Modern Day Forrest Gump Makes His Way Through New York’s Capital Region

There may not be a more iconic fictional American than Forrest Gump. The well meaning Alabamian met everyone of note and was at every event of note in the 20th century.

Maybe his greatest accomplishment was his cross-country run, making his way across America only on foot. Now, one man is following in his footsteps (literally).

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Noah Coughlan's Run Across America

Noah Coughlan is undertaking a massive journey. Starting on October 18th, 2024, he began crossing every single state in America on foot to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary. He's planned to finish his quest on July 4th, 2026.

This will be Coughlan's fifth coast to coast run, but by making sure to hit all 50 states, he'll become just the third person in history to complete this monumental challenge. The journey is 5,500 miles in total, no small feat whatsoever, and he's finally making his way through the Empire State.

Coughlan Hits the Capital Region

Coughlan entered the state in the last week of December, already crossing off 42 states on his list. On his journey, he made his way through the Capital Region, crossing from Schenectady to Troy. He spent a lot of time in the region, taking interviews with local organizations and checking out local spots we all know and love.

He is officially leaving the region today, January 2nd 2026, and intends to make his way north through Utica and Rochester. If you happen to see a shirtless man running across the street with an 8-foot American Flag over his head, odds are, you're running into him.