The Goal - 42ish weeks to go
Taken on a run in the North Carolina Arboretum
Have you ever done a hundred of something? Some things are relatively easy. Count to 100, boring but doable within a few minutes. Drive 100 miles, not too difficult if you have some good tunes. Do 100 push ups, pretty tough and not something I think I could do all in one go. Pick up 100 toothpicks after you accidentally knocked them off the kitchen counter? Painstaking.
What about running a 100 miles? Sounds almost impossible doesn’t it.
When I told a friend of mine that I was planning on running a 100 miles, her response was, with her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “what, like over the course of a month?”
Turns out, she wasn’t the only one to react with the same question. I know my aspiration is an incredibly lofty one but every time I say it out loud, I’m reminded of how crazy it really does sound. I think my brain has just accepted that this is the thing I’m planning on achieving, therefore it is possible. Definitely some mental gymnastics going on there.
I want to run 100 miles, continuously, in a race.
My name is Kenny, a nickname that is short for Kendalyn. I’m 36 and I have about fifteen years of, albeit inconsistent, long-ish distance running under my belt so this is by no means a “Couch to 100” inspirational guide. And full disclosure, I completed my first and so far, only, 50 mile race in September of 2023, so this goal isn’t a total pipe dream.
However, I truly am just a regular person. I have gone for months without putting my running shoes on, I rarely win, I typically strive “just to finish” a race, and I sometimes enjoy a few too many celebratory race beers. I’m not particularly fast. I once won the “Middle of the Pack” medal at our local Race to the Taps 5k in 2022. I have other passions in life and although I find running to be extremely beneficial for my mental health, I don’t consider running to be “the thing” that defines me by any means.
I’ll talk about my running background later but to summarize, I would describe myself as someone who just enjoys to run. And for those of you who are familiar with the Enneagram personality typing system, I am a Type 3, The Achiever, which means I am ambitious and tend to be highly driven towards advancement, often to the point of becoming a “workaholic”. Ouch, but also, yeah, fine, I guess that sounds about right.
So I’m not even surprised that this is where I am, signing up for something absurdly challenging.
Yes, 100 miles. Many of my friends and family are responding with a mixture of awe, concern, confusion, and even a little disbelief. Some of the conversations have gone like this:
“Like all at once?” - Yes.
“How long is that going to take you?” - I’m hoping somewhere between 24 and 30 hours.
“Do you, like, sleep?” - Not really, apparently some people will take micro naps. I’m not sure if I will or not.
“Do you eat? What do you eat?” - Yes, I actually will eat a lot. It’s going to be a mixture of boring running nutrition things like gels or powders, snacks like chips and M&Ms and pickles, and even full blown dishes like ramen and pancakes.
“When do you go to the bathroom?” - Hopefully at aid stations with a port-o-potty, but if necessary, in the woods.
“That sounds insane.” - Agreed, but I think I can do it.
The race I’m hoping to sign up for is the Yeti 100 Mile Endurance Run that runs along the Virginia Creeper Trail on September 26, 2025. Registration opens on New Years Day so this is still pending but it’s the race I kind of got my heart set on.
I think part of the reason why I’m starting this blog is to just share my journey of attempting to do something difficult. I believe others can relate to that sentiment, regardless if it’s a physical challenge. I also hope to share some pretty photos along the way.
I know how lucky I am to live in an area where going on a long run in the woods is relatively easy. I also am lucky that I am able to do this thing that I love so much. I’m healthy, my body tends to step up when I need it to, and I thoroughly enjoy seeing what I’m capable of achieving. This isn’t going to be easy, but I think that is why I am so excited to try.