Two runners on a quest to jog across America trekked through the area Monday on their nationwide hike.

Scott Sehon, 25, of Philadelphia and David Bronfenbrenner, 24, of Allentown say there's no particular cause for the run across the states, that it's solely an adventure they've always wanted to take.

The graduates of Bucknell University in Lewisburg have been runners for 10 years and were on their college cross-country team. They started in New Jersey on Feb. 24 and intend to make it to Oregon by early August.

There's a strange twist of rules for the journey. For one, they have no money and don't plan to spend anything on hotels or lodging. They said if there comes a point where they don't have a host family, they've brought along equipment for camping.

Meals and overnight stays are a day-to-day mystery. At times granola bars and bottled water make up a sufficient meal.

They don't have any sponsors and lack the support of a vehicle. They've put cutting their hair and shaving on hold until it's over.

During their first week of jogging they carried their backpacks on their backs, causing stress and strain, Sehon said. They realized that a baby stroller makes a handy commodity for two backpacks.

"It's been our savior," Bronfenbrenner said.

They carry a GPS palm unit, which hooks to satellites and shows them their exact location and miles done. So far they've run 420 miles and have encountered pouring rain and a blizzard.

"We haven't been thrown off schedule so far," Bronfenbrenner said. "The only weather we've not encountered is a natural disaster."

When they reached state Route 208 in New Wilmington on Monday, they were picked up by Linda Smaltz of Hermitage.

She and her husband Richard are friends of Sehon's father, who formerly lived in Sharpsville. The Smaltz family, which includes children John, 4, and Christa, 8, saw a lodging request from the guys on their Web site and chose to open their home for the night.

Those close to them have been quite supportive, they said.

"My girlfriend has known since the day I met her that there would be a five-month leave of absence," Sehon said.

From family and friends, expressions of support are endless, they said.

"They know it's one of our dreams in life and are excited that we've chased our dreams," Sehon said.

Last month, the two quit their jobs of nearly three years to make the trek. They planned ahead for it, paying off their car and student loan debts and moving out of their living spaces.

When the journey is over Sehon, who graduated in 2000 with degrees in economics and secondary education, says he'll take a vacation before reassimilating into society.

Bronfenbrenner, who also graduated in 2000 with a chemical engineering degree, says he wants to go to graduate school and has already applied to several.

Information:

www.runtheusa.com