My family has spent a week at LBI in the summer for as long as I can remember, so when I discovered ultra running the idea of running the island out and back has been in the back of my mind. Starting and ending at the lighthouse seemed like the right way to do it so I drove up to Barnegat on the morning of October 3rd. I had no doubts that I would complete the route. I had attempted it two days before and made it 24 miles before calling it off. This DNF was due to a poor choice in footwear, a strong headwind, and blisters I didn't feel like dealing with for the rest of vacation. Now on the second attempt I knew what to expect in terms of traffic, construction, and terrain as well as what shoes to wear and what nutrition and hydration I would need to pack. In the first attempt I went out hot trying to set a fast time. This second and successful FKT attempt was run at an easy pace and I stopped to take pictures, chat with people, and eat or drink at my leisure. I had a fun and more relaxed experience than pushing it for 36 miles.
Before I ramble about the run please note a few things about running the island...
- The constant dips in the sidewalk are constant and jarring
- There may be flooding at several intersections which require you to walk around or get your feet wet
- Windy days can affect your pace. Be prepared for that or plan around it
- There's a lot of traffic on the main road depending on the time of day you run. be prepared for that as well
- There may be construction which requires you to wait or switch sides of the street to avoid
I started at the lighthouse around 8am. I touched the base of the lighthouse and set off. The route I took basically mimics the LBI 18 miler race course on the way down. I thought about turning off the main road on a few occasions to avoid traffic but enjoyed the mental simplicity of just running straight the whole time. The weather was beautiful. It was a little cool but the cool wore off by 10 or 11. I saw the sun coming and realized I forgot to put on sunscreen. I called my brother and asked him to meet me with some. This turned what was initially a self-supported attempt into a supported attempt but I guess that didn't matter too much since I was establishing the first FKT for the route anyways. I got the sunscreen about 5 miles in and kept on running down the island. The first 3 hours slipped by in no time. I was enjoying the salt air and the mild weather. I enjoyed breathing. My mind turned off for a while as I watched the houses, pines, and cars. Soon the houses and pines became store fronts and islanders going to breakfast. I slowed down and passed carefully at some busy restaurants. The idea of running the island is romantic and appealing but as the sun grew hot and I reached the more trafficked parts of the island I thought to myself that parts of the route might be better enjoyed run on the beach. The construction and traffic made sections of the run kind of busy feeling. That aside I continued to have a high time. The physical ups and downs of an ultra were setting in at this point but I felt level mentally and was enjoying myself.
When I reached the South end of the island I stopped to use the bathroom and water fountain there. I refilled my bottles and continued on to the beach near the wildlife refuge. After watching some surfers for a while I turned around and set off again. I was moving smoothly but starting to hurt. I set a goal to get to marathon distance and then find the next place to sit and have my favorite ultrarunning fare as an "almost there" snack. Those miles passed by slowly and steadily. When the marathon distance came and went I stopped at a shaded bench outside a closed restaurant. There I had one of the best GU Stroop Waffles (salted caramel) along with a caffeinated Maurten gel. The combo with some water felt like a feast right then. The rest of the way back hurt but I got it done and even enjoyed it. At the end of the run I climbed the lighthouse. Looking out from the top of Barnegat and seeing the long way I had run made me feel content. I shuffled down from the lighthouse and spent the rest of the day at the beach and back at my family's rental with my legs up. It was an adventure and a great way to spend the day.
The B.O.A.B 36 was a super fun project to create and run. I encourage anyone who vacations or lives near LBI to try it out either as an FKT attempt or as a long run. There's definitely potential to bring the time for this route down into the high three hour or low 4 hour range. I'll likely attempt this again whenever I return to the island for a vacation. I'd also like to return and do another leisurely run across the island, perhaps stopping for coffee or a bite to eat when I have the mind. Both ways have their appeals and I hope this route inspires others to get outside and have their own adventure on the island.