A group of Iowa high school cross-country runners is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "distance running."

Led by their coach Lowell Lyngaas, members of Valley Community High School cross country team and some other runners from the area surrounding Elgin, Iowa, will begin running from Florence, Oregon, back to Iowa, a distance of 1976 miles, starting Sunday, July 23.

The event is called "Race America 2." The group plans to finish August 5 after 16 days of running. The route will take the group through Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa.

Last year, Lyngaas led a group from Louisiana to Ontario, Canada, and finished within 15 minutes of the estimated time of arrival.

A total of 24 runners will take part in the running portion of the event, with an additional two or three adults serving as the support crew. The group includes an entire family, the Kahlers, who have their six-month-old baby along for the ride.

Each runner is responsible for running one hour a day, and except for stopovers -- the first of which is in Sisters -- someone will be running at all times.

According to Lyngaas, many people who hear about his group want to know the reason behind such an undertaking.

"It's just something I've always wanted to do," he said. "I enjoy history and consider myself a visual person, so I like to try to experience firsthand what others before me have experienced. What was it like for the pioneers and explorers who came across the land on foot? To me, it's an adventure."

Lyngaas's goal is also for the adventure to help to raise money for a community wellness/fitness center, which will serve the towns of Elgin, Clermont, and Wadena along with other communities in Northeast Iowa.

As the event's website (www.raceamerica.org) states, "this is a quest for one rural community to realize a dream."

About half of the group will spend some time in Sisters to rest, beginning about 5:30 p.m. July 24. The current plan calls for them to use the high school building to camp and use showers.

A runner was to pass through Sisters at about 1:30 a.m. Monday, July 24, as the group moves on toward Bend. The entire group will have a 10 to 12 hour layover in Bend and hope to fit in a short whitewater-rafting excursion on the upper Deschutes.

"The layovers give us a chance to rest, reconnect, and build some memories together in different parts of the country," said Lyngaas.

Lyngaas, 46, has been a part of the track and cross-country programs at Valley Community since 1972, so his dedication to the community is evident. Local runners are encouraged to join the group to run through the area.

For more information contact Charlie Kanzig at 549-0920.