Brandon's Biography

I am currently...
I am currently attending Cornerstone University. I don’t have a major at the moment, but I am leaning strongly towards missionary aviation. However, knowing my habit for procrastinating, I may not declare anytime soon.

After I complete The Run, I plan on...
After, I plan on completing my degree at Cornerstone University and do something with my life. Matt and I will co-write a best-selling book, but I doubt his aspirations for a movie will come true. But if they do make a movie, the role of Matt will be played by Vin Deisel or something and Orlando Bloom will play me. The script will get rewritten so we are actually running away from someone and our playful hijinx will entertain millions. Matt will fall in love and we’ll both fight over the girl before she gets blown up and we vow revenge on her killers. That’s Hollywood for ya.

I am doing this because...
I am doing this because it seems like fun and it’s a great conversation starter. “How was your summer?” “OK. I walked about 3000 miles. No big deal.” Plus, I’ve always wanted to do something insane like this because it’s a challenge.

I have a few deeper reasons for doing this, but I really won’t know them until we start. By the way, if I seem a little laid back about this whole thing, don’t worry. That’s how I am. But I know and Matt knows that I am every bit as dedicated to this trip as he is. I’m just not the

My first memory of Matt is...
My first memory of Matt is a false accusation. He claimed that I pushed him down on the blacktop and he got a scrape on his face. That was the first time someone attempted to frame me. I don’t know what he had against me, but I’m gonna watch my back.

In elementary school we were never in the same classes, so we didn’t really get to know each other that well. We played football on the playground and stuff together, but we were more of acquaintances than friends. We did share one thing though. We were “the smart kids.” I remember one time in 3rd grade that Matt got one wrong on a quiz or something and started crying. I don’t know if he was really crying, but that was the rumor that went around. Maybe I’ll use that for leverage against him someday. Anyway, we weren’t much more than acquaintances until a day in fifth grade. You see, Pete was (and still is! -Matt) a mutual friend, but Pete just started hating Matt. I don’t even remember why, but he would not talk to him. There was a playoff football game at the dome that weekend, and after being turned down by Pete, Matt asked me to go. So I went with him. My memories from that trip include beating some sweet arcade game in Escanaba and walking around the inside of the dome, not even paying attention to the game. I guess that’s what I would point to as the start of it all. Next year we both had Mr. Haight, so like a seed sprouting into a beautiful flower, our relationship grew and grew.

I'm glad it's Matt that is coming with me because...
It is true that Matt is my arch nemesis. It seems like no matter what, one of us is just a little better than the other at something, turning that something into a competition to the death.

The truth is, none of this would be happening if Matt wasn’t involved. He’s the one doing all the organizing and planning and I’m just here to keep telling him that I’ll still do it. However, I am working on the route right now, so that counts for something, I guess.

One thing I plan on bringing with me on the road is...
I’m gonna bring a bible, of course, and some other books to read on the trip. I don’t know if there’s a certain memento that I’ll take, but maybe I’ll come up with one.

The things I'll miss the most are...
I will probably miss my family and my home the most. I haven’t been able to see them a whole lot this year because of cross country/track obligations and my lack of car, so not seeing them for an additional three months and going right back to school will be a little hard.

I am afraid that during the run...
My biggest fear is getting out there and finding out that it’ll be impossible for us to make it and discover that everyone is right. My other fear is getting about 100 miles from the Pacific coast and having Matt die or something. Would I drop him off and come back for him? Or would I put him in the stroller and go the rest of way? Decisions, decisions.