ERIE, Pa. — When Justice Greene realized the distance from his family home in Warren to his apartment at Penn State Behrend was exactly 100 kilometers – 62 miles – he knew he had found his next big challenge.
“I had been wanting to try a 100K,” said Greene, a senior in the history program at Behrend. “The distance lined up perfectly.”
On Aug. 23, he laced up his running shoes at 4 a.m. and left home. He didn’t stop running until he reached his Knowledge Park apartment — 14 hours and 58 minutes later.
He arrived two hours sooner than he had expected to.
“I ended up running my 50K pace the whole time,” he said. “I thought I’d hit the wall and have to slow down, but I never did.”
What began as a personal test of endurance took on even more meaning when Greene decided to turn his run into a fundraiser for the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which honors first responders and military families. He has raised more than $2,500 for the foundation.
“I had run marathons and a few ultramarathons before,” Greene said, “but I never pushed past 35 miles. I wanted every mile to count toward something bigger than myself.”
In the Q&A below, Greene talked about what kept him going during those long hours on the road and how running has shaped his goals beyond college.
Q: When did you start running?
Greene: In my first year at Behrend, I ran a 5K (3.1 mile) race. Then, I signed up for the Erie Marathon (26.2 miles). I wouldn’t recommend doing that. The marathon was brutal for me.
Q: But you finished it, and then signed up for another?
Greene: Yes. I’ve done nine marathons and three ultramarathons.
Q: Do you prefer roads or trails?
Greene: I like trail running better. The hills and terrain break up the monotony of a long road run.
Q: How did you plan your route from Warren to Erie?
Greene: I used Komoot to map out a route that avoided highways. I ran a lot of back roads and some dirt trails.
Q: Did you have any support while running?
Greene: My parents followed in their car, like a mobile aid station, so I didn’t have to carry anything.
Q: How did you refuel?
Greene: Boiled potatoes and PB&J sandwiches work best for me.
Q: Did you listen to music or podcasts?
Greene: I mostly just zone out when I run. It’s almost meditative for me. But sometimes I listen to history podcasts. During the run to Behrend, I did listen to two songs on repeat: “Golden” and “How It’s Done,” from the movie “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Q: How did you push through moments of doubt?
Greene: I would just think, “What if?” What if I don’t quit, and I just run the next mile, or to the next road? I broke it into smaller pieces.
Q: What were the last few miles like?
Greene: I was definitely hurting. I was limping on my right foot. But my friends cheered me on. They ran the last two miles or so with me.
Q: Why did you choose to raise money for the Tunnels to Towers Foundation?
Greene: My family has ties to law enforcement, and the mission of Tunnels to Towers speaks to me. I thought I’d get a couple of hundred dollars. I never expected a few thousand.
Q: You enlisted in the U.S. Army. Did you start running to prepare for that?
Greene: No, it was the opposite. My running led to me enlisting in the military. I wanted to keep challenging myself.