>> HI, IKE ERIC FORD FROM MADE HERE.
SUPPORTED FROM RICHMOND, VERMONT, SHARES THE STORY OF BEN FEINSON AS HE AND HIS SUPPORT CREW ENDURE A GRUELING YET INCREDIBLE FOUR AND A HALF DAYS WHILE HE TRIES TO BREAK THE SPEED RECORD ON THE LONG TRAIL.
YOU CAN WATCH "SUPPORTED" AND OTHER GREAT MADE HERE FILMS STREAMING ON VERMONT.ORG AND THROUGH THE PBS APP.
ENJOY THE FILM AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.
>> WHAT ARE YOU ABOUT TO GO DO?
>> WE'RE GOING TO HIKE LONG TRAIL.
>> WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
>> WHAT ARE YOU ABOUT TO DO?
[LAUGHTER] >> WE'RE GOING TO HIKE THE LONG TRAIL FASTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> LITERALLY.
>> THAT'S THE PLAN.
>> LITERALLY FASTER THAN ANYBODY HAS.
OH, MY GOSH.
>> I AM BEN FEINSON, AND I GREW UP IN VERMONT, THE LONG TRAIL IS REALLY SPECIAL TO ME AND I HIKE A LOT.
SO IT'S A LIVE SHOW.
I DIDN'T SAY THAT VERY WELL.
>> LONG TRAIL IS VERY SPECIAL FOR ME AND I LIKE ON IT A LOT.
FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE, GO.
WE'RE OFF.
WOO-HOO!
>> I FIRST HIKED THE LONG TRAIL IN 2010 WITH MY FRIEND OWEN.
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
>> WE GOT RIGHT INTO THERE.
>> THE WAY WE DESIGNED THIS HIKE WE WANTED DAY ONE TO BE A SOLID WIN.
IT WAS SLIGHTLY LESS MILEAGE THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
THE GOAL WAS TO GET TO JOHNSON, VERMONT, FEEL REALLY FRESH.
>> OH, YEAH.
OH, BABY.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE FOR THIS.
SEE YOU SON.
>> YOU TOO.
>> WHOA!
IT WAS A GAME CHANGER.
WE CALLED IT THE ASS BLASTER BECAUSE IT BLASTS.
NEXT QUESTION?
[LAUGHTER] THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND I HAVE EVER ONLY SEEN ONE BEING USED IN A SOLOMON DOCUMENTARY LIKE COURTNEY BILLWALTER.
OUR LORD AND SAVIOR MAY HER LEGS NEVER TIRE.
WHEN NICK SHOWS UP WITH THIS HE GOES, YOUR HAMSTRING IS AMPED UP.
WANT TO USE THIS?
YEAH.
RADICAL.
I'M HERE WITH THE MAYA BUCKINGHAM AND PREM BRULEA, WHO ARE MY LIGHT AND SHINING STARS.
WE LOG TEN MILES A DAY.
MAYBE 12.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
>> ARE WE GOING TO CLIMB ALL THOSE MOUNTAINS?
>> WE'RE GOING TO CLIMB THEM.
>> WE'RE MOVING.
>> THE ONLY THING I CAN REMEMBER IS SIMILAR TO, LIKE, WHAT THEY TELL YOU ON AN AIRPLANE, THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE IS TO FIRST PUT YOUR OWN MASK ON THEN YOU CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I FINISH THIS PASTA SALAD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THIS IS BEST FOR THE CREW.
WHEN PEOPLE COME IN I CAN HELP THEM FINISH THEIR PASTA SALAD.
>> HEY.
>> OVER TWO HOURS.
>> TWO HOURS SIX MINUTES.
>> WE SHOULD GO UP THERE.
[LAUGHTER] >> I HAVEN'T SAT DOWN IN LIKE EIGHT HOURS!
[LAUGHTER] >> IT'S A TREE.
>> I KNOW.
>> THE GOAL WAS FIVE HOURS OF DOWN TIME EVERY NIGHT TO DO RECOVERY, EATING, SLEEPING, GIVING US THREE HOURS OF SLEEP.
>> MORE THAN FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP.
FEELING GOOD.
>> EXCELLENT.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> HONESTLY?
FEELING DANGEROUS.
>> DAY 2 IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE -- JUST THE HARDEST OF THE ENTIRE TRAIL.
THAT WAS A REALLY BIG MEASURE OF WHEN WE HAD IT IN US OR NOT.
>> REAR TRANSITIONING FROM WHITE FACE TO MADONNA.
IT'S NOT A GOOD SECTION OF TRAIL FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO FAST.
>> LIKE BEN.
>> IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> RIGHT UP MADONNA, THEN BONGA.
TODAY EASILY A HALF HOUR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
>> FOLLOW ME, PLEASE.
>> YOU'LL BE UP THERE.
>> GREAT.
>> RIGHT BEHIND YOU GUYS.
>> OH!
>> THIS IS LIKE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SECTION.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
WE ARE IN THE LONG TRAIL -- WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
SORRY.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
THIS IS TAKE 2.
IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
WE'RE ON ROUTE 2, 1:30.
WE ARRIVED HERE ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO.
WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR BEN TO COME IN.
HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.
HOUR AND A HALF.
NO ONE REALLY KNOWS.
>> WHERE IS THE REST OF THE CREW?
[LAUGHTER] >> THE REST OF THE CREW, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE REST OF THE CREW IS.
WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE ON TIME.
WE WERE EARLY ABOUT 345 MINUTES.
>> WHY ARE ARE WE EARLY?
>> WE'RE EARLY BECAUSE WE MISSED A DROP EARLIER BECAUSE WE TOOK A SIDE TRAIL THINKING IT WOULD SAVE TIME SO WE WERE MAKING UP FOR IT RIGHT NOW BY BEING AGGRESSIVELY EARLY.
>> WE MISSED OUR FIRST DROP.
WE GET TO THE INTERSECTION AND IT'S 6:03.
WE CHECK THE TRACKER IT SAYS 5:59 AT THE TOP OF MADONNA.
WE'RE LIKE, WHAT?
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
I'M SO SORRY, ARE YOU GUYS OKAY?
OH WE'RE FINE.
BEN SAID HE DIDN'T NEED YOU ANYWAY.
IT WAS THE ONLY MISSED DROP.
>> YOU GOT TO HAVE ONE.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> THE WHOLE TRAIL IS ROUGHLY 65,000.
SINCE THE ELEVATION IS MORE CONCENTRATED IN THE NORTHERN SECTIONS IT MAY HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO A 20,000 VERTZ DAY.
>> WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL TIME.
MOUNT MANSFIELD WAS UNREAL.
>> THIS IS LIKE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE TRAILS.
IT'S ONE OF THE LONGEST CONSISTENT CLIMBS ON THE LONG TRAIL.
SO SIX MILES PRETTY CONSISTENTLY UPHILL.
MY TRAIL RUNNING FRIENDS JOIN ME AS THEY HAVE MANY TIMES BEFORE AND WE POWERED UP, WHICH IS AWESOME.
>> THE CLEARING ON TOP -- FOUR MILES UP TO THAT.
A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.
THROUGH ABOUT TO BE MET BY HIS COWORKER JESSE IN ABOUT TWO MILES.
THAT'S REALLY COOL.
>> EXTRA BATTERIES.
>> I HAVE EXTRA BATTERIES.
>> WE JUST HAD -- OH, YEAH.
>> SO WE'RE USING THE BACKUP FOR THE BACKUP.
THE HEAD LAMP HAS A FUNDAMENTAL FLAW.
>> WELL, LET'S KEEP MOVING.
>> HOW IS THAT?
>> WE'RE SITTING AT APP GAP RIGHT NOW.
>> 9.45 AND WE GOT A TEXT TEN MINUTES AGO OR I DID, I GOT SERVICE, SAYING HE AND JESSE ARE LOSING LIGHT FAST AND THEY NEED PEOPLE TO BRING IN LIGHT.
SINCE I'M OUT TOMORROW I'LL GO.
>> BY THE END OF THE DAY WE WERE BACK CLOSE TO OUR ORIGINAL SCHEDULE, WHICH IS FINE.
IT JUST MEANT THAT I WASN'T GOING TO GET EXTRA SLEEP THAT NIGHT.
SO KNOWING THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BANK AN EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL HIT.
>> NICE WORK!
>> OH, BOY, OH, BOY!
>> IT SAYS LOW BATTERY AND THEN I PUT NEW BATTERIES IN IT IMMEDIATELY DIMS THEM FOR LOW BATTERY.
>> MINE TAKES TRIPLE-As.
I GRABBED MY GIRLFRIEND'S AND HERS TAKES RECHARGEABLE BATTERY.
I STUPIDLY DIDN'T CHECK IT.
THAT WAS SILLY.
>> A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT MOVING FAST ENOUGH AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY TUESDAY NIGHT.
>> I ROUNDED THIS CORNER AND SAW A STUMP THAT WAS IN THE EXACT "PROFILE," SILHOUETTE OF A MURDERER.
[LAUGHTER] >> SO I JUST LITERALLY JUMPED AND THEN I GOT THIS REALLY UNREALISTIC THING IN MY MIND LIKE, WHAT IF THAT MESSAGE CAME FROM A GUY IN BIRCH GLENN AND I HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND FIGHT THEM.
I'M READY, BUT AM I READY?
>> I WAS FEELING REALLY ROUGH TOO.
I WOKE UP FEELING ROUGH.
I WAS A LITTLE BIT WORRIED.
>> MORE TIRED THAN WHEN I STARTED.
MY MOUTH IS PRETTY RAW.
HAMSTRING IS A LITTLE SORE.
>> MY FEET ARE IN AWESOME SHAPE.
I HAVE NO BLISTERS.
>> THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
>> BY END OF THE DAY WE'LL BE -- HOW IS IT GOING, Y'ALL?
>> OH.
GOOD.
>> MY ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO HAVE PACERS FOR HALF OR TWO-THIRDS OF THIS HIKE.
I HAVE HAD PAGERS ALMOST THE WHOLE FRICKIN' TIME.
THIS COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE, WE LIKE TO RUN, PLEASE, AND ARE HIKING CONSTANTLY.
IT'S AMAZING.
I'M PASSING OFF TO JESSE.
THAT WAS SUPER FUN.
MAYA'S POSITIVITY IS INFECTIOUS AND JESSE BROUGHT ME THIS BREAKFAST SANDWICH, WHICH IS BASICALLY MY GOD AT THIS POINT.
WAS ALSO EXCITING.
WE ARE ROUGHLY, VERY ROUGHLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE LONG TRAIL RIGHT NOW.
>> CATHOLIC CHURCH HOO!
>> LET'S GET IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LOVE IT.
>> WE GOT HERE BEFORE 2:40.
>> IT'S 3:00.
>> GREAT!
[APPLAUSE] >> THE ULTIMATE SNACK FOR OUTDOOR RUNNERS AND CREW AND PACER ARE COOKIES.
ALL OF US GO IN THERE AND WE FIND THE MOST UNDER-COOKED ONES.
WE ENJOY THEM VERY MUCH.
>> WE ARE AT THE LOT, THE LONG TRAIL AND THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF IMPORTANT CREW THINGS.
WE HAD TO LEVEL THE VAN.
AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS WE HAVE THESE NICE LEVELERS HERE AND YOU JUST DRIVE THE VAN UP UNTIL IT'S LEVEL.
HOW IS IT DOING NOW THAT IT'S LEVEL?
>> WE HAVE THIS TOOL, BEN IS A CARPENTER IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
AND MAYA ON HER VERY FIRST TRY GOT IT SMACK DAB LEVEL.
LITERALLY ONE ACCELERATION ON TO THE BLOCK.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT.
>> MY ROLE WAS TO DIRECT HER.
I TOLD HER TO MOVE FORWARD AND SHE SAID OKAY.
THEN WE GOT THAT.
>> I JUST DID -- [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE] >> IT STARTED OFF REALLY GOOD THEN LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH WE STARTED GOING SOUTH MENTALLY.
FIRST SECTION THAT WE WENT SLOWER THAN -- I THINK THAT WITH HIM BEING 15 MINUTES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE REALLY, REALLY HIT HIM HARD.
>> THAT'S SOME SEXY LEGS!
>> IF IT GOES WELL IT'S ALL ME.
IF IT GOES POORLY, IT'S ALL PRIM.
WE ALL KNOW THIS.
>> IT WAS A SCRAMBLE TO GET TO BED.
GOT UP TO MAKE THEM BREAKFAST AND BEN WASN'T HUNGRY.
SO I WAS LIKE, SWEET.
WE HAVE NOW AN EXTRA HATCH HOUR TO SLEEP.
THE VAN IS THERE.
I GET INTO THE VAN AND I CLOSE MY EYES.
ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR RAINDROPS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET PRETTY HARD.
>> 4:00 THIS MORNING IT STARTED POURING AND IT'S BEEN POURING FOR THE PAST FEW HOURS.
WE JUST GOT A MESSAGE FROM PRIM, SAYING TO BRING MORE FOOD.
TERESA IS GOING TO DO A SPEEDY ASCENT OF KILLINGTON FROM COLD RIVER, THE NEXT ROAD CROSSING.
SO YES, WE'RE PRESSING FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> IT STARTED POURING.
THEN IT GOT REALLY, REALLY COLD.
I KEPT THEM MOVING.
WE GOT FRESH CLOTHES ON BEN AND JUST GAVE HIM HIS HIP BELT WITH WATER BOTTLE AND SENT HIM ON HIS WAY.
>> HE WAS JUST MILDLY DEMORALIZING FOR SURE.
IT WAS KIND OF A SIGN THAT THE TRAIL WOULD NOT BE DRY.
THAT'S HOW WE FINISHED.
>> BASICALLY PLAN ON LOSING TIME EVERY SPLIT.
>> WE HAVE TO SPEED UP THESE BRAKES.
WE'RE GOING TO BECOMING A AGGRESSIVE.
>> AVOCADO?
CHEESE.
ON BREAD.
>> TWO MINUTES.
>> I'M SAMPLING IT IT, MAKE SURE IT'S GOOD.
I MAKE SURE OTHERS CAN BE HE HELPED.
[SINGING] [LAUGHTER] [SINGING] >> I CAN SING.
CROSSING INTO -- TWO MILES LEFT.
AFTERNOON OF DAY FOUR.
BASICALLY IN ROUGH SHAPE.
MY KNEES ARE HURTING.
TODAY WE'RE USUALLY FALLING ASLEEP WHILE HIKING JUST A LITTLE BIT.
NOW WE'RE HIKING THROUGH A MUD RIVER.
FULL OF BOULDERS.
IT'S STANDARD FARE.
SOME POINT LITTLE ISSUES ARE GOING TO JUST BE LESS.
SO YEAH.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 24 HOURS OF GETTING BRUTALIZED AND HIKING WITH MY FRIENDS.
>> HEY.
THIS IS WEIRD.
>> PERFECT.
>> LIKE THIS ONE.
BEN IS KILLING IT.
I'M NOT DOING THIS.
BEN HAD A 17 MINUTE NAP.
HE'S FEELING IT BODY AND MIND.
>> THIS NEXT "PROFILE" I THINK REALLY GOT TO PUSH HIM.
>> MAD TOM IS COMING TO GET US.
HE'S HAUNTED US SINCE 2010 AND WE HAVE COME BACK TO SLAY HIM.
>> WE DID NOT SUCCEED.
[LAUGHTER] >> WE DID NOT SUCCEED.
>> HE'S UNBEATABLE.
>> HE ALMOST ENDED OUR HIKE.
>> I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO JOIN BEN FOR SOME MILES AT GRIFFITH LAKE.
WHEN I GOT UP TO THE TOP OF BAKER PEAK TO JOIN HIM AND OWEN LOOKS LIKE HE WAS HAVING A PRETTY ROUGH TIME BUT IT WASN'T ANYTHING SUPER SHOCKING.
I LEFT AT THE END OF THAT SECTION AND HIKED OUT.
I REMEMBER THINKING, OKAY, HE'S HAVING A LOW POINT BUT HE'S MOVING REALLY WELL.
I THINK HE IS DOING FINE AND HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT.
>> HELLO.
UPDATE.
WE ARE ON PERUAND STYLES SHRUGGING THROUGH MUD FOR MANY, MANY MILES.
AND WE -- I MADE THE CALL SO I FIGURED WE SHOWED INFORMATION.
IT'S BEEN AN EMOTIONAL FEW MILES BETWEEN ME AND MY BEST FRIEND OWEN, WHO IS HOLDING THE CAMERA.
THE TRAIL MEANS A LOT TO US.
IT MEANS A LOT TO BOTH OF US.
THIS HAS BEEN AN EXPERIENCE THAT ME AND ALL OF MY BEST RUNNING FRIENDS WHO YOU'VE MET ARE NEVER GOING TO FORGET.
SO INSTEAD OF GOING ABOUT EXPLAINING THE REASONING NOW, WE HAVE GAINED A MILLION BEAUTIFUL THINGS FROM THIS HIKE AND LEARNED A MILLION INTERESTING THINGS, AND HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES.
SO HERE WE ARE.
>> SO IT'S TUESDAY AT FIVE OF 7:00.
WE'RE AT MAD COW NOTCH, SIGNIFICANT FOR BEN.
MAD TOM.
>> MAD TOM.
BEN IS ABOUT A MILE FROM PERU PEAK.
IT'S A THREE MILE HIKE OUT.
HE SAID HE WAS DONE.
THAT THIS WAS WHERE HE DROPPED.
I WOKE UP THE SQUAD AND EVERYBODY INCLUDING BEN'S DAD IS ON THEIR WAY OUT RIGHT NOW.
>> BEN HAD THE GREAT IDEA THAT I STAY BEHIND AND RESEND THE MESSAGE TO BEN, HE'S GOING WITH YOU.
WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE LOWS AND AS A CREW IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE FUN STUFF LIKE POPPING BLISTERS AND FEEDING YOUR PERSON, IT'S ABOUT PUSHING WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO GO ON ANY MORE.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I GOT TO THE LAST NIGHT AND GET TO A SECTION WHERE I GET TO AN ENERGY LULL AND FATIGUE AND PAIN IN MY BODY THAT I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED YET.
IT SEEMED IRREPARABLE.
I WAS HOPING SOME CREW MEMBERS WOULD HIKE OUT TO MEET US SO WE COULD HAVE A MOMENT ON THE TRAIL TOGETHER WHERE WE WRAP UP THE HIKE AND MAYBE PROCESS IT TOGETHER.
SURE ENOUGH, OUT OF THE WOODS SPRINTS LANCE PARKER LIKE A MADMAN, HIS EYES ARE ON FIRE.
HE'S STARING ME DOWN.
HE'S HALF NAKED.
HE'S COVERED IN SWEAT.
HE JUST GRABS ME BY THE SHOULDERS PANTING.
AND I'M NOT READY FOR THIS.
HE SAYS TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT.
I'M LIKE, LANCE, I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.
HE SAYS TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT.
I REALIZED THAT HE'S ASKING ME TO SHOW MY TATTOO, WHICH LONG TRAIL, SO THAT HE CAN REMIND ME WHY WE'RE OUT HERE AND HE'S DESCRIBING THAT THE TRAIL MEANS MUCH MORE TO US THAN THE FASTEST KNOWN TIME.
NOW MAYA AND TERESA SHOW UP.
I WAS THINKING, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG HUG AND PROCESS THL QUIT TOGETHER.
THEY WEREN'T HAVING T. THERE'S SOME CONSPIRACY HERE WHERE THEY WON'T LISTEN TO ME.
AS WE'RE HIKING DOWN AND EVERYONE IS LAUGHING AND CHUCKLING AND JOKING LIKE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED MAYA HANDS ME A PHONE AND SAYS, WE GOT SOMETHING FROM A FRIEND WE WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO.
I PUT THE HEADPHONES IN AND WHAT MAYA HAS BROUGHT UP THE TRAIL FOR ME IS A RECORDING OF LOVE, ENCOURAGEMENT AND KIND WORDS FROM A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY.
>> GO, BEN!
>> BEN, YOU'RE OUT THERE DOING IT!
THIS IS KARIN.
>> BEN, IT'S DAVE.
>> BEN, RALPH HERE.
>> HEY, THERE, BIG BROTHER AND MY VERY FAVORITE BEAN.
>> THIS IS THE WREN FROM RIDGE WOOD VILLAGE.
>> HI, BEN, THIS IS DAD.
>> IT'S YOUR COUSIN DIANNA.
>> THIS IS MELISSA AND MALCOLM AND MARGARET.
>> BEN, JULIE HERE.
>> THIS IS YOUR FRIEND MAYA.
>> HEY, BEN, YOU'RE PROCEEDING CRUSHING IT RIGHT NOW ON THE TRAILS.
>> HI, BEN, IT'S YOUR MATE FROM DOWNED UNDER.
IT'S LIAM.
>> THIS IS YOUR NUMBER ONE BIGGEST FAN OLDER SISTER ALEX.
>> I HOPE THAT YOU CAN PICTURE ALL OF US LIKE LINING THE TRAIL CHEERING YOU ON BECAUSE WE'RE SO, SO EXCITED TO BE WITNESS TO YOU CHASING DOWN YOUR GOALS.
>> I KNOW I SPEAK FOR EVERY PERSON IN YOUR LIFE WHEN I SAY THAT BEING ON YOUR TEAM IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE EVER GET TO DO.
>> I HOPE YOU RUN FAST AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF YOU.
LOVE YOU.
>> LOVE YOU.
>> LOVE YOU, BEN.
>> THINGS LIKE GIVE IT TO THE CREW, HAVE THEM USE IT TO THEIR DISCRETION.
IF IT WORKS IT WORKS.
IF IT DOESN'T THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
HAVING EVERYONE WHO IS THERE IN PERSON BE THE MESSENGER OF THAT TOO.
WE'RE HERE.
WE'RE NOT GIVING UP ON YOU.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE NOT GIVING UP ON YOU.
>> CHANGED EVERYTHING.
WHEN I HEARD.
THAT HI DONE THIS ADVENTURE TO HAVE A SPECIAL STORY TO SHARE WITH ALL MY RUNNING FRIENDS.
BUT ALSO IT MEANT SO MUCH MORE TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> AFTER I HEARD THAT RECORDING, EVERY SINGLE MUSCLE IN MY BODY SLOWLY RELAXED AND I FELT FRESH LIKE DAY ONE.
>> WE GET TO THE BOTTOM AND BEN JOGS OUT OF THE WOODS.
HE DID NOT TAKE ANY SORT OF BREAK.
HE WAS READY TO GO.
>> I JUST KNEW THAT IF THERE'S ANY HOPE OF COMPLETING THE HIKE THEN WE HAD TO GO FOR IT 100%.
>> IT'S BEEN A SPECIAL TIME HERE ON THE BRIDGE.
>> HEY, FRIEND, FOUR HOURS FROM NOW MORE IBUPROFEN.
THREE HOURS FROM NOW.
IT WON'T HURT.
>> APPRECIATE YOU.
>> GET 'EM!
>> SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.
>> BEN, WHERE ARE WE?
>> THE LAST 54 MILES OF THE LONG TRAIL.
I JUST GOT LIKE A TEN-MINUTE NAP AND MASSAGE FROM LANCE, WHICH WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN.
THANKS, HOW YOU DOING?
>> I'M FINE.
>> JUST A HARD NIGHT AND HE AND I WERE VERY DRIVEN AND WE PUSHED 17 WET MILES OVER STRATTON WITH JUST UNWAVERING FOCUS.
FROM ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME.
>> THE MOMENT WE LEFT STRATTON ARLINGTON ROAD IT WAS OUR LIFE'S MISSION TO NOT SLOW DOWN.
I WAS LIKE STONE COLD SCIENCE TELLING HIM TO MOVE FASTER.
I WAS LOOKING AT MY WATCH.
HE NEEDS WATER.
HE NEEDS THIS FOOD.
>> WE GOT TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AND GOT TO MEET OWEN, WHICH IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS YOU WAIT FOR THE WHOLE HIKE.
>> FIRE TOWER, 9:57.
WEDNESDAY.
ALL RIGHT WE GOT TO BOOGIE.
SEE YOU DOWN THERE.
WE'RE GOING QUICK.
YOU BE QUICK.
>> EVEN THOUGH OWEN SHOWS UP I'M LIKE, ALL RIGHT, THERE'S THE EMOTIONAL BOOST I NEED.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF MILES, NOT EASY.
WE PUSHED DOWN INTO THE GORGE AND BY THAT TIME I THINK WE WERE SO SURE WE HAD THE RECORD THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW BAD IT HURT.
IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE A PARTY TO THE FINISH.
>> WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
AS BEN CALLED IT A VICTORY LAP.
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE JUST WHAT BEN AND WE PULLED OFF.
[SHOUTING] >> YEAH, BUDDY!
OVER AN HOUR.
>> YES.
WE DID IT!
>> EVERY TIME I'M DISCUSSING THIS TRIP, I AM USING THE WORD WE.
WE DID IT.
WE SUCCEEDED.
WE GOT THE FKT.
IT WAS LITERALLY A TEAM THAT DID THIS >> VERMONT PUBLIC, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE.
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