South Lake Tahoe woman running across US to bring awareness to obesity

Ari Ramos, a 2004 graduate of South Tahoe High, is running across the country to bring awareness to obesity. She is using all 2,700 miles of the journey to engage with school children and communities about healthy lifestyles.

Ari touched the Atlantic Ocean and left Jacksonville, Florida on January 28. Today, Tuesday, February 16, she is 350 miles away in Fort Walton Beach.

"The southern hospitality has been great," Ramos said. "I have stayed in people's back yards and a fire station," Ramos said of her journey across the country. She said the different Chambers of Commerce along the way have paved the way for her to stay in motels, speak with schools and provide meals.

Ramos left her job as a Patient Support Technician at Barton Health on January 15 of this year and went to Florida to begin her solo trip back home. All she has with her is a Thule baby jogger which holds all of her supplies.

Many people, when they end a relationship hit the ice cream store or local bar, but not Ramos.

"It has been a dream of mine to run across America," she said. "I was working in Barton Hospital and would see patients come in for preventable diseases. I feel that obesity is a big problem in our country." She started her run after the breakup to do what she loves, and educate people.

"If I could change one person along this journey, even if it is myself, then I've accomplished what I set out to do," said Ari.

Tonight she is staying at the Ramada Inn on the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel greeted her with a sign outside "Welcome Ari Ramos."

"People are treating me very, very well," said Ari. "I am getting a lot of support down here."

When growing up in South Lake Tahoe, Ari was turned onto running by her P.E. teacher at the middle school, Dominic Westlake, who told her to join the cross-country team.

"I cannot thank him enough for encouraging me to take up cross-country running," said Ari.

Even though she played soccer and basketball, it appears running is going to say with her.

"I enjoy living a healthy lifestyle," she said.

Parents Raquel and Federico Ramos still maintain a part-time home in South Lake Tahoe and sister Cindy still lives in the community and works at Barton Health.

Every day on the road is different for Ari. Some days she meets with school kids, other days she runs/walks with community members who join her for a part of her day. If there was such thing as a typical day, she gets on the road between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and wraps up between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., depending on where she is and where she is staying that evening. On Monday she ran 26 miles, today, 23 miles.

"My body is tired," she said, "but I get up the next day ready to run."

She has already had to replace her running shoes and is due for another pair soon. Ari said shoes should last about 500 miles but, since she is doing road running, she doesn't want to get injured using worn out shoes and plans to replace them more often.

The journey has already changed Ramos. "This is more of a mental challenge than a physical one," she said. "Its a journey, finding myself and being comfortable in my own skin."

At first her plan was to run from Florida to South Lake Tahoe, but since she started at the Atlantic Ocean she'd like to end it at the Pacific Ocean. She is expecting the journey to take six months.

When the 2008 graduate of Sacramento State University hits Louisiana a running club will travel with her along the route. Ari said she'd like to follow a southern route to California.

People can follow Ari's journey on Facebook, or keep in touch with her by email or telephone. Call/text 530-318-8670 or email ari_ramos@live.com. She also has a Pay Pal account (linked to her email ari_ramos@live.com) where people can make donations to help her over the next six months.

When asked what she'll do when she finishes this journey.

"I have no clue," said Ari. "I love what I'm doing."