This was an amazing adventure, and I’m proud that my first hundred-mile run was a serious challenge! But the more amazing story is of the incredible trail and ultra community, and a certain Amy R who coordinated it all to create a remarkable alternative to the cancelled Vermont 100! I just can’t thank enough the amazing friends who created unbelievably-stocked pop-up aid stations, and were there with encouraging words through the night. I feel so privileged to have shared miles with so many experienced folks who ran distances from 50-100K and more. Yes I was the only runner to make it to 100 miles, but only because of all the support, and maybe because Amy rerouted me around Lawrence Swamp on the way back and personally ran with me in the middle of the night so I wouldn’t get lost.

As you probably know, the Vermont 100 was cancelled this past week due to the catastrophic flooding in Vermont. It was the right call, and my heart goes out to all the people who were impacted. Crazy to see my hometown of Montpelier under water. Mid-week, race director Amy, who not only had the decision to cancel on her shoulders, but worked incredibly hard to deal with the situation, came up with an alternative plan to support friends in our local community run their distance. She concocted a route that would take us to the Robert Frost Trail, a rugged singletrack path that summits Mount Toby and Long Mountain, and ends in the Holyoke Range; the hundred-mile route would traverse the trail in both directions, with a total elevation gain of over 17,000 feet. So many people came together to make this happen, and Saturday morning at 7:00 AM around 20 runners set off to run on the Robert Frost Trail, with target distances of 50K to 100M.

Here’s a photo of me at the start with the Team Run 2 Empower crew, who raised money for Vermont Adaptive, an organization that enables kids and adults with disabilities to enjoy sports in the outdoors with specialized equipment and support. If you are interested in learning more about this amazing organization, you can visit my fundraising page at https://www.pledgereg.com/4532/mattczaplinski.

It was hot and muggy. So fun to run and talk with folks over the first miles. Some beautiful trail going North to Wendell State Park up through dramatic ledges. I didn’t feel great in the first 20-miles, as it felt like my heartrate was unusually high and potentially prone to AFib. But it settled out.

At around 50K I moved ahead of other folks—this was not a race, but I realized I needed to run my own pace, and even if I maintained my current pace I would be running for over 24 hours. My family met me at Amethyst Brook (mile 40) which was a huge boost. Not long after that we hit Lawrence Swamp, which turned out to be unexpectedly challenging. Not only was it flooded (at one point the trail was literally flooded by beavers, who gave me a good tail-slap warning as I approached), but the log bridges were not maintained, and clusters of huge pine trees had blown down in a storm, blocking the way. I used a stick to balance on slippery logs as I tried to move past the blowdowns, and insects bit. I couldn’t help thinking of the Barkley Marathons, as I tried to navigate my way through the mess.

At around mile 50, Mike B had set up a fully-stocked aid station in his garage, with lights lining the slight detour to his house. Then the sun started to go down, and shortly after that I hit Harris Road and the Holyoke Range. Beautiful twilight view from Rattlesnake Knob.

At Notch Visitor Center Amy and Grant were hosting a pop up aid station with strings of lights lining the trail. Amy recommended just going to the Low Place, as my mileage was higher than the original route map. That was another three miles, and when I got back three other runners, who had all run more than 50 miles at this point, were resting at the aid station in various states of heat fatigue. This was a crazy technical route, and combined with the heat made it difficult to continue.

But I was feeling okay. My stomach had turned, which is never fun, so I was not taking in much nutrition or fluid, but the temperature had gone down. So I kept plugging at a slower pace. Amy told me she’d meet me a Bay Road to route me around the swamp. It was great to share some miles with her—just so much gratitude for Amy and several others who basically stayed up all night to give support to the runners.

As it was getting light, it started to rain, and soon turned into a downpour with thunder and lightning. I was a bit nervous, but the storm had the effect of invigorating me, and I found I had a lot more energy to keep going. As I hit Bull Hill, torrents of rain had swollen the streams rushed down the trails. At one point I came to a stream crossing that is usually a long step, and was trying to figure out where to get across the torrent, when I saw two bears moving on the other side of the stream. I had the impression that they wanted to get across to my side. Initially it was a standoff, but then they disappeared into the woods.

Descending from the second ascent of Toby, Mike B and his dog met me to run me in. Great to get to know Mike a little and share some miles. I felt strong coming over the Sunderland Bridge, but then started to feel the pain as I realized I had to do a couple more road miles to make it 100. Several folks had come by to see me finish, and it was great to share stories and bask in the accomplishment.

Lots of gratitude to these friends and this community for making this possible!