South Lake Tahoe woman's cross country run/walk nears completion

The journey started as South Lake Tahoe resident Ari Ramos touched the Atlantic Ocean and left Jacksonville, Florida on January 28, 2016, , and if all goes well it will end this February when she touches the Pacific Ocean at the Santa Monica Pier.

The 2,700 miles of Ari's journey has involved both running and walking and has taken her through small towns, along back roads, and into schools and homes across the country as she brings awareness to obesity and healthy lifestyles.

The 2004 South Tahoe High graduate had originally planned to have already completed with her running odyssey but she took some time off mid-way before starting again at the spot she left off at.

"I felt like I wasn’t making an impact so I decided to take a break from my campaign. I traveled to the British Virgin Islands, France, Italy, the Bahamas, and all over the United States mountain biking different bike parks, and greatly enjoyed what I saw and experienced," said Ramos. "Continuing and finishing my walk across the states was always in the back of my mind. So, I committed myself fully to finishing my run, and this time nothing would stop me."

And since then the word "stopping" has not been a part of her vocabulary.

"I felt shame to know that my run was not a continuous trek but when I was in New Mexico a friend really made me embrace the fact that it is just all part of life," said Ramos. "I can use that in powerful ways when I make my presentations at the schools because I can help each student understand that it is normal to encounter difficulties that will have them thinking about giving up on their dreams, but that it is very possible to return to their aspirations and finish strong, which is precisely what I am doing."

Along the way, Ramos calls ahead to elementary and middle schools to arrange for a 30-45 minute presentation.

"When I was going through Louisiana, teachers would hand me bags of potato chips and other processed foods that really made me question whether I was making the impact I sought and desired," she said. "I thought that if the teachers are not understanding my message of living healthfully, then how could I possibly get through to the students? I may not know if I am making an impact. But I get up every day excited to walk/run to my next destination, prepared to speak at any elementary school to share my dream, campaign, experiences, and knowledge."

Those messages are making an impact.

In El Dorado, Texas, Ramos received a message from a parent who was having difficulty getting her child to unglue from the iPad and video games. On the day she gave her presentation to that child's school he told his parents that he would try out for the basketball team.

"I realize that I may not be able to reach every student with my message, but at least I am going to try," said Ramos.

When asked what has surprised her the most about her cross country trip, Ramos said the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas changed her in many ways.

"I think that I left parts of the old Ari there," she recalled. "I have learned so much about myself. The long stretches of remote areas in Texas really made me value the simplest pleasures in life (e.g., a warm shower, a home-cooked meal, people to talk to, a comfortable bed). It wasn’t that I didn’t value those simple things before but it really made me appreciate them even more, particularly after not showering for long stretches or not speaking to anyone because of the lack of phone reception and the isolation."

Sometimes I don’t even recognize the old me," said Ari. "I love who I am becoming. I wouldn’t want to be anyone else."

The journey hasn't been without some fear, but she worked through that along the way. At the beginning, Ari said she was terrified of so many things, including being alone, coming upon animals or strangers, and encountering the unknown.

"Now I feel that I am not afraid of anything," she said. "I fully embrace and relish my days and nights alone. There are times that I have to camp out in the desert in the middle of nowhere where I feel that I am the only person on this earth."

Besides running and walking more distance that most of us can imagine, Ari has not only spread the word and inspiration of good health, but she has also found herself.

"I take a Buddhist approach of enjoying the immediate moment of now, or trying my best to live in the moment," said Ramos. "I really try to soak in all of my surroundings and life in the only moment that we know is true and that is now."

"I cried almost every day when I first started this adventure because of my feelings of loneliness and fear. My tears now are those of happiness and joy. Ever since I crossed the Continental Divide I have been on a "runner's high" that makes me at times feel as though I am floating to the finish line. I am at peace, I've been able to catch up with those I love, and I've been able to comfort those whom I have hurt either directly or indirectly. I have adopted the attitude that strangers are simply friends that I have yet to meet and know."

Not everything has been a bed of roses along the long route. There have been many days where Ramos didn't know where she would sleep for the night, especially when passing through deserts. Often times there were no trees, just vast areas of open space where she'd have to find a spot for her jogging stroller and tent to camp without being visible to others. She's also camped in below freezing temperatures.

"I have also developed a better ability to gauge potentially dangerous situations," said Ramos from a stop in New Mexico. "I feel that people emit certain vibes and I am getting better about detecting their intentions whether good or bad towards me. The unknown was something that initially terrified me, but now I know how to handle most any situation I face."

Others recognized the possible scary situations she may have to confront. A frequent question while in New Mexico schools was asking if she was carrying a gun.

"I was really surprised about that one," Ari said. "I thought to myself, these students are in elementary school. Why are they so worried about guns?"

What has also surprised her along the way was the human kindness throughout the country, something that has overjoyed her.

"People have really opened up their hearts and homes to me as though I were a part of their family," said Ramos. "It is sometimes difficult to leave the love and comfort of a host's home simply because of the kindness and generous treatment I am given. Sometimes they are intrigued by my journey but in reality, I am more intrigued by them. I love getting a glimpse of their lives."

She has also stayed in firehouses and at times especially at the beginning in big cities, a motel. Her journey has been documented on Facebook with photos and stories of who she has met along the way.

Everyone can follow Ari along the route - https://goo.gl/maps/oMHrQVpXQin and watch as she nears the end.

What's up next for Ari? That is not an easy question for her to answer and joked that the next logical step after walking/dancing/running across the USA would be to run for president. She worked for Barton Health before leaving on her mission.

"I have taken an anthropological approach in observing our great country and sharing my public health campaign," said Ari. "I have friends every 20 miles or so, and not many people can make that boast. Or I can take my campaign to the next level by continuing to raise awareness of the obesity epidemic in our country. I may not be able to change the world, but I know I can change myself and be a good influence on others. I am working on becoming the change I want to see in this world."

In the meantime, Ramos is completing that last leg from Phoenix to Santa Monica. She has realized Lake Tahoe is the most beautiful place in the world.

"I am very, very fortunate to have been raised in such a magical place," said Ari. "The natural beauty and the community that exists in Tahoe are unrivaled. I am fortunate to have had such great leaders in our Tahoe community. I am the first in my family to go to college (even having earned a master's degree). My teachers, mentors, and counselors instilled in me a strong work ethic and the unshakable inner belief that I can accomplish whatever dream I set for myself. And as much as I love what I am now doing, I am eager to return to Tahoe to see my friends and family."

She hopes to see many at the finish line.