Early each year we offer a few creative ways for folks on our race waitlist to try to earn a spot on our race start list, including trying to convince us why they deserve a spot by answering three questions that share their “My VT100” story!
This year, we received nearly a dozen amazing stories that touched our hearts and the VT100 race committee awarded two winners. This is Ben Mewis’s story. Ben has given us permission to publish his replies to our questions and we hope you enjoy reading about his journey to the start line as much as we did.
What is your WHY? Share your story of why you should have the opportunity to run this year’s VT100.
Ben in uniform with one of the pigs that inspired him to run 129 miles & fundraise $3,400 for the Central Texas Pig Rescue.
I was thinking about how to put this. I am a police officer in Austin Texas and have been an officer for over two decades. I never use to run as a kid or was in any sort of sports. The only reason I ever got into running was because you had to pass a physical fitness test to get into the police academy. I started running and hated it, but I passed the test and was able to get in. After that we ran everyday in the academy, and the more I ran, the more I loved it, to the point I kept up with it after the academy. I started running longer and longer and it got to the point I was able to do marathons and longer.
I then got bored of running on a treadmill, track, and the same neighborhood route so I created a little challenge for myself. I thought why not run every single street in the area in Austin that I patrol. In June 2021 I started to run all the streets and finished 4 months later in October. I learned the area I patrol was massive and I had covered 573 miles worth of streets in my assigned area.
After that I got with my running buddy and we came up with other challenges. He decided to crew me as I ran from the Alamo in San Antonio, TX back to the Texas Capitol in Austin, TX November 2022. After running for 19.5 hours, I made it the finish line, 81 miles later.
Now the news stations in my area started covering these runs as feel good stories. My neighbors started seeing these stories and asked me if I ever thought about running for a charity and I had not at that point. But I thought to myself, if I can do something I love and help others out, I should take that opportunity. My dad taught me that if you can help someone, then help them.
The next run I did, March 2023, was from Houston, TX back to Austin, TX. After 3.5 days of running I made if back to Austin, covering 190 miles. However this time was so much more special as I had ran for the charity group CASA of Travis County, a child advocacy group. I had been able to raise $3,300 for that charity that helps children.
I made another run in November 2023 from Goliad, TX to Gonzales, TX to Austin TX. After two days and 129 miles I had made it back to Austin. I ran for the Central Texas Pig Rescue, a rescue group that takes in abandoned or abused pigs and other farm animals. My wife and daughter volunteer there. We called it “This Little Pig Ran All The Way Home Ultra.” We were able to raise $3,400 in donations for the group.
Ben in running clothes with one of the dogs that inspired him to run 90 miles & fundraise $3,000 for the Austin Boxer Rescue.
In March 2024 I ran from Enchanted Rock back to Austin, 90 miles, in 23 hours. I ran for Austin Boxer Rescue. I chose them because I had adopted two boxer dogs from them. I ran the route to honor them. I was able to raise $3,000 for them.
In November 2024 I did a run with my buddy as a relay. We crossed Texas on foot for 500 miles and did 250 miles a piece. We started on the Rio Grande River in Laredo, TX on the Mexico border and 7 days later finished on the Red River on the Oklahoma border. We ran for the Peace Officer Memorial Foundation which is a group that takes care of the fallen officer memorial on the Capitol grounds and also gives out scholarships to the children of the fallen officers. We were able to raise $4,700 on that run.
All of these events were covered in the media and it felt special to have the media focus on all of these wonderful charities and a side note of a crazy guy doing these runs. I think they all still pop up with a Google search of my name.
What makes you YOU? What are the things that make you unique and special, or that we should know about you?
This is a tough question as I am trying to think of what makes me more special than others that are running this event. Everyone is amazing that can do these long events. My friends and family think I am an elite athlete because of all the long runs and races I have completed. I feel like I am always in awe of others at these races myself.
I just love running and it has been special for me. I am a police officer and have dealt with several hard calls over the years and seen things I wish I could unsee. Running has become a way to escape that and, as the police therapist told me when I was seeing them, a positive way to deal with PTSD.
I get enjoyment out of running and have found ways to give back to my community while doing something I love to do. I have also been able to inspire others, including my daughter, who started cross country. I love going on runs with her. I have had coworkers run their first marathon or half marathon and I was able to run it with them. As special as some of my runs have been, it has been way more memorable to be there with them as they cross their first finish line and see them accomplish their goals.
I guess I am saying I have used running as an outreach to my community and my family and friends.
Anything else you want to add … We’re all ears!
The only other thing I can think of is my grandfather and great uncles were born and raised on a small farm in Passumpsic, VT. I think this is only an hour north of the start of the race. I understand the old farmhouse is still there. I am hoping to visit it while I am so close to it as I have never been there before, and I think it would be really cool to see an area where my grandfather and his siblings played and wandered around as children. See what part of my family’s history looks like.
