On 10/09/2022, after a short hike with my good friends and support crew up to the NY/NJ border I began my journey northbound on the Appalachian Trail. We collectively picked a start time of 4:55pm to coalign the run with the full moon(Hunter's Moon) that just so happened to be the same date we had chosen for the attempt months prior. We got to the border a little early so we could get some pictures and I could get some stretching in beforehand. The clock struck 4:55, they wished me well, and I set off alone knowing I would see them at my first chosen aid point on East Mombasha Rd about 13.5 miles in. I chose to start alone in order to ease into things and get comfortable running in the night. The weather was perfect throughout the entire run ranging from the low forties to maybe sixty the following afternoon. Sometime around mile 8 on went the headlamp and this is also around the same time I felt the first signs of blisters developing on both of my feet. I've never had blister issues and it didn't really hurt at first so I mostly just ignored it. BIG MISTAKE!!!
After arriving at my first aid I grabbed some nutrition and picked up my first pacer, Brian, and we set off on what I believe was an 8 mile section. Unfortunately while making a fast descent in the first 2 or 3 miles he hit his toe on a rock and it didn't look good to say the least. He was able to grind out the remaining miles of the section but he was left limping for the rest of the night and I was left without a pacer for a good 35-40 miles all together throughout the duration of the darkness. Good thing for the full moon! I had one of my day pacers, Matt, jump in with me for the Anthony's Nose to AT Mart section which was nice but I didn't want to push him through the night considering I knew I would likely be relying on him heavily during the day. I set out alone once again and was making my way through the trail when I spotted a couple headlamps up on a hill. I wasn't sure who they were at first but it turned out to be Kevin and Jason, some friends I've met through one of the running groups I'm a regular at. This was one of the highlights of the whole experience for me because it just showed the love within the trail running community and it was something I didn't expect. These people have careers and families, don't even know me all that well, and they are out here ready to run at 3 in the morning to help me accomplish a goal. It immediately gave me a huge mental boost and any exhaustion that was beginning to build completely melted away. We ran together from maybe mile 45-50, something like that, but the boost it gave me lasted through all of Fahnestock. I took a hard fall after entering the Lake Canopus section around mile 55 that knocked the wind out of me and slowed me for a mile or 2 but I was able to get back into a rhythm with the rising of the sun helping to brighten my mood. A few minutes after being back actually running I was jolted half to death by a "WAVEY" cheer from up on the ridge. It was Kat, the women's FKT holder on the same category and route. She was up there walking her dog and tried to get a picture of me as I ran by. She offered me some baked goods that she had left for me on the hood of her car down in the lot a short distance away. My stomach felt a little off so I almost didn't take them but I did and it was just what I needed at the time. It was delicious! As I ran up the stairs right before the Miller Hill Rd underpass I was greeted and cheered for by friends and members of the running/trail running community. This also came as a huge surprise considering it was before 8am on a Monday. By this time it was around mile 61 and the blisters on my feet were open and raw. I channeled the energy I received from those who came out to wish me well, grabbed my trekking poles for the first time and set out on another section. I would have pacers from here on out also which was huge because the wheels slowly began to come off around this time. Brian was back which I didn't think was going to happen since I saw him limping throughout the night but I guess whatever pain medication he took did wonders because he stayed with me for the rest of the run(miles 61-87). I also had Matt on and off for about 20 of the remaining miles as well as my friend Zach (a non runner UNTIL NOW!!!) for a good 5 mile section. Once I got to the Dover Oak Tree at mile 78 I switched my shoes to my deceased friend Ron's trail running sneakers who had sadly passed right when I began to train for this. It was my little way of honoring him I suppose. I grabbed more nutrition, downed a red bull and headed out with Jay, Brian, and Matt for the last 9.2 miles. I started out this section extremely strong running some of my fastest miles of the whole journey but the pain in my feet slowed me to a near crawl for the last 6 miles. Around this time another friend and trail runner, Mike, came running up the trail towards us to join in the death march. He ran a good 60+ miles of the AT with me in preparation for this thing and I would have loved to have run it in with him but I was a limping mess at this point. I'm very grateful I was around the right people as I huffed and puffed my way through the final 6 miles.
I stopped my watch at the NY/CT border at a time of 22:12:40. (22:12:42 elapsed time due to an accidental pause) I'm so grateful for all the memories but most of all the amazing people I have come to know and I hope there is much more to come!