Thursday’s Inspiration Information — Tellman Knudson at SuperForest

“That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I’d just run across the great state of Alabama. And that’s what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean.” –Forrest Gump

This is Tellman Knudson. Yes, his name alone is awesome. As is his beard. But these are only bonus factors to the incredibly outrageous awesomeness that is Tellman.

Now, Tellman was born in the sleepy town of Enfield New Hapshire with Femoral Antiversion, a crippling bone condition that locked his legs at 45 degree angles. He had trouble walking. Competitive sports a distant, intangible fantasy . Running an absolute impossibility.

Doctors suggested breaking his legs and resetting the bones in heavy casts. Tellman wanted to try something different. So, out of a scene from Forrest Gump, he joined the high school track team. Now imagine this bow-legged boy, struggling for all he’s worth to run a quarter mile. Imagine the jokes, the ironic laughter. The courage it takes to keep swinging those legs one foot after the other, in spite of the pain, in the face of overwhelming disaster.

But Tellman didn’t fail. He didn’t fall. Instead he kept running. Forcing his way through every practice. And more, adding 7 miles in the morning and 7 miles after practice — the distance between his house and school. The constant running strengthened his legs muscles, which also corrected his femoral antiversion. Within 2 years, Tellman was breaking school records and competing in the State Championships.

That was all of course many years ago. Since then Tellman has a zany and compelling life, paying his way through college by selling homemade salsa from his dorm room. Opening six offices throughout Vermont as a certified Hypnotherapist. And launching several online direct marketing companies. Reading his many off-wall ventures, it’s clear that Tellman is a wildman. A human pinball. And a BIG thinker.

And nothing is bigger than his latest little undertaking. On 9/09/09, Tellman started running from the Southern tip of Manhattan with the goal of reaching the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles within 99 days. That’s straight across the U.S.A. And the whole time he’s going to be running BAREFOOT! You heard me correct, no shoes. No socks. Just bare skin on black top. And the best part, the whole reason he’s doing it… to raise money for homeless youth. And not just any small amount of money, we’re talking… $100,000,000!

That’s right. 100 million dollars! Sounds crazy, right? Well, in Tellman’s own words:

“I get that a lot. But I live by a guiding principle: If you don’t set yourself extremely ambitious goals, nothing great will ever be accomplished. I say, crazy behavior draws a lot of attention…and that’s just what we need for our cause!”

You can check out Tellman’s website and follow his journey on his daily blog www.runtellmanrun.com. You can even track his progress on the updated map. Or join him for 10 km (6.1) mile legs of his jog. 100% of proceeds go to Virgin Unite, the charitable wing of Billionaire mogul Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin industries, and Project Re*Generation.

So far Tellman has ran 8 days and raised $270,000. Only 99 million, 630 thousand left to go! Impossible you say? Maybe. Inspirational? Definitely. And I believe he’ll do it.

Thanks again Superforester Carla for the inspiration alley-oop.

8 Responses to “Thursday’s Inspiration Information — Tellman Knudson”

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1 Daniela
September 17, 2009 at 3:51 pm

This guy is my new IDOL
2 Deborah
September 17, 2009 at 8:27 pm

ok, this guy is absolutely awesome! here to realy make it clear on how awesome this is, see awesome in 10 languages…

awesome
مرعب
可怕的
génial
ehrfürchtig
φοβερός
עצום
impressionante
imponente
ดีเลิศ

thats in the following languages…

english
arabic
chinese
french
german
greek
hebrew
italian
spanish
thai

truly awesome, I may get awesome tatooed on my body as a shout out, I feel that inspired! I may drive 4 hours north to run barefoot with the guy when he comes this way! I cant even find the right words! I realy cant, I tried using my favorite word in ten languages and its still not good enough… I wish I had money to donate… maybe I will tell everyone I know, go around to businesses and such so that he can have more donations. thats a good idea! I think I will do that! wow, thank you thank you for sharing this, I am glad I learned of it so soon! thank you aaron, and THANK YOU Tellman Knudson! Again…awesome!
3 carla
September 17, 2009 at 8:57 pm

Happy to provide the assist, Aaron! Thank you for sharing it with everyone and giving it that excellent Kandell twist. :-)
4 Hana
September 17, 2009 at 9:19 pm

Thank you. It is so nice to read this inspirational story at the end of a day. I’ve already forgot how exhausted I was a while ago…Thanks so much! Can’t wait to hear about his arrival in LA! ” To see one’s goal and to drive toward it, steeling one’s heart,is most uplifting.” Have a great weekend!
5 Tellman Knudson
September 18, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Thanks for all the awesomeness guys!

Someone from Superforest came over to my site and left a comment and was so positive about Superforest that I had to check it out. You guys rock! You’re doing fantastic work. Keep it up!

SHABAMBO!
-Tellman
6 jackson
September 18, 2009 at 5:44 pm

SHABAMBO right back at you, Mr. Knudson!
7 Daniela
September 18, 2009 at 7:49 pm

AAAH!!! ITS ACTUALLY YOU!!
P.S. You’re my IDOL dude.
8 Tellman Knudson
September 20, 2009 at 7:09 pm

Well thanks… but who wants to come out and put down some miles with me to help the kids we are raising money for?

SHABAMBO!
-Tellman