I’m a 62 year old vegan. (Turn 63 on 6/21/2026). I’ve been doing ultra runs since 2010. During Covid I started running sections of the NCT and ended up covering the whole trail in Pennsylvania. During this time, I wondered if I could do it all in one push. I learned that the FKT was covered in 2024 and was 6 days 8 hours and 11 minutes and decided to see if could beat that. My plan was for 5.5 days.
My effort was supported by my wife, Laura Chevalier. Below is her write-up of our adventure:
We used our pick-up with a cap for the support vehicle. We slept trailside in the truck. I got up before Dan each morning to make tea and morning oats.
I went from TH to TH about every 5 miles to provide support. I had Skratch ready, typically in a bladder so I could just switch bladders. I would put out options for drinks (juice, soda, ice tea, etc.) so Dan could grab what he wanted. I kept an organizer filled with various gels, dates, and bars so Dan could just grab what he wanted for the next section. I made wraps, ramen, and ravioli using a propane camping stove to provide real food for meads.
To help remember what all was needed I had a check list (written!):
- Fluids
- Fuel (gels, etc)
- Trail Orientation
- Milage to Next TH
- Lubs/sprays
- Clothing
- Lights
- Weather
- Trash
Day 1 (Sat, 6/13/2026) Started at the NY line at 5:20 AM – Ended at Henry’s Mill, mile 51 at 11:45 PM. Plan had been to end at Route 179 TH, mile 59 but Dan’s quads were toast from all the downhills and it was getting late. In addition, Henry’s Mill was the 50-mile point for the A100 hiking event; there was a set-up with food and drinks for the A100 participants. (Dan signed up but wasn’t an official participant because he didn’t start with them at 6 PM the night before.) It was nice to have people around to chat with.
This day was oddly tough. I think the terrain was tougher that Dan remembered. For me, this was the first time crewing out of a pickup truck. We only got the cap on the truck the day before we left. So I hadn’t figured out how to organize the stuff. Things need to be spread out to drive so they wouldn’t slide around or fall but needed to be stacked to allow access. It would take me until Day 3 to get into a rhythm.
Day 2 (Sun, 6/14/2026) Started at 5:20 AM – Ended at Amsler Spring, mile 93 around 1 AM. Zach and Sara Porter came up to get some miles in with Dan. Due to a lack of cell service, Zach missed Dan. Sara went out from Kettlesville Campground and picked up Dan. She brought him back to Kettlesville where we had lunch. A storm rolled in. There was 3 miles to Branch Road TH which was at the bottom of a big hill. Sara and Dan ran to Branch Rd with Zach and I driving along the road incase the storm hit hard before they got there. Sara & Zach headed home while Dan and I took a nap in the truck to wait out the storm. Around 8 PM Dan headed out and I went to the top of the hill with him. That took him to Amsler Spring TH.
Day 3 (Mon, 6/15/2026) Started at 6:45 AM – Ended at 2 AM picked up on Buchnon Rd, ~139. We had planned to stay at campground in Cooks Forest State Park last night, but we were too far away. So this morning after Dan got going, I went to the camp ground and used the power to dry shoes on the shoe dryer and filled our water jugs.
Dave Snyder joined Dan at Brenimen Rd and stayed for the night. We stayed at the Station Rd TH. Running from Deer Creek, they got off course and came down to Buckhorn Rd where I picked them up; that’s were Dan ended for the day. Dave & Dan looked at the downloaded run activities and determined where they got off course and where I could take Dan in the morning.
Day 4 (Tue, 6/16/2026) Started at 6:20 AM – Ended Rockland TH (near Shull Run/Rockland Tunnel) around 11:15 PM, mile 180. This would be the day of navigational issues. The day started by getting back on course from the prior night’s deviation. After leaving Camp Coffman Rd & Clarion Highland the trail has changed. It use to be a road walk going south on Camp Coffman Rd, west on 322 and north on Kline Rd. Now it goes north on Coffman Rd and turns west onto trail. However, the blazes are too far apart. Dan reached a point where he couldn’t figure out where to go; he called me and all I could tell him was to put the creek to his back and go perpendicular to the creek. I drove up Kline Rd and found where the trail came out onto the road and started hiking back towards Dan. However, I also found the blazes were too far apart. Eventually Dan found the blazes to Klien Rd and continued on better marked trail. At Sand Creek TH, I missed Dan; I was in the upper parking lot instead of the lower lot. Dave Snyder joined me here. With no service it took a while to realized we had missed Dan. Dave had started back on the trail to look for him. After a bunch of driving around (and Google map telling me to walk across the Allegheny River to reach him) Dave, Dan and I all ended up at the end of Brandon Rd. Dan continued on. We had planned for me to pick Dan & Dave up at on Saint George Rd, however when I got there it was posted private and no trail access, so I went 3 miles further to the Rockland TH. At Rockland, I started running back to St George and a storm came in. Cell service was limited in this area. When Dan & Dave got to St George they started walking up the hill to see if they could get cell service to call me and I ran past them. Eventually, we all met up at Rockland TH.
Day 5 (Wed, 6/17/2026) Started at 6:45 AM – Ended Old Stone House 2:30 AM, mile 224. I meet up with Dan in Emlenton, crewed him and watched him leave in the wrong direction. Fortunately, he only went a block before calling to tell me the coffee shop was open. As soon as he said it, I knew he wasn’t suppose to pass the coffee shop and he came back and went back on course. Emlenton put us into our home territory which was nice for many reasons; we were familiar with the trail (for Dan), area & TH (for me), and had friends to support. After watching Dan go the wrong direction, I realized that I was getting to sleep deprived and I needed help. I put a post on FB and friends responded. 😊
I joined Dan for the walk across the bridge in Parker (I love this bridge because of the unique slope it has) and then drove over to the top of the hill in Parker. I ran down the hill and hiked back up with Dan. Today’s section of trail includes an 8 mile road walk, from Elderado Rd TH to Leonard Rd TH, that starts with a 2 mile climb and is fully exposed. After leaving Elderado Rd TH, I had planned to meet Dan at Leonard Rd TH, however, I decided that was too long in the heat. So I found a parking lot of a closed business at the end of Elerado Rd and waiting there for him. The owners mother stopped out and we chatted. She was really nice and filled my water jug for me. Jeff Syphrit meet us at Lenard Rd and paced Dan to Brachton Rd where Traci Hanna joined to put in some miles with Dan. Traci and Jeff took turns pacing and driving to the end of the day.
Day 6/7 (6/18-19/2026) started at 5:50 AM ended Friday at 9:04 AM at the Ohio Line. We decided that once Dan started on Thursday morning it was on push to the end. We had friends with us the whole way. Kory Norawkowski came out at 6 AM after being up for 24 hours! (he works shifts). He met up with Dan at Jennings/West Liberty Road and took him to North Shore Dr in Morraine State Park where Joella & Zach Baker picked up Dan. They took Dan to Hells Hollow parking lot in McConnell’s mill SP; we wanted 2 people with him through McConnells Mill as it is very technical and has some steep drops. At Hells Hollow, Zach Porter picked up Dan. Jeff Syphrit was there too and stayed with me for the rest of the time; and provided me support. I drove the truck and Jeff drove the pacer’s car. At Sankey Hill Rd, Zach headed home and I ran with Dan. Dan’s shoe was rubbing his heal so Jeff met us at Chewton West Pittsburgh Road. We changed Dan’s shoes out and Jen Eckenrode took over packing. Jen & Jeff took turns pacing through the night. In the morning, Katee Gearhart started pacing and Jen went home for some sleep. Joella Baker joined Katee and Dan at Watt’s Mill.
Jeff and I went to the finish where Caleb Kendra (our son) and Dave Snyder joined us. We cleared the weeds from around the Pennsylvania – Ohio State line (finish line) pillar and then headed back towards Dan clearing spider webs and downed trees (from the recent storm; the trail crew was coming out later this week). We met up with Dan and we all ran to the finish with him. I went ahead at the very end so I’d be in place for the finish picture.