Julie Allan and Ranger Kielak just before Ranger took his first steps from Myrtle Beach, SC.
Julie Allan and Ranger Kielak just before Ranger took his first steps from Myrtle Beach, SC.
by Ranger Kielak
Holistic Success Coach
CEO – Within Range Coaching
“My problems are excuses for not being who I know I am.”
On the plane from San Francisco, CA to Charleston, SC, Mike Posner's lyrics poured from my headphones into my ears. His song "Slow it Down" had become an anthem for me, a reminder of why I was doing this. Mike’s journey was what sparked this crazy adventure. On that six-hour flight, his music was on repeat.
I looked at my phone to check the time. “7:00 A.M., March 4, 2024.”
As we pulled away from the terminal, Julie, my fiancée, held my hand, squeezing it with a mix of excitement and nerves. “Here we go!” she said, and I could tell she was feeling the same cocktail of emotions I was. As the plane lifted off, I tried to lighten the mood, saying, “It’s funny how this plane ride is going to take six hours, but going back is going to take me about six months.” She laughed, “You better run!” After a few minutes we were just another blip in the sky. I peaked out the window from time to time and thought about what it would be like to be on the ground. I’d find out very soon.
In a few hours, we’d be touching down in South Carolina, marking my first time on the East Coast. And in less than a week, I’d start walking back to California—on foot. Unassisted.
“Most people leave their potential untapped” Mike Posner’s words echoed through my ears. The idea still seemed wild, and I wasn’t sure I was ready. How could I be? This made me sit back
and reflect on how I even got to this point.
Back in 2019, sitting in my fraternity house at UC Davis, I stumbled upon videos and posts from Mike Posner. He was walking across America. I sat up in bed and went through his content.
I watched him on social media meeting people across the country, sharing stories, and sending out his message, “KEEP GOING.” I was in awe. “What an experience!” I thought. I even sent the posts to a few friends, thinking, “I wish I could do something like that.” But just as quickly as the excitement came, it was replaced with words of self-doubt. “I’m not rich or famous—I’m just a regular guy.” These stories bounced through my mind and clouded my dreams. “You don’t have the drive. Or the resources. That’s not for people like you.” That inner-critic spat at me.
Eventually, I sat my phone down, and sat that dream on the backburner. Just like plenty of others before that one.
Growing up, I’d always dreamed of being a veterinarian. I worked hard in high school, got into my dream college, and then hit a wall (well, a few)—General Chemistry, Calculus, Biology, Organic Chemistry, and others. In the end, Animal Science turned out to be more “science” than “animal.” After multiple tear-filled meetings with academic advisors, tutors, and calls with my parents, I switched majors to Economics and watched my dreams of “Andrew ‘Ranger’ Kielak, DVM” slip through my fingers. I’d watch others graduate from the program and get accepted to vet school. “They just have something I don’t, I guess.” I’d tell myself.
This felt like another one of those moments. At this point I was near my highest weight, 300 pounds, was barely scraping by in school, and was looking forward to graduation in December so that I could finally start a new chapter of life- but that new chapter would have its own series of difficult events.
Graduating in December of 2019 meant that many of the job opportunities I thought I’d have at my disposal would disappear come March of 2020. The event planner roles, potential teaching gigs, and more were canceled and stripped away from me. Which, on the bright side, meant I could try things out and experiment a bit career wise.
During COVID, I tried all kinds of jobs and side hustles—bartending, sales, animal care, wine service—and learned a lot about myself, mostly what I didn’t like and wasn’t great at.
Oddly enough, one of the biggest lessons came from TikTok. One night in late 2021, I stumbled on a video by a guy named Andrew Kivett. He’d walked over 2,500 miles across the country, inspired by Mike Posner’s journey. I spent some time scrolling through his content and eventually found another cross-country walker, Mark Dudek, who had shared his story in a podcast. Listening to it, something clicked. These guys, Andrew and Mark, weren’t rich or famous—they were just regular guys.
That made me curious... What about Mike? After listening to a few podcasts he was a guest on, and combing through more of his content, I realized something about him too: he’s just a regular guy from Michigan. He also had fears about starting. He also made excuses. He also told himself he couldn’t do it.
“Uh-oh, I think my problems are excuses. For not being who I know I am.” Mike’s lyrics hit me hard.
Every problem and reason I came up with as to why I couldn’t walk was just that- excuses. Excuses that would prevent me from being who I know I am.
I thought status, wealth, experience, resources, or something special separated me from people like Mike, Andrew, or Mark. None of that was true.
The only thing that separated us was that they made the decision to take the first step.
So, after months of coaching, working on my “why,” and many talks with Julie, I finally committed. In July 2022, I texted her, “I want to walk across America.” She replied, “Great. What’s the first step?” And that’s when the real work began—planning, saving, training, and building up the mindset I’d need to go the distance.
That year and a half flew by.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Charleston, South Carolina. Enjoy your trip, and we hope to welcome you back to your next United flight soon.” The pilot said over the intercom, jolting me out of my day dream.
When we landed in Charleston, I felt like I was on autopilot. I knew that soon, I’d be completely on my own.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Julie and I’s week in South Carolina together went fast. We laughed, cried, went on ghost tours, explored Charleston and got in our “last week together” before starting. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a piece of me that was truly scared it would be our last time seeing each other. I had no idea what the country had in store for me. But, I was ready for it. Well, as ready as I’d ever be.
Standing on the sand at Myrtle Beach, watching the sun peek over the horizon, I waded into the Atlantic, letting the cold water hit my legs. A million thoughts were racing through my mind, but the loudest was a piece of advice from Andrew Kivett: “The most important step is step one.”
I looked at my phone, “7 A.M., March 10, 2024.”
“No more excuses,” I told myself. Tears welled up in my eyes and my stomach felt tight.
“I’m done walking with the herd, it’s time I go my own way.” Mike said in my headphones. At that moment, I took step one.
And just like that, I was officially walking across America.
Only 5.5 million more steps to the other side.
Holistic Success Coach
CEO – Within Range Coaching
“My problems are excuses for not being who I know I am.”
On the plane from San Francisco, CA to Charleston, SC, Mike Posner's lyrics poured from my headphones into my ears. His song "Slow it Down" had become an anthem for me, a reminder of why I was doing this. Mike’s journey was what sparked this crazy adventure. On that six-hour flight, his music was on repeat.
I looked at my phone to check the time. “7:00 A.M., March 4, 2024.”
As we pulled away from the terminal, Julie, my fiancée, held my hand, squeezing it with a mix of excitement and nerves. “Here we go!” she said, and I could tell she was feeling the same cocktail of emotions I was. As the plane lifted off, I tried to lighten the mood, saying, “It’s funny how this plane ride is going to take six hours, but going back is going to take me about six months.” She laughed, “You better run!” After a few minutes we were just another blip in the sky. I peaked out the window from time to time and thought about what it would be like to be on the ground. I’d find out very soon.
In a few hours, we’d be touching down in South Carolina, marking my first time on the East Coast. And in less than a week, I’d start walking back to California—on foot. Unassisted.
“Most people leave their potential untapped” Mike Posner’s words echoed through my ears. The idea still seemed wild, and I wasn’t sure I was ready. How could I be? This made me sit back
and reflect on how I even got to this point.
Back in 2019, sitting in my fraternity house at UC Davis, I stumbled upon videos and posts from Mike Posner. He was walking across America. I sat up in bed and went through his content.
I watched him on social media meeting people across the country, sharing stories, and sending out his message, “KEEP GOING.” I was in awe. “What an experience!” I thought. I even sent the posts to a few friends, thinking, “I wish I could do something like that.” But just as quickly as the excitement came, it was replaced with words of self-doubt. “I’m not rich or famous—I’m just a regular guy.” These stories bounced through my mind and clouded my dreams. “You don’t have the drive. Or the resources. That’s not for people like you.” That inner-critic spat at me.
Eventually, I sat my phone down, and sat that dream on the backburner. Just like plenty of others before that one.
Growing up, I’d always dreamed of being a veterinarian. I worked hard in high school, got into my dream college, and then hit a wall (well, a few)—General Chemistry, Calculus, Biology, Organic Chemistry, and others. In the end, Animal Science turned out to be more “science” than “animal.” After multiple tear-filled meetings with academic advisors, tutors, and calls with my parents, I switched majors to Economics and watched my dreams of “Andrew ‘Ranger’ Kielak, DVM” slip through my fingers. I’d watch others graduate from the program and get accepted to vet school. “They just have something I don’t, I guess.” I’d tell myself.
This felt like another one of those moments. At this point I was near my highest weight, 300 pounds, was barely scraping by in school, and was looking forward to graduation in December so that I could finally start a new chapter of life- but that new chapter would have its own series of difficult events.
Graduating in December of 2019 meant that many of the job opportunities I thought I’d have at my disposal would disappear come March of 2020. The event planner roles, potential teaching gigs, and more were canceled and stripped away from me. Which, on the bright side, meant I could try things out and experiment a bit career wise.
During COVID, I tried all kinds of jobs and side hustles—bartending, sales, animal care, wine service—and learned a lot about myself, mostly what I didn’t like and wasn’t great at.
Oddly enough, one of the biggest lessons came from TikTok. One night in late 2021, I stumbled on a video by a guy named Andrew Kivett. He’d walked over 2,500 miles across the country, inspired by Mike Posner’s journey. I spent some time scrolling through his content and eventually found another cross-country walker, Mark Dudek, who had shared his story in a podcast. Listening to it, something clicked. These guys, Andrew and Mark, weren’t rich or famous—they were just regular guys.
That made me curious... What about Mike? After listening to a few podcasts he was a guest on, and combing through more of his content, I realized something about him too: he’s just a regular guy from Michigan. He also had fears about starting. He also made excuses. He also told himself he couldn’t do it.
“Uh-oh, I think my problems are excuses. For not being who I know I am.” Mike’s lyrics hit me hard.
Every problem and reason I came up with as to why I couldn’t walk was just that- excuses. Excuses that would prevent me from being who I know I am.
I thought status, wealth, experience, resources, or something special separated me from people like Mike, Andrew, or Mark. None of that was true.
The only thing that separated us was that they made the decision to take the first step.
So, after months of coaching, working on my “why,” and many talks with Julie, I finally committed. In July 2022, I texted her, “I want to walk across America.” She replied, “Great. What’s the first step?” And that’s when the real work began—planning, saving, training, and building up the mindset I’d need to go the distance.
That year and a half flew by.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Charleston, South Carolina. Enjoy your trip, and we hope to welcome you back to your next United flight soon.” The pilot said over the intercom, jolting me out of my day dream.
When we landed in Charleston, I felt like I was on autopilot. I knew that soon, I’d be completely on my own.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Julie and I’s week in South Carolina together went fast. We laughed, cried, went on ghost tours, explored Charleston and got in our “last week together” before starting. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a piece of me that was truly scared it would be our last time seeing each other. I had no idea what the country had in store for me. But, I was ready for it. Well, as ready as I’d ever be.
Standing on the sand at Myrtle Beach, watching the sun peek over the horizon, I waded into the Atlantic, letting the cold water hit my legs. A million thoughts were racing through my mind, but the loudest was a piece of advice from Andrew Kivett: “The most important step is step one.”
I looked at my phone, “7 A.M., March 10, 2024.”
“No more excuses,” I told myself. Tears welled up in my eyes and my stomach felt tight.
“I’m done walking with the herd, it’s time I go my own way.” Mike said in my headphones. At that moment, I took step one.
And just like that, I was officially walking across America.
Only 5.5 million more steps to the other side.
