CLOSE

A San Francisco runner is living out his childhood dream of being an artist with a little help from a running app. USA TODAY

CONNECTCOMMENTEMAILMORE

It’s her husband’s fault. Really, how many spouses can default to that “it’s your fault” line during the ups and downs of a long marriage?

But in this case, Jessica Velez’s husband, John Velez, was very well-meaning. And in the process, John’s purchasing the “Runner’s World Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training” for Jessica’s birthday in 2012 became a life-changing experience.

John bought the book for Jessica after she had completed a few 5-kilometer races organized by the Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club.

“I was actually not happy with him about buying that book,’’ she said. “I thought he was ridiculous thinking I could run more than a 5K.”

More than a 5K? Hmmm. About that …

Jessica Velez recently completed the arduous Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) challenge, a 70-mile jumble of technical trails, a lot of it in the dark, and some of it downright dangerous — an encounter with a bear is never a fun experience. Not only did she complete it; in the process, she became one of the only women ever to finish the event.

After completing the Rock the Ridge 50-mile race in May of 2017, Velez’s interest in going longer was piqued.

“I felt good at the end of that race,’’ she said. “I was curious if I could go further. I am also finding out that I love the challenge of trail racing as well as the peace of being out in the woods.’’

The race took her 29 hours to complete. Although she was the last finisher, she is only the fourth woman ever to have completed the insanely difficult race. Here’s a portion of her race report, sent via email:

“Navigating the trails were sooo hard. The SRT isn’t really one trail; it’s multiple trails linked together, which means that the blazes marking the trail will change colors, and it’s not usually obvious when the SRT angles off the trail onto a new trail. Being an unsupported race means you have to plan bringing food. That I didn’t have a problem with, although at some point I forgot to keep eating. I truly underfueled during the second half of the race.

“The water was a bit more problematic because the streams had all dried up, leaving just scummy ponds as water sources. While I had water-purifier tablets I had not brought a filter. … Luckily, I did not pick up a parasite. The purifiers are not very effective against parasites. ‘Running’ in the dark overnight is challenging as well. Running would be a word I would use loosely. Stumbling and tripping would better define what actually was occurring. The trail was seriously technical. I know people were capable of running large sections of it; I don’t have that skill.”

Her husband — you know, the guy who “caused” all this — offered to hike and support her along the way, but she was worried about a disqualification. So Jessica plowed forward in the woods all day and all night, with John and her family left to fret, especially when her cellphone conked out and they could no longer track her progress.

But John got there in Rosendale for the finish. More importantly, so did Jessica!

“To see him at the end — the incredible feeling of him being there,’’ she said. “It really meant a lot. I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I had no one to meet me at the end. I honestly was no longer functional.’’

Jessica Velez’s finishing the race is a remarkable accomplishment. So, too, is her ability to keep training and racing. She works two jobs in the health care industry and is pursuing a doctorate degree in nursing practice. She and John have three children and have fostered countless other children. She’s got a lot going on.

“I started running in 2012 for exercise and stress relief,’’ she said. “I continue to run for those same reasons. I enjoy how simple a sport it is. Throw on a pair of sneakers and go!”

Most recently, she completed the Billy Goat Run, an MHRRC trail race at James Baird State Park in LaGrange. She first ran that race in 2014. “That is when I discovered my love of running the trails,’’ she said.

Velez said her friends and family thought she was “nuts” to even try it. Completing it?

“A lot of people were truly impressed,’’ she said. “Hell, I’m truly impressed! I still can’t believe I accomplished that.”

Velez said she will continue to run races, enjoy the trails and keep everything in balance. For more than one day in September, though, she had the challenge of a lifetime in the woods of the Shawangunk Ridge.

Best of luck to all local runners in Sunday’s New York City Marathon. We will highlight your stories in the coming weeks in this column. Because a database search of nearly 50,000 names is a bit time consuming, please send me your results or results of runners with local ties, along with photos and race reports, to runhed246@hotmail.com. Good luck in the Big Apple!

Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club member Pete Colaizzo, the track coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, writes on running every week in Players. He can be reached at runhed246@hotmail.com. For more club information, go to www.mhrrc.org

CONNECTCOMMENTEMAILMORE