The Freeport High School cross country team was having a distance run Saturday morning when a chance meeting gave them a new perspective on the term "distance."

As several runners were finishing their practice on the Butler Freeport Community Trail in Buffalo Township, a woman approached the team and introduced herself.

Ashley Kumlien of Brookfield, Wis., once a cross country runner herself, is now running, literally, across the country.

Kumlien, 26, is on a coast-to-coast trek to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease that has afflicted her mother, Jill Kumlien, for 28 years.

"My mom has had this for so long," Kumlien said, "and I think the way that she views every day, she is very grateful the abilities that she still has. She has a great outlook on life.

"I think it is a viewpoint that people could definitely use right now."

Starting from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on March 22, Kumlien has spent nearly six months running across the United States. She plans to finish on the steps of city hall in New York City on Sept. 28 when she completes her 3,230 mile trip.

She has been traveling with a two-person support team of- her fiance, Andrew Date of Australia, and friend, Stephanie Harbaugh of Wisconsin.

It was a twist of fate that brought Kumlien and the young runners together for an impromptu chat on Saturday.

The cross country team's coach scheduled the Saturday practice at the last minute because several runners missed a regular practice so they could perform with the school's band on Friday. It was a fortunate turn of events.

"They were really excited, which is nice," Kumlien said of the Freeport team. "Andrew said, 'That looks like a cross country team. Let's go over.' I was probably a little more nervous to approach people who aren't expecting it, but it was really great to meet the group."

The students asked Kumlien about her training, her shoes, her diet and how far she runs each day. On Saturday, she ran 24 miles, and planned to travel 27 miles on Sunday.

She runs 20 to 30 miles each day.

Zoe Reitz, 15, a 10th grader, had just finished an 8-mile run when she saw Kumlien talking with her teammates.

"I was blown away," Zoe said of Kumlien's mission. "Of all the places to see something like that. I didn't expect it on the trail right behind my house in Sarver, Pa. It was a really inspiring story."

Freshman Kelly Amadee, 14, said she was impressed with Kumlien's determination and drive, including how far she runs each day.

"She runs twice a day, in the morning and at night, and to do that every day, all the way across America," Kelly said. "It's mind blowing that she even does that."

Kumlien founded the nonprofit organization, MS Run the US, to raise both funds and awareness. Proceeds are donated to The National MS Society and The Montel Williams MS Foundation, according to the organization's website.

With a goal to raise $500,000, Kumlien said she has raised about $36,000 to date.

Followers of Kumlien's trip can get real-time updates on her progress through her website, www.MSRuntheUS.com. Through an update, she posted "Just ran into the Freeport PA cross country team. Very cool group of runners. Run on!"

Kumlien stressed safety to the students on Saturday and says she always has an escort vehicle with her.

While she and her two-person support team have a motor home on the trip, they also have been hosted in the homes of many people along the way, including the family of a friend, Mars native Jessica Juda, on Friday night.

Kumlien said Date and Harbaugh take turns driving the escort vehicle and running with her, "so I am not usually on the highway by myself, which is nice."

Kumlien stayed in Kittanning on Saturday night and started out for another 27 mile leg on Sunday morning.

"It is so hilly," she said of the terrain in Western Pennsylvania, "but it's so beautiful that I don't mind running the hills."