SHARON HILL, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — It was a test of mental and physical endurance for athletes at a special race that took place this weekend in Delaware County that was a showcase for some world class running.
A lot can happen in 24 hours, and for Rich Riopel of Morganville, New Jersey, he used his 24 hours to run 161.8 miles, which earned him a tentative spot on the U.S. National Team.
"This is the most I've ever done. It feels fantastic," he said.
Riopel was one of a few dozen competitors who took part in the weekend's Dawn, to Dusk, to Dawn Ultras run in Sharon Hill, Delaware county.
The 45-year-old, who set an age group record, did not let the rain, wind or anything else mother nature threw his way hold him back.
"It was a tough day to run for 24 hours, but it was totally worth it," he added.
Riopel says when the running started to take its toll, there were a few things that helped him push through.
"It takes a lot of friendship and love," he said.
Riopel says he's celebrating his championship in style.
"I'm going to have a beer, and take a nap in my truck," he said.
Pete Kostelnick, who also participated in the event, loves to run.
"I ran from San Francisco to New York, went for the fastest time across the U.S.," he said.
But Kostelnick did not stop there.
"I wanted to enjoy myself a little more, so I did a self-supported run from Kenai, Alaska to Key West, Florida," Kostelnick said.
To complete the run this past weekend, he says he created goals for himself.
"Races that are this long, you just have to do little goals before you get to the big goal at the end," he said.
Kostelnick says even though the weekend's weather was less than ideal, it was still good to get out and just run.
"I do a lot of my training by myself, so being out here with a lot of other runners is a lot of fun," he added.
