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SAN DIEGO -- On Sunday morning, Sept. 11, George Chmiel will be surrounded by well-wishers on the deck of the decommissioned aircraft carrier Midway. There will be music, a few guest speakers and plenty of pomp for a grand sendoff.Then Chmiel will run through a special arch, down the ships ladders and out to the streets, escorted by police and followed by a thundering herd of supportive runners as he makes his way east, toward Arizona.Slowly, the runners will peel off. The herd will disappear.Theres going to be a moment when I look around, and Im going to be in the desert like, What did I get myself into? he said, laughing.Chmiel, 35, is used to pushing himself to extremes. Hes an experienced ultrarunner who has completed grueling, multiday races through the remote, inhospitable wilds of the Sahara, Antarctica and Australia. Hes used to fighting through pain and tapping into reserves of resolve. He recalls being terrified while running alone at night through the Aussie Outback, scared to death of snakes and the crocodile-infested river hed have to cross.My heart rate was jacked, he said. It kept me running faster.But when Chmiel (pronounced shimmel) steps off the Midway, it will be the start of a much bigger challenge: a 3,031-mile run from San Diego to New York City, where he plans to arrive Nov. 11, Veterans Day. Thats an average of more than 50 miles a day for 60 days. Its a physical, mental and logistical challenge unlike any he has done before.Its 120 marathons in two months, he said. Its 5 million steps.The reason hes doing it is to draw attention to the needs of military veterans and to raise funds for the Guardian For Heroes Foundation, which Chris Kyle, the late Navy SEAL of American Sniper fame, helped set up.While many others have run across the continent, Chmiel is doing it in a very public way, with fundraising fun runs, concerts and events scheduled along the route. He wants people to know hes coming as he chugs through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas (including Kyles hometown of Midlothian), then through Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with a finish at Ground Zero in Manhattan.His goal is to raise at least $1 million. Its not that hes a veteran or from a military family or has lost a friend in Iraq or Afghanistan. He has simply read about how hard it is for veterans to adjust back to civilian life. He decided to help by raising money for the foundation, which helps combat veterans cope and thrive through fitness programs and life coaching.He hopes its one small way a divided America can come together.You want a shining example for all of us to get behind, its our vets, he said. I dont think it can be solved at the government or military level. I think us civilians can do more. Thats what this is.Going coast to coastRunning across America isnt new, and its become increasingly more common the past decade. Some of the action from just this year:On Aug. 20, 93-year-old Ernie Andrus, a World War II vet, successfully completed his almost three-year quest to run from San Diego to an island off the coast of southern Georgia.On Sept. 12, Pete Kostelnick, a two-time champion of the 135-mile Badwater ultramarathon in Death Valley, California, will begin his mission to run from San Francisco to New York to break the fastest known crossing time of 46 days, set in 1980.Ultrarunner Adam Kimble set out from Huntington Beach, California, on Feb. 15 to break that mark but was slowed by injury. Still, he crossed the U.S. in 60 days. A British runner also going after the mark, and accused by some of cheating, eventually quit because of an injury.After starting on April 18, Jeremy Bradford ran from Los Angeles to New York, accompanied by his family in an RV, in 59 days, 10 hours, 4 minutes.As the sport of ultrarunning has expanded -- the number of races longer than a marathon tripled from 2004 to 2014, according to Ultrarunning magazine -- so, too, has the desire to run coast to coast.In 2002, Jim McCord of Cincinnati was the only person to run across the U.S., doing it to get attention and funding for diabetes research. Since then, he has kept track of cross-country attempts on his USA Crossers Facebook page.He says about 300 runners have crossed the continent since the first known completion in 1909. Between 10 and 30 people per year now attempt it, he says, with a success rate of about 75 percent. Many, like Chmiel, run for a cause.It took McCord 180 days, with two breaks, to do it.These guys are doing 50, 60 and 70 miles a day, he said. I dont know how they do it. Its mind-boggling.The accidental runnerChmiel grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, playing football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and hockey. He never ran track, and never ran at all if he didnt have to. But after graduating from Boston College and going to work on Wall Street, he found running as a way to feed his competitive streak. He bypassed 5Ks and 10Ks for a full marathon as his first race, and he was such a novice he grabbed and ate Vaseline packs from the aid stations, thinking they were gels.When his goddaughter Luci was afflicted with a rare birth-related disorder, a non-functioning pituitary gland, he decided to run marathons and eventually ultras to raise money for the Magic Foundation, which helps children overcome a variety of problems related to growth and health.When he saw a video about a year ago with actor Dean Cain taking part in a fundraising effort for the Guardian For Heroes Foundation, through its BeastMode for the Brave Challenge, Chmiel contacted the organization and offered to run across America to help them.Charla Heimer, a friend and fellow ultrarunner, ran the multiday race with Chmiel in Australia in 2010. She has seen how he doesnt quit, not even after getting heat stroke on the first day, and is confident hell complete the upcoming challenge.Because hes doing it for other people, thats what will make him continue, Heimer said. Thats why I have no doubt.How to train?Chmiel fractured a pelvic bone and suffered a double hernia from a fall in January doing a 100-mile run in Hong Kong. Surgery and recovery kept him from running for a couple of months. He began training in earnest in May and has been doing about 30 hours a week of cross training, strength work and running, about 80 miles a week. After seven years as an ultrarunner and more than a decade as a runner, in which time he has completed 21 marathons, he has a solid endurance base.He says theres no way to train specifically for doing 3,000 miles.What am I supposed to do, go out and run 50 miles a day every day for a month so I can go do it for two months? he said. Youre going to get injured.He did, however, work on getting used to the desert heat hell experience.In late August, he ran 100 miles in Death Valley when temperatures during the day reached 110 degrees. Chmiel, with a friend in support, did five separate running sessions of 14, 11, 36, 13 and 26 miles over a 48-hour period so he could focus on the warm-up, cool-down, warm-up process. His run time was about 16 hours.I felt strong overall, he said. So it was definitely a confidence builder.Feeding the beastA highly active adult male of 35 needs about 3,000 calories per day, according to the USDA. Chmiel plans to consume 10,000-12,000 calories per day, but even then it wont be enough.Hell burn about 20,000 calories daily. Essentially, his body will need more fuel than he can consume.Much more, he said. Thats why youre going to have muscle wasting, and your bodys going to deteriorate.A company that produces balanced, pre-made organic meals of 600-700 calories each will provide microwaveable meals along the route. Hell eat six to seven a day. Hell also consume gels and nutritional supplements while he runs. That will be supplemented with anything he can get his hands on, including pasta feasts and restaurant stops.When you eat that much in a short period of time, everything starts tasting the same, he said. You have to eat, and youre craving anything salty -- chips, macadamia nuts, pepperoni. Things high in fat, high in calories. Olive oil is great, shots of olive oil. Get tons of calories real quick. And pizza.The toll and the careChmiel says hes not concerned about his cardio, but injuries are a given.Its the skeletal. Its the components, he said. The engines strong. Im worried about the parts.Fifty miles a will wreak havoc on his feet, ankles and knees. He has a surgically repaired ankle that will quickly start hurting. He has had five surgeries because of running injuries.So hell take care of his body during breaks with ice, chiropractic treatments, IV fluids, compression therapy and massages.The paceChmiel plans to run 10-minute miles and resist the urge to push it. If he can keep it there, he says he can go all day.He wants to do about two-thirds of his miles at night but isnt yet sure how hell break up each 24-hour cycle. Two sessions of 25 miles or three of 15-18 miles? Three sessions would give him an extra rest break but lessen the chance of getting a longer, deeper sleep.Logistics and costSome cross-country runners go bare bones, with one person pushing a baby stroller of supplies, unsupported. This wont be that.About 20 people have volunteered to help by driving, cooking, planning events and handling communications. A 32-foot RV will follow Chmiel, towing a trailer, giving the rolling expedition eight beds and two bathrooms. It will be expensive. To raise money for the charity, hes spending money.He estimates the effort will cost about $200,000, with many people chipping in, but a good chunk is coming from him.Its not just sacrificing your body, he said. I feel honored to be able to do it, talking about Chris legacy, being a part of something bigger than you.The detourChmiel plans to run for 60 of the 62 days from Sept. 11 to Veterans Day. On two days, hell take whirlwind trips for weddings of good friends. He doesnt call them days off, because theyll be hectic. And because of the timing of the second wedding, hell have to run 80 miles a day for five straight days to get back on pace.Tight schedule, baby, he said.Going the distanceChmiel is one of just 150 people to ever have completed the 4Deserts series of seven-day, 155-mile wilderness races. He also has run multiple 100-mile ultras, completed Ironman Lake Placid in 2011 and been good enough to run the Boston Marathon in 2012, all to challenge himself and raise money for charities.Now hes 3,031 miles and one fundraising goal from another conquest.This is my run for America and giving back, he said. Ive never DNFd (did not finish) a race in my life, and I dont intend on starting now.To see Chmiels route, schedule of events, concerts and how to donate, or to follow his progress, go to beastmodeforthebrave.org/george-team.Cheap Houston Astros Jerseys . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. http://www.cheapastrosjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-alex-bregman-jersey . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Cheap Hector Rondon Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Andy Pettitte Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer.Ireland 316 (Wilson 95, Porterfield 88, Afzal 4-63) and 230 (Anderson 59, Afzal 3-53) beat Hong Kong 237 (Rath 73*, Nizakat 69, Dockrell 3-46) and 239 (Nizakat 123, Murtagh 4-29) by 70 runsScorecard Ireland climbed to the top spot on the Intercontinental Cup table with a 70-run win over Hong Kong in Belfast on Friday.Having taken a 79-run first-innings lead, Ireland put up 230 in their second innings to leave Hong Kong with a target of 310 to win. They began day four on 199 for 6, but managed to add only 31 as left-arm spinner Nadeem Ahmed polished off the tail. Fast bowler Tim Murtagh then picked up 4 for 29 as Hong Kong were bowled out for 239.Nearly half of Hong Kongs 239 came from Nizakat Khan, who was the last man dismissed for 123. The significance of his contribution to Hong Kongs score was underlined by the fact that no other batsman in the line-up crossed an individual score of 30. The 24-year-old batsmans maiden first-class century in his third match included 14 fours and a six.I need to give credit to Mark Wright who has helped me with my batting and to Cambo (Ryan Campbell) and Cooky (Simon Cook), Nizakat said after the match.It felt really good to make a hundred - when I came here I just wanted to score a hundred and it was an amazing feeling - it wasnt easy but I just fought to the end. Im happy with myself but I know I still have a lot of improvement to make.Left-arm spinner George Dockrell added to his first-innings haul of three wickets with two more in the second, including Hong Koong captain Babar Hayat for 28, while Kevin OBrien also picked up two wickets.ddddddddddddNizakat had also contributed a 69 in the first innings, one of two half-centuries as Hong Kong mustered 237 in response to Irelands first innings score of 316. In that innings, he shared a 101-run stand for the third wicket with Ninad Shah to help Hong Kong rebuild slightly after stumbling to 3 for 2 in the 10th over. The second fifty of that innings came from Anshuman Rath, who top-scored with 73* off 163 balls.Irelands first innings total, after they had opted to bat, was built around William Porterfields 88 and Gary Wilsons 95. Ed Joyce and George Dockrell also got starts - the latter striking 32 lower down the order - but Porterfield and Wilson steered the middle and lower orders respectively, sharing in crucial partnerships. The best stand for Ireland was the one between Wilson and Dockrell for the seventh wicket which yielded 65 runs.Tanwir Afzal and Nadeem were the most successful Hong Kong bowlers, each taking a four-for in Irelands first innings and backing it up with three-wicket hauls in the second.The full 20 points for Ireland took them to the maximum 80 points after four rounds, 19 ahead of Afghanistan who now sit in second place. Hong Kong meanwhile remain tied for fourth with Scotland in the Intercontinental Cup table at 30 points, 16 behind third-placed Netherlands. ' ' '