In 2012 John Pyle accomplished one of the most remarkable athletic feats anyone ever has: He ran across the country while carrying the United States flag each pain-ridden step of the way.

Nearly six years later he is on the run again, only this time from the law.

Pyle, who was charged with 30 counts of possessing child pornography in 2016, failed to show up for a pre-trial court hearing over three months ago and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

No one, it seems, has seen Pyle, who formerly wore a white prospector’s mustache and was very visible in the local running community and beyond. Forced to surrender his passport as part of his bond, it is likely he is still in the United States.

Pyle, who was facing as much as 450 years in prison, did not appear at a hearing on Oct. 23, 2017. The same day his attorney, Steven Zimath, filed a motion in court withdrawing his representation of Pyle and stated in a document that “despite diligent efforts all attempts to regain contact with the defendant have failed, all known points of contact have been exhausted and the current whereabouts of the defendant are unknown.’’

Zimath did not comment about the case when reached Friday.

Pyle’s trial had been scheduled for Nov. 6, 2017. He has forfeited $90,000 for his bond, according to court records.

Late last July and early August Pyle was seen several times running on Siesta Key Beach – alone and with a companion – though his appearance had changed. Gone was the trademark mustache, replaced by a full white beard.

Assistant State Attorney Ryan Felix said the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service are actively searching for Pyle.

“I have confidence they will find him and eventually he will be prosecuted,’’ Felix said.

On June 24, 2016 detectives searched Pyle’s condo on South Osprey Avenue after receiving three tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, records show.

According to the arrest report detectives searched Pyle’s laptop and discovered 31 images of child pornography and an additional 15 images containing sexual misconduct and two images of child pornography involving bondage, one of which involved a 1-year-old girl.

The arrest was especially shocking to those in the local running community as Pyle once accomplished something quite remarkable. In an attempt to raise money for the Wounded Warriors Project, Pyle ran 3,273 miles from San Francisco to Key West, starting on March 1, 2012 and ending on May 20 of the same year.

Included was 1,000 miles through the desert while wearing ski goggles and 800 miles through the nothingness of Texas. He carried the flag every step of way.

According to a story in the Herald-Tribune, Pyle ran 83 straight days, averaging 39.69 miles per day. He went through 22 pair of shoes, 166 Band-Aids and 200 gallons of water.

The story also mentioned one of Pyle’s tattoos: “Success requires relentless forward progress.’’

It reminded him to keep running.