September 15 · 2 hr 14 min
In this episode of Runnah, I sit down with Ben to reflect on one absolutely enormous accomplishment: completing the 2026 Jigger Johnson 100 Mile in New Hampshire, his first-ever 100-mile finish.
And I couldn't be prouder of him.
The Jigger Johnson 100 isn't your typical 100-miler. The 2026 course was approximately 108 miles with around 29,000 feet of elevation gain, taking runners through the rugged terrain of New Hampshire's White Mountains. The course climbs over major peaks including Mount Tecumseh, Mount Osceola, Mount Tremont, Big Attitash, and North Moat, with a 54-hour cutoff.
In other words... Ben didn't simply run 100 miles.
He ran 108 miles through the White Mountains with nearly 29,000 feet of climbing. That's a whole lot of mountain.
The 2026 race had 44 finishers in the 100-mile event, making it an incredibly demanding accomplishment for anyone, let alone someone taking on the distance for the very first time.
But this episode isn't just about the numbers.
Ben and I talk about what the experience actually felt like: the moments that tested him, the things that surprised him, the mental battle of continuing when there was still an enormous amount of trail ahead, and what finally crossing that finish line meant to him.
We also reflect on what completing a first 100-miler teaches you about yourself, what he might do differently next time, and how an experience this big changes the way you think about ultrarunning.
Ben is incredibly thoughtful about his experience, and this conversation goes far beyond "I ran 100 miles." It's about perseverance, patience, problem-solving, and learning what you're capable of when you keep moving forward.
🏔️ Ben's first 100-mile finish🏃 The 2026 Jigger Johnson 100⛰️ 108 miles and approximately 29,000 feet of elevation gain🧠 The mental challenge of going beyond 100K🔥 The hardest moments of the race💭 What surprised Ben most about the experience🎉 What crossing that first 100-mile finish line felt like👟 What he learned about himself🔮 What's next after becoming a 100-mile finisher
Jigger Johnson 100 Mile: one race, 108 miles, nearly 29,000 feet of climbing, and one very proud friend sitting down afterward to hear the whole story.
Congratulations, Ben. You earned every single mile.
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