NOV. 23 — Pletcher Finishes 50-Mile Run In Effort To Support Goshen Athletics
Contest difficult both physically and mentally, but worth it according to Goshen AD

The following piece was written by Goshen College athletic director Ken Pletcher’s support crew of wife Justine, Goshen College professor Val Hershberger and Jim Caskey, executive secretary of the Maple Leafs Athletic Club, who all accompanied Pletcher to the JFK 50 Mile Run in Boonesboro, MD. Pletcher successfully completed the race for the second time in his life, with this run being directed at lending support for Goshen College athletics. To read about what prompted Pletcher to run, click here. For more information or to make a donation to Pletcher’s run, click here to send an email.

Boonesboro, MD — As the sun was just beginning to rise on the Appalachian Mountains, Goshen College Athletic Director, Ken Pletcher, began the 40th Annual JFK 50 Mile race alone, in a field of 984 other runners. Aside from a stiff northwest wind, conditions were good with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 30’s.

Runners and their support crews met in the Boonesboro High School gymnasium for final raceday instructions, moved together to the football field and were escorted by local law enforcement authorities to the starting line in the charming downtown area of Boonesboro, Maryland.

Though Pletcher knew no other runners, he was supported by his wife, Justine (Clemmer, ’73 Goshen College grad) Pletcher, professor Val Hershberger, and Jim Caskey, executive secretary of the Maple Leafs Athletic Club. But the support most present in his mind as he began the run wearing a Goshen College Basketball t-shirt, was the broader campus community of student/athletes, alumni and friends who pledged support for the program he is running to promote.

With a shot from the gun, runners began an immediate 3 mile climb to a trailhead of the Appalachian Trail where runners negotiated rocks and wet leaves for the next 12.7 miles. The rise and fall of the trail offered spectacular views of the Maryland landscape, but runners could only concentrate on their own shoes and where the next step would land.

10:07 a.m. - The smile on Ken’s face conveyed the successful execution of his plan to establish a reasonable pace and come through the 15.7 mile station at the 3 hour mark. Our three person crew eagerly began pawing at his shoes and socks, offering him energy drinks and food to get him back on the course. “Hey folks, this is not an emergency situation!” he told us laughing. But as he changed shoes and put on a dry shirt and socks he joked about the runners that were getting ahead of him. “That really ticks me off!” he said, with a wind and cold air induced drawl. Then he took off on the towpath beside the Potomac River for the next 11.7 mile section.

The course was now flat and beautiful with a line of mature trees stretching along the river. The running surface was a leaf covered grassy ridge reminiscent of one of Ken’s training routes along the mill race in Goshen, only expanded to a much grander scale.

12:40 p.m. - Ken reached the Antietam Aqueduct, the 27.1 mile point slightly behind his desired mile pace. “That part was harder than I thought!” he said immediately upon reaching his support crew. At this point he added the gel inserts from his first pair of shoes to ease the pain he was experiencing from the stony course. He took in very little food and drink, though the organizers offerings were generous, including hot soup and energy drinks. His appetite was gone and he was experiencing a mildly upset stomach. He mentioned surprise at pain in his arms from relentless repetition.

The course continued along the same kind of path until turning onto paved roads at the 38th mile.

3:20 p.m. – By the 38-mile checkpoint, Ken had reduced his average per mile and made no equipment changes though he reported leg cramping. He had developed a rhythm of running between food stops and walking until he took in some nourishment, giving his legs time to recover. Food stops were generously situated about every 2.5 to 4 miles, which Ken felt was just about right.

The sun began to set at 4:40 p.m.

5:05 p.m. – Ken passed the 46-mile station as darkness enveloped the Maryland countryside and the temperature dropped back into the 30’s. Ken reported that the cold was never an issue and he pretty much regulated his comfort throughout the day by the use or absence of his stocking cap. As he turned the corner in Downsville, he began another climb that represented the final stretch for the finish line. The sight for the support crew was a line of reflective vests, only appearing when a car went by, and disappearing over the top of the country road that hadn’t yet reached the lights of the city.

6:03 p.m. – Ken crossed the finish line alone as he had started. The smile was a little slower to come this time, but it was there as they placed the finisher medallion around his neck and he raised his arms in triumph for completing the 50 mile day.

Overall, the experience was more difficult than Ken had anticipated. He knew it would be a challenge, but the physical demand on his body and the mental test to keep going unless something drastic happened, were more than he could predict compared to running this same race 28 years ago. “I know I did all I could to prepare for today physically, but there was nothing I could compare it to now that I’m 55 years old. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically.”