Man runs through all 50 states in honor of nation's 250th birthday

In celebration of America’s upcoming 250th birthday, a man is running across all 50 states, on a 5,500-mile journey across the country.

According to WKOW News, an ABC News affiliate, Noah Coughlan began the run Oct. 18 and is currently making his way across the country for the fifth time in 15 years. He plans to finish the run in Hawaii on July 4. 

Running with an American flag given to him by the United States Air Force, Coughlan said that the journey across the nation allows him to see a unique perspective of America, News 8 reported. 

"When you see the country on foot, it's very intimate," Coughlan said according to WKOW News. "It's very up close and personal as opposed to driving through or passing through on a plane. You go town to town, you start to realize, I start to realize, that we actually have a lot more in common than we do apart."

The run also requires significant preparation and endurance. Coughlan said that he consumes about 10,000 calories a day to keep up with the physical demands and has already gone through six pairs of running shoes along the route.

Coughlan has been running between 10 and 40 miles each day, pushing through winter conditions including snow, icy roads, and freezing temperatures.

Despite the challenges, Coughlan said that the most rewarding part of the journey has been meeting people across the country. 

“I think it shows the kindness the American people, the goodwill of all of us,” Coughlan said. “You know, I've been saying we have a lot more in common than we do apart. And it's just, America is a special place because of the people."