Dale Rule Plans Walk From Seaside to San Diego

Interview with Dale Rule, who will be walking from Seaside, Oregon to San Diego, California. We caught up with him at a fundraiser for the event at local Nuestra Mesa restaurant.

Dale Rule: Walking for His Life

Dale Rule, Camas resident, football coach and family man, is walking on foot from Seaside, Oregon to San Diego, California. His plans are to average 34 miles per day for 40 days, taking breaks and resting in the motorhome his wife, son and friend will be driving alongside him.

What exactly are you walking for?

For my sanity! No, I’m really walking to bring attention to obesity, it has become an epidemic. The death rate surpasses that of smoking in the United States. While it is taboo to talk about with friends and family, it is estimated that about 70% of people need to lose at least 20 pounds for their health. I went for a walk 6 years ago and it changed my life. Essentially it is so easy, and practically free, you only need a pair of shoes. I’m willing to do something shocking to bring attention to this nationwide problem.

What did you hope to accomplish with your Fundraiser Dinner?

I work 3 jobs to support my family, and while I wish I could do it all myself, I need help financially to ensure that this journey from Seaside to Sand Diego will be a safe one. It’s hard to get people to trust your vision, so I’m willing to manufacture influence. I’m really a normal dude from Camas, WA, all I’m doing is being willing to push myself to be in a lot of pain, a lot of self doubt, but if I can influence people to support this cause, it’ll be worth it.

The money raised tonight will help pay for some of our travel and possible hiccups we may have along the road. Really it will help us accomplish our journey and bring awareness to the projects we have planned. This is God’s vision for my life, not mine. It’s been amazing to share God’s mission through me. It starts with a community, the trust and encouragement. Tonight has also built in a no-get-out-of jail-free card. I have no outs now. This is it. I’m leaving June 23rd from Seaside, OR. No excuses.   

My goal is to have 1 million people pledge $1 a month to my nonprofit. From there, things will grow and take over. In the long run I want to put parks in inner city areas where it can do a lot to uplift the community. From an American standpoint, I want to make it available to everyone.

Many gathered to support Dale Rule’s fundraiser, which was held at Nuestra Mesa restaurant.

How do you hope to inspire others who want to change their health habits?

I work with the kids at the Camas High School football team and I tell them to go home and get a dry erase marker and write on their mirror, “I am honest and accountable.” This is just the same. You need to learn to see yourself for who God sees you as. Everyone is a miracle waiting to happen, we just need to focus and see ourselves for who God created us to be. Once you realize your potential all those things that were holding you back won’t have any influence over you any more and you’ll be able to accomplish what you set out to do. Do that and then go for a walk.

How do you hope to help people with your book “Is the Prize worth the Price?”

What I learned in all of my journey so far is that the “Prize” is me. Life, living, that is the prize. So the price I had to pay, it didn’t matter anymore. I’ve realized I will always be accountable and honest once I learn to love me. This is reflected in my relationships with my wife, with my kids, with the kids I coach, with the people I work with, everyone. I’ll be accountable to my God, because I have learned that my life has worth and the price is a small amount to pay to have it.    

Go to www.everyonewalk.com to donate to the cause and read more about Dale’s story.

Article and photos by Haley Childers.

Dale Rule speaks to supporters at Nuestra Mesa.