Red Wing, MN, May 31, 2011 –

Vasque ambassador and U.S. Army veteran Mike Ehredt, who made national headlines during his inspirational 2010 Project American Run, will once again pay tribute to wounded veterans with a unique ultra-distance run this spring.

Running in the Vasque Mindbenders – a lightweight, yet rock-solid shoe designed to chew up and spit out the miles – Ehredt will run 500 miles across Spain in 20 days on the ancient and holy route known as the Camino de Santiago.

The route, more than 1,500 years old, is a World Heritage site that was walked by pilgrims to fulfill the penance bestowed upon them on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where the remains of the apostle St. James are said to be buried.

“It is my motivation and ambition to continue to run long distances in honor of our service members who cannot run,” Ehredt said. “My mission is to complete a 500-mile run through Spain to raise awareness and funds for Honoring Our Veterans and the work they do providing social and rehabilitative services to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans in Jackson Hole, Wyo.”

The Camino de Santiago has been in existence since the 8th century with numerous routes originating across Europe. The route Ehredt will take is the 468-mile Camino de Frances, on a mixture of pavement, gravel roads, pasture and mountain trails. Ehredt will begin May 25 and finish 16 days later, averaging 26-30 miles a day. At Santiago de Compostela, he will continue another 40 miles to Finisterre, to make it 500 miles. His journey will be completely self reliant, carrying what he needs on his back along with the names of every service member who died in Afghanistan.

“Project America Run was unique in that it formed a wall of flags across the country,” Ehredt said of his awe-inspiring 4,500-mile run across the country in 2010, where he placed flags at every mile to honor fallen service members.  “By continuing this year by choosing to run across Spain on the holy Camino de Santiago, I complete the connection of spirituality between the two.”

To learn more about Ehredt’s journey and why he runs, visit him on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdbHbLFA7NI