Becoming Forrest: One Man's Epic Run Across America

by Rob Pope

The remarkable true story of an unrivalled journey to recreate the greatest run in film history: 15,621 miles, five-times across the United States.

‘Rob Pope has made his name revelling in challenges that range from the unconventional to the extraordinary.’ BBC News

Becoming Forrest is the incredible story of Englishman Rob Pope, a veterinarian who left his job in pursuit of a dream – to become the first person ever to complete the epic run undertaken by one of Hollywood’s most beloved characters, Forrest Gump. After his momma urged him “to do one thing in life that made a difference”, he flew to Alabama, put on his running shoes, and sped off into the wilderness.

His remarkable journey covered 15,600 miles, the distance from the North to the South Pole and a third of the way back. Over a grueling 18 months, braving injuries, blizzards, forest fires and deadly wildlife, he crossed the United States five times. During one of the most turbulent periods in recent American history, Rob immersed himself in American life. His time on the open road saw him forever changed, trying to make that difference, in the process of Becoming Forrest.

This is a tale of one man who just wanted to make a difference.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Travel, Memoir, Sports, Adventure

432 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2022

Reviews

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob Pope is an English ultramarathoner who, between 2016 and 2018, ran across the United States over 4 times, logging over 15,000 miles, while retracing the journey of Forrest Gump, sometimes even in full Forrest Gump cosplay. The run wasn't continuous -- he took breaks along the way and flew back to England many times due to his visa status -- and cumulatively he ran for 422 days averaged 37 miles/day. His run was inspired by his love of the movie Forrest Gump, curiosity of and appreciation for American culture, and his late mother's edict to do something to make a difference -- through his run, he raised nearly $50K USD for various charities, though he struggled financially for much of the run and found himself couch-surfing or camping outdoors some nights. He was accompanied by family and friends for parts of the run, while other parts he ran by himself, propelling his equipment in a running stroller he nicknamed Pram Solo and leading many passersby to think he was actually running with a baby (leading to some police calls during highway segments of his run); this was somewhat poetic in that his run finally ended in Utah's Monument Valley when he proposed to his girlfriend who had recently given birth to their first child.

Becoming Forrest is Pope's memoir of this journey. It was an interesting read, though often it came across as a breezy and surprisingly political travelogue focusing more on the sights and sounds along the way than the actual running journey. It wasn't nearly as circumspect and inwardly-focused as similar ultramarathoners' books like Emily Hanlon's To the Gorge: Running, Grief, and Resilience & 460 Miles on the Pacific Crest Trail or Catra Corbett's Reborn on the Run: My Journey from Addiction to Ultramarathons. Definitely a unique book and a unique story.

Further reading: long-distance journeys and Americana
The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck
Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery
Bold Spirit: Helga Estby's Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America by Linda Lawrence Hunt
The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey into the Old West by Will Grant | my review

My statistics:
Book 99 for 2025
Book 2025 cumulatively

[Kristi Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a runner. I am not athletic. I was not sure I would enjoy listening to a book about a man who ran across America (4 times!). I was very pleasantly surprised when I learned of Rob Pope's adventures as he ran through 43 of the states during his 15,300 miles run following the route taken by Forrest Gump in the movie of the same name. His story was overwhelming to hear how he faced the problems along the way - Jenny, the RV used for sleeping and supplies, breaking down, and Pram Solo, a four-wheel carriage for a baby, used for all of Pope's gear when the RV was not along on the trip. However, hearing his stories of the generosity of people and the way he overcame adversity was inspiring. During his run, he raised awareness and funds for the World Wildlife Fund and Peace Direct.

Again, I am not a runner. I am not an athlete. For those interested in inspirational stories and achieving a goal (Pope's mother asked him to make a promise of "Do one thing in your life that makes a difference") this book is highly recommended.

[Michael Kauter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Becoming Forrest. Easy to read, it is a travelogue from the perspective of a marathon runner emulating Forrest Gump’s 15,000 mile crossings of the US.

[Mauricio Coindreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob is an inspiration, a true living legend and one of the most wonderful human beings to walk this earth. This book is a recognition of the limitless boundaries a human can endure with the right mindset and a funny, insightful and entertaining adventure. A book I will always recommend and continue to remember as I strive to achieve 1% of what Rob has done throughout his efforts to make this world better. Thanks Rob for sharing your story.

[Monica T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m an avid Forest Gump fan, as well passionate about running, this was a great read!!
The author adds history , determination and some humor . Maybe we “ can all be a little Forest Gump.”

[Thebestdogmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the movie Forrest Gump and I’m an avid marathoner. So this book was right up my alley. I thought I’d enjoy it but I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. I have a love of travel and have been to so many of the places (so many small towns and off the wall attractions) that were passed by on Pope’s journey. What a cool thing he did recreating the Forrest Gump run. Truly and amazing accomplishment. I only wish I had known about it when it was happening. I would have loved to run a few miles on his many time transcontinental run.
Thanks Rob for sharing your amazing adventure with us!!!

[Libby Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would’ve thought an endurance adventure with a Scouse twist and movie tie-ins would be so fun?

In all honesty, me, as I do have an affinity for all of those things. I never would’ve thought it could be so entertaining though. I can’t believe this is a relative hidden gem in this sub-genre of books I keep finding myself in, as it’s by far one of the best I’ve read.

Frequently hilarious, authentic, informative, it really ticks all the boxes. Really excited to see if this author does anything else writing-related.

Would be a 4.5/5 if I could do that on Goodreads.

[Mwenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! If you like to travel, you’ll enjoy this epic trip back and forth across small-town America. If you like to run, you’ll be inspired by this journey. If you like music, you’ll enjoy the references sprinkled throughout the book. If you like Forrest Gump, you’ll love the run brought to life. This is also a story about family and friendship and faith in humanity.

[Ultra Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an ultrarunner, so naturally this book was a nice read. What an amazing feat! I liked the author's sense of humor and honesty. Plus it was a nice revisit of the areas in America that I don't go to very often.

[Trio25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, I could never imagine running as far or fast as he does but loved being along for the journey.

[Morgan Porzsolt-Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 with a 4 star finish. A solid reminder there is much good in the world.

[Peter Stillings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mega

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this on the strength of an article I saw. The achievement of crossing the country 5 times is not to be sniffed at, although maybe that does make the book a bit on the long side. For me the book is more interesting when Rob's on his own and meeting the random people he comes across and the kindness of strangers. There's definitely a few parts where it feels like just a list of things he'd done on the run, particularly early on.

[Pat Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read. For me, there is always a lot of inspiration in these types of books, particularly the descriptions of scenery/culture and the kindness of strangers. This book provides all that and relates it all back to the movie (which I now need to watch again). If you liked the movie &/or would love a deep dive look at the vastness and beauty of our country from the perspective of someone from another country - in this case a veterinarian from Liverpool, this is the book for you!

[Gareth Overton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to audible audiobook, read by the author. Excellent book: phenomenal athlete but brings it all right down to earth. Ultimately a book about the kindness of strangers and a desire to do something great in life.

[Nicky Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving it!
Am half way through in 2days and feel like I'm living the journey with him. Loving every minute x

[Sarah Ewald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forrest Gump only ran in snippets in the movie. Rob Pope ran for real, trying to emulate and re-create the journey Forrest Gump took in the movie. His accomplishment is pretty awesome.
I am always sad when I finish a book about an epic adventure. This was quite one, and it boggles the mind how he did it. He and his wife did buy an RV with which she would set up camp at the end of a day's run, nicknamed Jenny. However, the trip was often solo as she needed to return home. His trip came in sections as long as his visa allowed, having to return home to work and to re-apply for the visa for the next leg.
My only regret is that I did not have an atlas by my side to trace his journey across America. I will now have to re-watch the movie, and search for the documentary.

As someone from the UK running in the US of A, Rob encountered America and the differing opinions of those he met along the way. He started around the time of the 2016 election and struggled with our politics.
"On arrival at Happy's Irish pub, which has a running club, a few hours later, I was pleasantly surprised to see about a hundred or so runners in attendance. Apparently there were usually more, but the weather had put some people off. ..... The conversation inevitably veered towards the topic of the Trump-Clinton Presidential (in name only) Debate of the previous evening. Opinions were varied, but most felt disappointed in the schoolyard tactics on display." (I can only assume he was talking about Trump...)

About running through Wisconsin (Viroqua in particular)...
"Taking the roads designated with a letter rather than a number, I knew I was in for a quiet and peaceful time. I passed the mot picture-perfect barn with a huge Stars and Stripes adorning the front wall. This was the sort of stuff you could get patriotic about, for sure."

I cannot imagine running through the inclement (snowy) weather he encountered...
"The first two small snow flurries hit the next day. It wasn't just the weather forecast or the time of the year that had me braced for the big freeze; it was the sight of huge roadside barricades to stop the tidal wave of snowdrifts that had already started to cover Canada and Montana. Looking to the southeast, where the Rockies looked to be getting smashed, I felt certain I was going to get caught in the middle of it all. A vicious headwind with a bite in the tail made itself a very unwelcome party guest and, frequently bring me to a complete standstill. It would have helped if I wasn't pushing what was effectively a fifty-kilogram sail into a gale. (he was pushing a running stroller that held his supplies.) I swore into the maelstrom, but the wind just laughed back. It was probably better to be in on the joke rather than the subject of it, so I embraced the absurdity of my situation whenever I appeared to be pushing water uphill or I had to retreat the length of a football field to retrieve my blown-off cap. If I didn't laugh, I'd cry."

An epic adventure and a fun read.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

In many ways this should have been an ideal travelogue and adventure for me to read, and I’m struggling to put my finger on why it’s not. I like books such as this, I love reading about America and places I know myself, while wondering about the physical feat and mental toughness required to undertake these epic journeys. But I don’t know, the book just left me a bit bored after two hundred pages of “I ran to this town, and then I ran on to the next town and then I ran to the one after that.” It began to feel like a drudge. Perhaps it was because the author didn’t meet all that many people (as he basically would have ran past most of them), and then, at night, maybe he was too knackered to do much more than eat dinner, drink a beer and collapse into bed? I’d have been interested, for example, in how he felt running through the less salubrious city neighbourhoods where he surely must have sometimes feared for his safety? What was his view of gun crime? American poverty? Healthcare? Police presence? Drug issues? I don’t know, maybe he was too busy running past it all to really notice?
I was disappointed to have to give up this book, but I couldn’t see it becoming any more interesting after running across America twice with barely one notable event or opinion gracing the page. It also didn’t help that I picked up “Gone Fishing” and was immediately entranced by the warmth, humour, intelligence and humanity expressed within the first few chapters by Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer. It’s strange that two blokes sitting by a riverbank indulging in the utterly boring pastime of fishing can entrance you more than a bloke running across and through contemporary American heartlands, but there you go.

[Smitchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rob Pope, English veterinarian and running enthusiast, decides to re-create the run made by the (fictional) Forrest Gump. Over 2 calendar years and in 5 legs (he had to return to England to re-set his visa several times) he travels over 15,000 miles and crosses the United States 5 times. Along the way he deals with bad roads, injuries, intolerant drivers, weather from baking heat to snow storms , and bears. He also encounters incredible generosity, encouragement, and beautiful landscapes.

Pope shares his ups and downs, both mental and physical, and the best and worst of his encounters across a massively diverse country. If you love running and are considering marathons, ultra-marathons or seriously long-distance runs then this book will be inspiring.

Personally, after reading it I didn't really want to lace up the sneakers and head out for a run but then the best I can manage is a slow jog. Some books about travel make me long to be out and about like Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods or Graeme Simsion and Annie Buist's fictional Two Steps Forward - maybe I am just aware of my own limitations and hiking is as fast as I get. Rob Pope I really do respect your achievement. I know I could not do it.

[Kim McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars
Rob Pope began as a veterinarian in England but followed his dream to America to literally run almost coast-to-coast just like his movie idol Forrest Gump. He even grew his hair long and sported a long beard a la Forrest. 18 months and over 15,000 miles later he and his girlfriend/support team met countless new friends, suffered a barrage of aches and injuries, raised money for various charities and saw much of the states even those of us who were born and raised here never see. Even for an ultra-athlete his accomplishment was amazing. Part memoir, part travelogue this is a fun run the likes of TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY and THE RIDE OF HER LIFE. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not run and never would have discovered this book, let alone read it, other than the fact that my son gave it a 5 star rating. I wanted to try it and decided my best chance on getting through it would be listening to the audio version, narrated by the author. It took me a while to get into it but am so happy that I did. It was refreshing to encounter someone so motivated to make a difference in this world. I loved the way he immersed himself in American culture and the many positive stories he told. The other thing I loved about his story is that his writing was so descriptive that I felt I was revisiting places I enjoyed and getting a glimpse of places I would likely never have the opportunity to visit.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story with a great ending. It could have been shorter but I got the feeling that the author had to mention every single city or town he passed through, even if it was just saying and then I ran through Knot Hole, IN (or wherever) in 15 minutes. His run is kind of epic and now I want to see the movie again.

[David Whitesell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always looking for new things to listen too during my training runs. Becoming Forrest is an excellent answer. Not only is it a captivating story, but it also provides motivation for whatever level of running you are at. "If Rob can run xyz (not giving away any secrets) then I can surely do whatever my training plan has in store for me today"

[Michael Duprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great American Road Trip... Five times... Back to back... On foot.

From the first chapter I could tell I was going to be sad to see this journey come to an end.

It is this type of real-life adventure that I find so exciting to live vicariously through, and to find inspiration in to find my own adventure and to run, Forrest, run!

[Du · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, in the sense that it was crazy to read that someone did this, and admirable that he did it to raise money, but beyond that... The writing is friendly and enjoyable, but there is no depth to this and no real mission, beyond recounting the story. Good quick weekend read.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book isn't bad but when I got to Chapter 5 I didn't really have any resolve to finish it. I admire him for his efforts and his willingness to raise money for a great cause and I may go back and finish it in the future but for now I'm moving onto my next read.

[Daedra Surowiec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a runner, let alone a ultra marathoner, but I loved the way this book brought the American landscape to life. It was a very entertaining travelogue of the US and all the kind people within it (for the most part!). A mind blowing accomplishment that is incredibly inspiring.

[Scott Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 stars. Rob Pope does a great job of allowing you a front row seat for this crazy journey as well an open view into his thoughts and feelings throughout the highs and the lows. Highly recommend to runners/adventurers/travelers.

[Sarah Sharits · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I wanted to love this book but it was just kinda boring. I’m not even sure what could be done to make 15,000+ miles of running more exciting. I guess I was hoping for a Bill Bryson writing style and just didn’t get that.

[R.J. Southworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something felt lacking about this book. It’s a nice little travelogue - I especially liked all the references to nature which enhance the sense of place - but I was expecting something meatier, perhaps with more talk about the running itself.