Runner achieves remarkable feat by winning the Pinhoti 100 ultramarathon
By Carlos Garcia
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RANKIN COUNTY, Mississippi (WAPT) — Jake Russell, a dedicated runner from Mississippi, achieved a remarkable feat by winning the Pinhoti 100 ultramarathon in Alabama, a race known for its brutal 100-mile course through rugged backcountry.
Russell, who has been running since his college days at Mississippi College, decided to take on the Pinhoti 100 after being inspired by the community of runners he encountered while crewing for Chris Mixon at a previous event.
“I was like, ‘Man, this is just cool.’ I was like, ‘I love this community,'” Russell said.
He signed up for the ultramarathon shortly after, despite not having run such a race before.
“Before I even ran that race, I signed up for Pinhoti. So I signed up for these two races, not even running any of them. And I was like, ‘Let’s go for it,'” he said.
The race began on the evening of Nov. 1 at Pine Glen Campground in Choccolocco, with Russell among 100 other racers.
“I had more of a chance of winning the lottery than I thought I had of winning this race,” Russell said.
As the race progressed, Russell faced significant physical challenges, particularly at mile 40 when lactic acid began to affect his calves.
“Everything hurts — like my core was hurting, my arms were hurting, my neck — every part of my body was hurting,” he said.
Despite the pain, Russell persevered, driven by a personal motivation to give everything he had.
“Everything in my body is like, ‘No, don’t.’ But I knew though, like mentally, I was like, ‘Man, if I don’t — I came out here because my goal was to give everything I had,'” he said.
With the finish line in sight, Russell pushed through the final mile, supported by his friend Chris, who kept him informed of the remaining distance.
“It was almost surreal because I felt like I didn’t even think I could win. I think my wife had a lot of confidence that I could finish,” Russell said.
Celebrating with his wife and friends, Russell enjoyed a Dr. Pepper, a favorite drink, marking a special moment of triumph and support.
“I drank it and she was holding me up, and it was a really nice moment to just be there with my wife and all my friends and all the people that were supporting me,” he said.
Now recovering from the race, Russell is contemplating future challenges. He said he might run another one, but not right away. As a first-time ultrarunner, Russell’s victory at the Pinhoti 100 marks a significant milestone in his running career.
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