My friend Tina Custode dropped me off at the Lighthouse at on Friday 2/19 for a 6am start. I would run the first 71 miles solo.
My first checkpoint (aid station) was at the Surf Dog Bar and Grill near the Woodbine Airport. I was crewed by friend Michael Plunkett who is an avid ultramarathoner as well and was on point with everything I could have asked for. Being an experienced ultramarathoner gives you knowledge about the needs of one and after a marathon distance already behind me I was ready for some real food, Michael brought me a bagel sandwich, refilled my water and after a short chat I was back at it.
It started to get hot while running on Friday and 3 miles before my next checkpoint I had run out of water, and I knew if I became dehydrated it could be a detriment to my run. I decided on would knock on someone's door. As luck would have it the first door I knocked on, I told the nice couple about what I was doing and the predicament I was in, they politely offered me two bottles of Poland Spring Water, my favorite kind! How did they know?
Just 3 miles later with a stop at Ricks Backyard BBQ & Grill at the second checkpoint I was greeted with signs and cheers from friends Nevan Soumilas and Jackie Ferris Kelly! They would also crew me along with Michael Plunkett and my Crew Chief Julia Alford Pierce. With a bagel sandwich, a full baguette and enough food to feed a small army I was fully stocked with provisions and water and after a short break and discussion and review of my times etc. on her spreadsheet (Julia is the excel spreadsheet Queen) I was off and running again.
About halfway to the next checkpoint, I decided I needed an unscheduled break for some food and coffee, I would see my girlfriend Sol Rios who is an amazing human being and is always up for any running adventures I involve myself with. She would bring me coffee and chicken noodle soup, seeing Sol for the first time along with the coffee and soup would be a great source of energy.
At the Pic A Lilli Inn I would be crewed by my Sol & Julia and had friends Mary Ann Tiscione Gurka, Robert Roth & Eric Escalon come to Cheer. From there I would be paced approximately 18 miles by friend Shawn McDonald. I would try to nap her but there was too much excitement, and my body just wasn't ready yet.
At the Wawa at 206 & Monmouth Rd. I was joined by friend Dan Strasser who paced me for the next 22 miles and crewing was Sol & Julia. Dan & I celebrated my distance PR of 107 miles since the maximum I had ever run was 106 miles at the Grindstone 100.
At the Quaker Bridge Mall, I would be paced by friend & running buddy Tina Custode. Tina who is an accomplished Ultra Runner herself would be my pacer for the next 41 miles. Crewing her was handled by Sol, Julia and new friend Katie Flowers whom I just met when she saw my post about doing the FKT & her friend Kathie Tipton who brought spaghetti and baked potatoes...yum! Tina's husband Frank Custode was there to Cheer and graciously sharing his awesome wife to help me achieve my goal.
Before stopping at the next checkpoint things started to get difficult and, I was over 120 miles and starting to feel the effects of being on my feet this long as this was also a time PR for me at this point since I had never gone more than 34 hours in a race. And as I recall this is where we started to experience some elevation. Sol and Julia met us about halfway to checkpoint 6 where I would get my first nap. As I recall it was about 15 minutes. At this point we also decided that it would be a could idea to add mid distance check points since 20 plus miles between checkpoints was becoming difficult especially during the day when it was hot After some food, a refill on water and provisions we were off and running again.
At checkpoint 6 at the Dunkin Donuts on 206 & in Hillsborough I would be crewed by Sol and joined by friends Amy & Jimmy Liu who drove quite a distance just to come and cheer me on. After some food, provisions and a coffee we were off and running again. Maybe America does run on Dunkin?
After checkpoint 6 things became extremely difficult, and I did some significant walking before meeting Sol at the next stop between checkpoint 6 & 7. I was getting tired and with 140 plus miles on my feet they started to hurt significantly. Julia felt protein would be beneficial at this point and she was spot on as I always smell and crave what I need when I'm doing Ultras. I swear I could smell Cheesesteaks miles away at this point. I called Sol and told her I needed a hamburger, and Julia heard it was best to ingest protein prior to sleep. I found a veterinarian with a quiet parking lot and Sol met me there with a burger and the cot. After what seemed like the best burger I had ever eaten and a 45-minute nap, we filled my water bottles and vest with provisions and Tina, and I were back at it.
At checkpoint 7 we would once again be greeted by Sol who was crew and friend, pacer and Ultra legend himself, Bob Law who met us at the Dunkin in Newton. Here I would take a 10–15-minute nap, fill up on water and provisions and then it was me and the Law Man for the next 22.
Our next mid-point aid station was just over 160 miles where I would get a short nap, water and provisions.
Before my next scheduled stop I looked at my watch to check pace as I do often (mile 168) and saw it was back to the main screen. To my horror I only had 2% battery life on it. I did have a portable charger and all cords I would need for any portable device I had with me, I was able to charge my watch as we ran. As they say those who fail to plan, plan to fail. (I have added Bob's Strava for this section for verification)
Putting the thought of what might or might not be with the FKT due to the nature of not having all of the run documented in one activity and how much of the run didn't get documented I just continued to run and focus on the goal at hand.
At checkpoint 8 we needed to pivot since we passed the scheduled checkpoint at mile 176 which was just of the actual FKT route. Sol and Julia met us at a small gas station, as I recall crew felt it was a good idea to take at least a quick nap since we would face a lot of elevation in the last 20 miles of the run. After a quick nap, some food, a full charge on my watch and provisions I was once again handed off to the capable hands of Tina who would pace me to the finish. Sol took Bob back to his car so he could return home.
At this point, since we were so far from home, we were down to a skeleton crew of Sol, Tina and me. We found a place to meet Sol midway from checkpoint 8 and I got a quick foot massage, shoe change and all of the necessary provisions. It was time for the final push and the hardest part of the journey. It was the most beautiful part of the journey. We were gifted beautiful weather, rolling hills, countryside homesteads and beautiful views.
About 6.5 miles from the finish I would once again run out of water, but Sol was close by and came to my aid once again.
After that we started the significant climbing portion of the route. I started thinking to myself how incredible the entire journey was and how many people came to help me achieve my goal and how blessed I am to be surrounded by such wonderful humans. And speaking of wonderful humans, 4 miles from the finish Tina and I would once again be greeted by Sol who was cheering for me just as much as the first time she saw me back around mile 60. This time it was at a local pizza shop and there was my girl waiting, dressed in her Bud's Buddie's tank top from my first 100-mile race, shout out to Ben and everyone at the Eastern States 100!
I swear Sol knows me better than I know myself sometimes. There she was pizza in one hand and a coke in the other. After a quick stop, and fuel it was time for the final, final push. Shit got real, we would climb 250 feet per mile over the next 4 miles. Some of those hills were daunting especially with more than 190 miles on my feet. My feet hurt...a lot, but this was not the time to start thinking about anything other than finishing. When we finally reached High Point State Park there was still 1.5 miles to go. I was shocked when I saw the monument standing high atop the hill. With all of the preparation I did I failed to even look up anything about High Point State Park or the monument. I had envisioned a Rock similar in size to that in size from the Hardrock 100 with a placard on it saying "this is the high point of New Jersey. I had no idea it was going to be the magnitude it was.
We finally traversed the trail up to the monument and were blessed with magnificent views! What a gift this was. What an incredible way to finish what to many may seem like something so silly, running 197 miles. Who would do that? Why? Are you being chased?
After high fives and hugs from Sol, Tina and Frank we meandered around the monument in awe, soaking it all in and relishing in the magnitude of the journey that had transpired over the last 57 hours, 27 minutes and 43 seconds.
I can't thank those enough who helped me achieve my goal especially my Sol(mate) who is always right there by my side, supporting me, encouraging me and loving me. To date this has become my "Everest" of my running journey. A journey that has just begun, in a sport that has given me so much. This was truly an amazing journey that will be an accomplishment I remember for the rest of my life.