Like many Americans, Andrew Wahila, Matt Durkin and Ken Stannard spent Memorial Day on the beach, but rather than the beginning of a vacation, it was the end of a journey.

The three New Yorkers finished their 2,800-mile cross-country run on Memorial Day in San Diego. Their 116-day trip began Feb. 1 in Tybee Island, Ga., and crossed through the Dallas- Fort Worth area in March.

“It was an incredible experience,” Ken Stannard said. “It was an experience that I wouldn’t give up.”

At times during their coast-to-coast journey, the 23-year-olds had to rely on strangers for help. But when strangers didn’t lend a hand, the trio survived on their own with essentials that they pushed in two jogging strollers.

Courtesy Photo

From left, Ken Stannard, Andrew Wahila and Matt Durkin, shown during a stop at the Grand Canyon, completed a 116-day trek across the country on Memorial Day.

View larger More photos Photo store

The plan was hatched while studying at State University of New York at Oneonta, but it wasn’t until they all graduated that they put it in motion.

In March, they crossed through the area on U.S. Highway 380. Two months later, the trio was welcomed to San Diego by a group of 30 to 40 family members and friends.

However, it didn’t take them long to start running again.

Five days after the end of their run, Wahila, Durkin and Stannard ran in the San Diego Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon, finishing in just more than four hours. It was Durkin and Stannard’s first marathon.

“We are pretty sore,” Stannard said, “but we had a lot of fun.”

DAN X. McGRAW can be reached at 940-566-6875.

* 2,788 — estimated miles ran

* 75 — pounds carried in two jogging strollers

* 8 — pairs of shoes each for the trip

* 30 — dollars budgeted for food each day

* 24.03 — average mileage per day