Mai Richards Carries Stories, Sacrifice Across South Dakota
With an American flag in hand and more than 400 miles stretching across South Dakota ahead of her, MaiRichardsisdiscovering that the hardest part of her “Miles of Honor” journey is not always the physical distance.
It’s the emotional weight carried between the miles.
Richards passed through the Wessington Springs area Thursday, May 7, as part of her 25day endurance run from Sioux Falls to Sturgis ahead of Memorial Day. The Spearfish native is running 18 to 22 miles each day while raising money and awareness for South Dakota veteran organizations through her “Miles of Honor” campaign.
But somewhere between the highway shoulders, quiet stretches of prairie and conversations with strangers, the journey has become something more personal and profound than even she anticipated.
“One thing I’m experiencing on this run that I never have before is the emotional weight of being seen by so many people while still spending most of the journey completely alone,” Richards said.
For years, running has been deeply personal for Richards, who said it began as a way to process difficult moments growing up.
“Running has always been personal for me,” she said. “It’s usually something I do quietly to process life, think, pray or push through pain.”
Richards, who was adopted from Vietnam at age four along with her twin sister into a family of 10, said her upbringing shaped both her gratitude for life in America and her desire to give back.
“Being adopted is one of the greatest gifts of my life,” she said. “It’s something that continues to shape how I live and what I value.”
Though she never served in the military herself due to a congenital birth defect that left her blind in one eye, Richards said she has always felt deeply inspired by military service and sacrifice.
“I think many people can agree that we probably could take care of our veterans a lot better,” she said. “This is my small way of being able to do that.”
For the past five years, Richards has honored Memorial Day by running 22 miles carrying the American flag. The distance originally came from the stretch between her home and the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, where previous runs concluded.
What started as a passing joke about running across South Dakota slowly became reality.
“This year is also the 250th anniversary of America,” Richards said. “I kept thinking about what better way to celebrate that and remind people why we have the freedoms and privileges we do.”
Now, the miles have become layered not only with physical exhaustion, but also with the stories entrusted to her by veterans, families and strangers she meets along the route.
“Every town, every veteran, every family member and every person who stops me to share a story adds another layer to the miles,” she said. “People trust me with pieces of their grief, memories, love and loss.”
She said carrying those emotions while spending hours alone on the road has forced her into a level of reflection unlike anything she has previously experienced.
“You really cannot hide from yourself in something like this,” Richards said. “The focus becomes very singular. It’s just the road, the weather, my thoughts and the miles every single day for weeks at a time.”
At times, she said, she reflects on sacrifice itself — both military sacrifice and personal sacrifice.
“When I’m out there running carrying the U.S. flag, I spend a lot of time thinking about the stories people have shared with me and the people they’ve lost,” she said. “I think about sacrifice a lot.”
She said the perspective helps ground her during difficult stretches.
“No amount of physical pain or temporary suffering I experience during this run will ever compare to the grief carried by the families and loved ones left behind,” Richards said.
Along the way, she has also found encouragement in unexpected places.
“Complete strangers continue to meet me with kindness,” she said. “People stop on the side of the road, pray for me, honk, wave, offer meals, hugs, water and encouragement.”
Richards said moving across the state at a runner’s pace changes how communities are experienced.
“Most people drive through these towns in a matter of hours,” she said. “But when you run through them, you really see them.”
Her fundraising efforts support organizations including the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, Veterans Helping Hands of South Dakota, participating American Legion posts and the Carry Hearts Good Ride.
Richards said she hopes people view the mission not through politics, but through remembrance.
“We have lost service members from every background, belief system and political party,” she said. “What matters most is remembering the people who gave their lives in service to our country.”
The run is scheduled to conclude Memorial Day in Sturgis during a closing ceremony at the Harley-Davidson Rally Point Plaza.
For Richards, the message she hopes remains long after the final mile is crossed is simple.
“One of the best ways we can honor veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice, is to try to live a life worthy of that sacrifice every single day.”
