‘Run For America’ brings ultramarathoner to WNY as part of 5,500-mile journey on foot
Brett Soberiaski runs 8 miles this morning with man on epic adventure to celebrate country’s 250th anniversary

Photo courtesy of Brett Sobieraski: Brett Soberiaski of Carlton is shown this morning with Noah Coughlan. The two left Batavia and ran to Pembroke. Sobieraski, an ultra marathoner and endurance athlete, praised Coughlan who is on day 91 of a 260-day journey, running 5,500 miles across the United States.
BATAVIA – Brett Sobieraski is proud of New York State for showing such a big response to a man running across the country in an effort to stir a love for the flag and the United States.
Noah Coughlan is on day 91 of a 260-day journey, with plans to cover 20 states and conclude on July 4 in Hawaii. The trek is 5,500 miles on foot. Coughlan is a California native who most recently has been living in Nashville.
Coughlan made his way from Avon to Batavia on Thursday, and this morning left the Best Western Inn in Batavia and headed to Pembroke along Route 5. He is trying to get to near the Buffalo airport later today.
Coughlan usually runs by himself, and sometimes has a police escort like he did in Genesee County.
Sobieraski reached out to Coughlan about having a partner for part of today’s run. Sobieraski, a retired Rochester police sergeant, asked if he could join Coughlan for part of the journey today. Coughlan agreed.
Sobieraski in 2023 ran 50 marathons for 50 days, covering 1,300 miles from Florida to Rochester, NY. He did it as a tribute to Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022. Sobieraski sought to raise $100,000 for Mazurkiewicz’s family, and passed that goal by reaching $110,000.
Today, cars honked their horns and people rolled down their windows to cheer on Coughlan, who turned 42 on Thursday.
When Coughlan reached the Pembroke Intermediate School, students were standing outside and cheering him on.
“He was really overwhelmed,” Sobieraski said about the Coughlan. “He said he’s never had a response like this. He can’t get over the reception from New York State.”
Coughlan started the journey on Oct. 18. He has been going about 18 miles a day, pushing a jogger stroller with an American flag mounted on the stroller. He has covered more than 1,700 miles so far.
Coughlan isn’t raising money for a charity, just trying to spur patriotism on the 250th anniversary of the country.
“It’s non political,” Sobieraski said. “He isn’t running for any cause just the flag.”
Coughlan has done four previous ocean-to-ocean runs across the country. His “Run for America” started in the Midwest and covered about 950 miles in Kansas, South Carolina and North Carolina, states where had not run before.
Then, the journey goes 3,600 miles from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Oregon.
It’s not over yet. Coughlan plans to cross 900 miles across Alaska and then conclude in Hawaii on July 4.
For information on Run For America, click here.




















