ago from San Francisco in an effort to run across the United States.
The purpose of the trip is to raise awareness of naturopathy and its prevention-oriented approach to medicine.
The four are expected to cover more than 3,200 miles in 123 days — passing through towns, villages and cities representing almost a third of the nation’s population.
Along the way, events like Wednesday’s fair will be conducted from Sacramento to New York City.
“It’s just amazing what they’re doing. It’s like Forrest Gump,” local physician Eric Hassid said as he signed copies of his book “Anti-Aging & Functional Medicine” during the health fair.
“(Dennis) is doing a great, wonderful job. I really praise (them) for doing (the run).”
The quartet was scheduled to leave Davis on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. for Sacramento. Around 12:30 p.m. there will be a health rally at the state Capitol steps with a Health Festival (6-8 p.m.) in Fremont Park on Friday’s rest day.
Then it’s off to Auburn on Saturday — with the awareness run eventually ending in Bridgeport, Conn, on Nov. 16.
“This has been good,” an exhausted Isaiah Godby said after arriving at Central Park.
Talking with family and friends at the north end of the park, Isaiah was limping around.
“It was the shoes,” said the 2009 Davis High grad. “I wore the wrong shoes from sponsors. They weren’t broken in … and I’m flat-footed. I’ll go back to my old shoes.”
Isaiah says he’ll be ready to roll on Saturday. Meanwhile, Dennis checked in to Davis “a little dehydrated.”
The veteran runner said he’d, too, be OK for the next leg. In the 1980s, the senior Godby ran across the country. “This is a little different, being a 54-year-old now,” added the doctor.
Jeremiah, 17, and his cousin Ely, 20, of Anchorage, Alaska, looked healthy and ready to roll.
The Godbys said it would be fun to be in their own beds through Friday night, but added they were looking forward to the rest of the adventure.
“With the Farmers Market here, this has been like one giant party,” Isaiah added.
On Oct. 14, Dennis Godby will speak to the Columbus Marathon Health and Fitness Expo in Ohio. The event is a scheduled stop in the journey and is one of many opportunities that Godby will have to get the word out.
Interested in getting involved in supporting the run? Visit http://www.therun.org for ways to donate to help defray trek costs, support naturopathy, follow the quartet’s progress or see video snippets.
— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at bgallaudet@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8047
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=65232
Posted by Bruce Gallaudet
on Jul 20 2011.
Last Login: Tue 22 May 2012 11:46:20 PM PDT
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