The People Who Carry You: Running the C&O Canal 100.
Part 1: The people who got me to the start line. An 8+ part Substack series.
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Julie
How did I hear about the C&O Canal 100-mile? From another runner, Bethany, whom I was lucky to meet on the morning of the Cayuga Trail 50 in May 2025. I was driving down the narrow service road toward the start line when I saw a runner walking down the path to my left.
Should I offer her a ride? Why am I even hesitating? It’s fascinating how my brain sometimes pauses before simple acts of kindness.
I rolled down my window and stopped the car.
“Hey, would you like a ride? I’m heading to the start too. You can hop in the backseat.”
“That would be great, thank you! My husband just dropped me off. He and my son are running the 50K.”
“Oh, cool! Have you run this race before?”
“No, I’m from New Jersey. All my training has been on flat terrain, so this should be interesting.”
We chatted like old friends, and she told me she had run a 100-mile ultra and finished. I knew I wanted to try that distance next, and I was so happy she was willing to connect after the race. One phone call with Bethany, and I was ready to sign up for the C&O Canal 100. Three loops, nearly flat, and close enough to home for my family to crew me. I wanted to show my kids what endurance running was all about, and being uncomfortable was okay. The best part of that call was when Bethany said, “I’ll be one of your pacers.” I grinned.
So on January 1st, 2026, I signed up, but not before asking my coach whether I’d have enough time to prepare for 100 miles by April. He answered without hesitation: “Absolutely.” The questions began: How do I go from where I am now to 100 miles in four months? Would my feet hold up? Would I be able to eat the entire way?
Coach Joel reminded me of the old proverb: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
The night before the race, we drove out to Camp Manidokan for packet pickup and the pasta dinner. They handed me my bib. Number 100. I stood there for a moment just looking at it. Of all the numbers they could have given me on my first 100-mile race, they gave me one hundred. It felt like a small, perfect sign.
We had some time before the dinner started, my chance to see the beginning of the course and a little bit of the gorge. I walked down the dirt trail with my family and noticed the roots, rocks, and steep decline. I turned to my son, Brindsley, “You’re going to pace me up this thing.”
He looked at me and grinned. “Oh, okay.” I could hear the hesitation in his voice.
“Don’t worry, buddy, we are walking up this part.” He said, “Oh, good.”
We headed inside the dining hall for the pasta dinner. Large round tables, orange chairs, and the low hum of runners who were about to do something hard together. My family and I sat down, and soon a runner from North Carolina pulled up a chair, then another. His beard forked into two points, hair in a high bun, eating something mysterious out of a ziplock bag. My kids were fascinated. I didn’t know yet, but I’d see him three more times out on the canal.
Everyone was so chill, like running 100 miles was just another Saturday. We talked easily, laughed, and compared notes. When I mentioned this was my first 100, and that I wanted to run it under 24 hours, their eyes went wide.
“Wow,” the bearded runner said.
Then Bethany and her family arrived. We pulled more chairs to the table, made room, and the circle grew wider. It was in that moment that I recognized I wouldn’t be alone from here on out. It was never going to be just me and the miles. It was already about the people here—encouraging me, running with me, and getting me to that finish.
Part 2: The Start on Thursday. See you then. :)
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Oh yes!!! Lucky number 100 for your first 100 auspicious indeed :) And I love how you learned about this race from another runner at another race ... that's what I love about this sport... so encouraging and welcoming! Also, FYI, I was at the 2025 Cayuga 50 as well!!!!!! Small ultra world indeed. Can't wait o read about the rest of the journey... 100 miles life in a day! And I look forward to chatting more about your NEXT one :)
Jules, Adidas once ran an advertising campaign that "impossible is nothing". You and the sub 2 hour Kenyan marathoner just showed the world hyperbole does not exist in the world of runners. So PROUD of you and you do it with such grace and love...