How did I get to JFK?

I first learned of the JFK 50 Mile race in 2000 while on a headhunt for someone to speak to a group of young leaders about global warming. One afternoon at a book store downtown I picked up a book called God’s Last Offer: Negotiating for a Sustainable Future, by Ed Ayres who was the editorial director at the Worldwatch Institute. The short biography of Ayres mentioned how he was the only person to ever win both the New York City Marathon and the JFK 50 Mile Ultra-marathon. Wow! I had found my man.

I bought the book, read it and Mr. Ayres graciously accepted my invitation to help educate our students. Since then, Ayres has become a personal hero. He’s a guy whose life was devoted to the study and reporting of environmental sustainability issues and he could chew-up huge mileage in a pair of running shoes. Since my first interactions with him in 2000, I seem to have modeled my life after his – running these ridiculous ultra marathons starting in 2003 and then joining up with NWF.

A few years ago Ed retired from Worldwatch and moved to California, but his running seems to continue on track. I hope to see him in November because he is registered to run the JFK again this year.

AP