Coughlan has been doing similar runs for the last 15 years. His first Run Across America was in 2011, seeing him run 2,500 miles from San Diego to Jacksonville, Florida, with the goal to bring awareness to and help find a cure for a rare brain disease, Batten Disease, that two childhood friends from his church were battling. Coughlan has completed similar runs four times before now, in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2023, also doing a run in Ireland in 2020 right before the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic. Each run is done for a positive purpose, whether it be bringing awareness or to help find cures, honoring veterans, with this year’s focus being finishing a historical feat on a historical day, as he is set to finish his run on July 4, or the 250th birthday of the United States. While Coughlan said he likes the adventure behind doing these runs, every run has a different theme and is community-based, making it less about the run itself and more about what he is doing the run for.

Because of the ongoing winter weather, his schedule can vary by day. He reached Fredonia on Thursday and hoped to reach Westfield by the end of the day.

“I’m 42 so I thought I might as well do this,” Coughlan said. “Nobody is forcing me, it’s a life experience and I couldn’t leave it. I will do this run by July 4 and as I go I am asking people what they think about the American flag and the 250th birthday. History and this historic attempt are going to be coinciding as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday.”

Coughlan referred to himself as being just an athlete, and not a politician or having any partisan mission, adding that the American flag is something that represents everyone, and a lot of people have died in the service of the country so he can do something like this now. While he runs with a flag on his jogging stroller for safety and to be able to be seen, he said he is not a veteran and reemphasized having no political agenda, but added that the American people have been in the background of all his previous runs, helping him and treating him generously as he goes.

“The reaction has been very positive,” Coughlan said. “There have been videos, school children, police departments. People have been coming out to see and talk with me. It’s not a normal thing to see in the winter, but I’m keeping my message simple and it has been an overwhelmingly positive experience.”

For anyone out there who may want to try something similar, Coughlan said doing research on the weather is an important step. It is also something that takes a toll both mentally and physically, so if someone wants to try, he emphasized the need to involve the community.

“Some people do it for the record, but not me,” Coughlan said. “If you want to do it, you first have to believe it can happen. It can be hard to get lost in the details, but you really do need to involve the community and not try it on your own.”

Coughlan added his first run was done with a crew, but after realizing how expensive that was he changed to doing it on his own with a jogging stroller. Additionally, he said he does not make money from his runs and is not trying to make a statement of any kind with the flag, but there is always a rhyme and reason behind each run. This fifth run will also be his final run, and the hope is to complete a documentary on his entire story in 2027, according to his website.

Updates on Coughlan’s run can be found on both his website, runforusa.com, and social media pages, as he said it changes daily because of the weather. Coughlan thanked the people of New York for coming out and welcoming him as he passed through.

“I wanted to tell the people of New York how special it has been to be going through this area in the winter,” Coughlan said. “Every community was very welcoming and helped the word spread and I just appreciate it. Upstate New York is special and I hope I helped give good memories to all of the kids about the community coming out and coming together.”