I have decided to get a little ambitious with the blog and conduct the occasional interview! It did not take me long to decide who I would like to be the first: John Fegyveresi. Now, unless you are an ultrarunning fan, you probably don't know who the heck John is! Allow me to fill you in then!
According to Ultra Signup, John has completed over 30 ultra marathons since the fall of 2008, including fourteen races of at least 100 miles. He has conquered a 135-mile race run in the furnace of Death Valley and is a four-time finisher of the famed Leadville Trail 100. In 2013 John took on The Vol State Run, a 500k road race that begins at the Missouri/Kentucky border and ends in Northeast Georgia! Not only did he finish, but competed completely unaided (finishing 2nd in the unaided, or "screwed" division) during the 4 days, 16 hours, 19 minutes, and 1 second it took him. Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention that John has thru-hiked BOTH the 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail and 2,650 Pacific Coast Trail!
All these are unbelievably impressive accomplishments, there is no doubt. But his greatest claim to fame is being only one of fourteen men to complete The Barkley Marathons, a 100 mile (or more?) Tennessee trail race that has been run annually since 1986. The Barkley consists of five loops in gnarly Frozen Head State Park and has almost 60,000 feet of total elevation gain. Each loop has to completed in less than twelve hours for the runner to continue on to the next one, and the total time limit for the race is 60 hours. John finished Barkley in 59:41:21. With not one second of sleep.
John was kind enough to agree to answer a few questions via email for me, so without further delay, let's get on with it!
Me: So before we get to your ultrarunning, just what inspired you to thru-hike the Appalachian and Pacific Coast Trails?
John: There is a deep and storied history related to this question. The short answer is that I was living a rather stagnant life for many years, and then over the span of about 2 years I lost an incredible number of people in my life. I went on a weekend hike with a close friend in the Smoky Mtns to clear my head and simply "get away" and decided at that point that I wanted to start my life anew with a thru-hike on the AT. If I remember correctly, we actually hiked a few miles on the AT and that's what started the conversation. I also decided that I wasn't going to ever really be happy at my job any longer and applied to go back to graduate school for geoscience. Many of my friends and family thought I was being a little irresponsible and that this new epiphany of mine was ill-conceived. But I knew I had to make this change, and to me, the only way that made sense to me was to go on a very long thru-hike. The PCT story was a little bit different, but the short story there was that I had just finished my Masters degree, but knew I'd be continuing on for a PhD. This meant that I'd could take the summer off if I wanted to. I definitely felt another pull-of-the-trail, but for the PCT, it was much harder to put a finger on it and really verbalize what it was that was drawing me back for another 4 month walk. Needless to say, when it comes to long-distance hiking, I am now absolutely hooked on the rush I feel when experiencing the natural world in its rawest and most perfect form....and there is no turning back now!
Me: What is it that motivates and drives you to attempt such difficult endeavors such as your thru-hikes and ultramarathons?
John: I guess it's wanting to continue to suck as much marrow as I can out of this one life I have. Like I said, I was pretty stagnant several years back, and after my AT thru-hike opened my eyes, I realized how many experiences I was losing out on by not keeping myself challenged. I guess many have argued that folks like myself probably have addictive personality types and that ultrarunning, or thru-hiking is like any other drug. I definitely think that in some sense, I'm "hooked" on the feelings I get when I push myself to my limit and persevere (as I alluded to in the first question). Standing on top of Mt. Katahdin after a successful 2175 mile thru hike brings a feeling that cannot be equaled no matter how hard you might try. It was the most incredible sense of awakening and pure inspiration/profundity I've ever experienced (except for maybe my more hard-earned PCT finish)
Me: You have done quite a wide variety of races in the last few years, ranging from popular trail ultra's to the epic Vol State road race and even a timed event. What is your process for choosing the races you do?
John: I'm not really sure I have any sort of "system" or formula for this. Things just kind of randomly fall into place, or as I browse the slew of possible events, something inevitably jumps out at me for whatever reason. Usually I'm most attracted to races that are a little more non-traditional or "off-the-radar", but I still enjoy the occasional high-profile race too (e.g., Leadville). I think it often comes down to what sort of memories I think I'll make for myself at the event....if that makes sense. I certainly like to mix things up, which is why sometimes I'll just pop on ultrasignup and impulsively sign up for something unorthodox or random. Even since my first thru hike on the AT, I have had an absolute love for being outdoors, doing something physically challenging, and being surrounded by great people. I think this is why I can have a blast running a 3-day event in NJ on a 1-mile loop track, yet also have fun running through the mountains of Colorado or Tennessee. I think when it's all said and done, I just want to have as many experiences as I can...and try to make the absolute best of those experiences while participating (as cliche or canned as that sounds). There's fun to be had doing just about anything if you go into it with an open mind..no?
Me: Out of all the events you have done, if you had to pick one favorite, which would it be?
John: I've never been good with superlatives. I don't know if it's really possible to pick a single favorite as so many of the things I've done hold special places in my memories. I suppose my 2012 Barkley would definitely be right up there, but honestly it was my original AT thru-hike that transformed me from the person I was, into the person I've become. It was this event that probably had the single most profound impact on me (although I could also argue that PCT thru-hike was just as transformative). There are bits and pieces from nearly every race or event that I've done that I can recall where I was having fun and smiling, and something within me was moved somehow. I can remember little moments in every race where I felt good, was inspired by the scenery, was grateful for the chance to even be out there....I think in a way, it's holding on to those little amazing bits and memories from every race that makes them all worth it.
Me: Just a little quick background here on your 2012 Badwater experience for my readers. This is a 135 mile race through Death Valley. Two days beforehand you come down sick with severe stomach pains, vomiting, etc., which lasted right up to and during a good majority of race. You actually pulled yourself from the course for a short period of time because you were in such bad shape. I don't think I am exaggerating by calling it a Scott Jurek-esque display of guts. A lot of the toughest dudes in ultrarunning would have DNF'ed in that situation. Please explain just how the heck you were still able to finish that race?
John: My badwater illness experience was probably the single worst physical discomfort I've ever felt at an event. I've been through giardia, norovirus, suffered the beat-down and raw feet at Barkley, and had my share of nausea....but my Badwater illness was truly awful. I think had the race been more local, and not so high profile, I would almost certainly have pulled the plug. When the medical team met with me at mile 31, I was actually praying and hoping that they'd pull me. At least then I'd have a medical excuse. But they didn't. They actually told me something like, "You've worked so hard to be here, and you have so much time to finish. Just give yourself as much time as you need to recover and take it as slow as you need. You can walk the rest and still finish!". They were right...but it didn't change the fact that I was sick and still had 100 miles to go. I spent a long time at the pool at Stovepipe Wells and just tried to get my stomach under control. When I thought about how much money was spent to get everyone out here to help me, and how my mom and sister were crewing and driving for me, I simply couldn't not bring myself to quit. The guilt would have torn me up forever. I decided to just go slow and not think about anything other than the 1-mile increments between car stops. Then if I timed out...well at least I tried. Turns out I not only was still well ahead of the cutoffs...but that I actually finished under 40 hours. For me, this was an absolute win-win. When I think back to those moments when I was throwing-up out the door of the moving mini-van simply from the pain I was under, I cannot believe that I was ever able to finish. Sometimes when I'm having a bad day at a race, or feeling not-so-great, I think back to Badwater and remember how much I pushed through. Then it makes whatever I'm going through not seem so bad.
Me: OK, now on to your Barkley Marathons finish. You have just finished loop four. Your feet are raw hamburger and you have been racing for almost two days over some of the most unforgiving terrain imaginable without so much as a power nap. The fourth loop took you 13:30 and by the time you get out on the fifth loop you only have 12:45 to finish and get under the 60 hour time limit for an official Barkley finish. Again, how the heck did you do that?
John: It would certainly seem that something unnatural happened here...but it's actually not as crazy as it seems. My fourth loop was mostly in the dark and I ran a lot of it with Alan and Nick. Early on we got really lost and wandered around losing about an hour before finally finding our way back to the course. The loop was soul-sapping and towards the end I had actually mentally quit. I was basically convinced that I would not be able to finish and I strolled back into camp very slowly (hence the very long loop time). When I realized I was actually ahead of where JB was in 2010, I decided to go for it. Thankfully, several other runners helped me patch up my feet so that they'd be runnable, and I was fueled for a lot of loop 5 on adrenaline. I knew that I wasn't going to let myself time out and because I had a nice day-time loop, I was able to push hard and just make it in under the cut-off. Before the last descent, I was actually on pace to finish in about 59 hours even, but my feet started to fall apart badly in the last few miles causing me to slow down considerably.
Me: With the exception of the 2012 Badwater and your Barkley finish, what is the toughest stretch you have gone through in a race?
John: I think you could argue that I have to fight off some sort of demon during every race, but some are more easily defeated I suppose. I think specifically the toughest stretch I ever went through during a race was actually this past year at Barkley. I went back to give it another go and at some point during the 2nd loop I became very cold, I wasn't eating, I was screwing up my navigation terribly...and near the end of loop 2, I simply pulled the plug on the race. It was a very bizarre and new feeling for me, and virtually impossible to describe all that was going through my mind at the time. It was the only time I ever voluntarily dropped from a race and it was a truly profound experience. Of course I regretted it to some extent, but I think it was something that I necessarily had to go through. I learned a significant amount about myself...and I ended up having an even more amazing time for the remainder of the race by crewing and supporting Travis (who did go on to finish). On a side note, I can also recall having a very hard time staying motivated during Massanutten and it was probably the closest I ever came to dropping during a race before last year's Barkley.
Me: I think you would agree that with the proper training there are lots of people that could achieve the conditioning to finish an ultramarathon or thru-hike. More unusual, though, are those that mentally are capable of finishing something like that, or even wanting to attempt it in the first place. Any theories as to why some people are able to mentally able to persevere while some do not?
John: I'm really not entirely sure on this one. I don't know if it's a chemical thing...as in some people are wired differently and have more OCD tendencies or if it's truly a philosophical difference. I guess I've always been a fairly driven person, but I think in the case of these big challenges I overcame, a lot of it goes back to personal experiences I've had. I find great solace in being out on runs or hikes, whether it be on a loop course, or point-to-point 100-miler. I would still say that hiking is my true "passion-ot-motion" as it were, and when I'm months into a long thru-hike, I am at my most content....if that makes sense.
Me: Ok, last question before I let you go! You have done Leadville (multiple times), Badwater, Barkley, Vol State, and thru-hiked the AT and PCT. What remains on your "bucket list" for races, hikes, etc.?
John: The absolute big one is the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). I would love to thru-hike it and finish the triple crown more than anything, but finding the 4-5 months to do it will be tough. As far races, there's definitely a few that I haven't done yet that I would love to. First and foremost is Hardrock. I've applied 5 straight years and never been selected. Each year my chances go up, but each year the applicant pool also goes up, so it may still be a few years before I get to do it. A few others on my list would be the Plain 100, the Hurt 100, the Arrowhead 135, and possibly some ultras of some kind in Alaska or Canada's Banff Park. I would love to run over at UTMB or Tor Des Geants as well, but not until I'm out of Grad school and can really afford it. Lastly, at some point I would like to finish the Colorado 14ers (I have 17 done) and give Nolan's 14 a go.
Well that's it! I would like to thank John for taking the time from his busy schedule to answer my questions, it was super cool of him! If you would like to read or hear about his adventures in more detail, check out the links below:
Lakewood's Wanderings and Scribbles
Dirt Dawg's Podcast With John
DFL Podcast with John
