Ultramarathoner Jeff Mogavero ’16 Found His Stride While Running Trails at St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence alumnus Jeff Mogavero ’16 recorded the fastest debut in race history at the 52nd annual Western States Endurance Run held June 28-29—the oldest and most prestigious 100-mile ultramarathon in the United States—where he finished in fourth place with a time of 14 hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds.
Let that impressive stat sink in: Mogavero achieved the fastest finish among all first-time runners of the race.
That accomplishment becomes even more dazzling when you understand just how tough it is to get into the race in the first place.
“Western States is the most prestigious and competitive ultramarathon in the United States,” Mogavero says. “It’s only once a year, and they can only start just shy of 400 people, and the only ways to get in are through a lottery, top-10 the year before, or a ‘golden ticket’ race.”
To receive a “golden ticket” to Western States, runners must place first or second in one of six highly competitive ultramarathons leading up to Western States—which Mogavero did last October, securing second-place in the Javelina Jundred 100-mile race in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Mogavero’s description of the race conditions underscore just how much grit it takes to go the distance.
“The temperatures across the course generally exceed 90 degrees, and the canyons bake like convection ovens,” he says. He also ascended more than 18,000 feet of elevation throughout the race, consumed only gels—which are just sugar—and barely stopped the entire 14 hours at the aid stations, which appear sporadically, often 7 miles apart.
Is it torture? Is it euphoric? Is it delirium-inducing?
“Yes?” Mogavero answers with a question mark and chuckle. “You start to learn to wrap your mind around the unknown and push through it, and believe you can do things you maybe shouldn’t be able to do.”
To be fair, this was far from his first foray into extreme racing. Mogavero, who runs professionally and is sponsored by shoe and apparel company On, as well as the nutrition company Precision Fuel & Hydration, travels the world racing in various ultramarathons, typically 30–100-mile races.
“It’s a dream come true, and it’s really fun that my job is to train and race,” he says.
That dream and his love for long-distance running began on St. Lawrence’s campus, strategically located near the expansive Adirondack Park, a 6-million-acre wilderness that’s every outdoorsperson’s dream.
“At St. Lawrence, I spent a lot of time outside in the North Country and fell in love with the Adirondacks; that's where I cut my teeth trail-running and learning about ultramarathons" — Jeff Mogavero '16
Mogavero, who studied conservation biology and lived in the Green House—a theme house at St. Lawrence focused on nature and sustainability—received a grant the summer before his senior year from the Outing Club, to head West and run trails all summer.
And during his senior year, he conquered a staggering goal he'd set for himself a couple years earlier while hiking with friends in the Adirondacks: he climbed to the summit of 24 High Peaks in 24 hours, a first-ever feat that was celebrated in The Hill News.
It’s no coincidence that those adventures at St. Lawrence turned into his job now.
“I’m so grateful that St. Lawrence, through its proximity and programs, introduced me to the world of mountain running,” he says.
It might be reasonable to assume that Mogavero would be ready to kick back for a while following his record-breaking debut at Western States Endurance Run. But of course he went on a 15-mile bike ride the day after, plans to run another 100-mile race in France at the end of summer, and is already looking forward to Western States next summer.
“I’ll definitely be back,” he says.
