CHICAGO — After running for more than 63 hours with almost no rest, Chuck Schultz had just enough energy to pose for a photo with his wife, Melissa, and their 1-week-old daughter, Emilia.
The 44-year-old Avondale resident completed the 200-mile Potawatomi Trail Run at 3:13 p.m. Sunday, finishing in 63 hours, 12 minutes, 54 seconds, according to race director Eric Skocaj.
"Mission completed," Schultz wrote in a Facebook message to DNAinfo Chicago.
Said Melissa in a Facebook message: "It was incredible to see him reach his goal and be a part of his journey. He truly is inspirational and shows that with hard work and dedication, you are capable of accomplishing anything; Emilia is lucky to have a strong male role model like her father."
"He hammered it out and cruised in," Skocaj said of Schultz, who wasn't immediately available for an interview because he was sleeping. "He's OK, a little mentally out of it, but he's fine. ... And he'll be out like a rock for a little bit."
Schultz began the race at midnight Friday and took only two, 45-minute naps during the epic journey. His reward was rest on the way back to Chicago, but not before the photo opp with his wife — who finished the 150-mile Potawatomi race last year — and daughter, who was born April 1.
"Chuck and his wife are so personable and good ambassadors for the sport," Skocaj said.
Schultz, a veteran ultra-marathoner, has run several races of 100 miles or more. The longest distance he had previously run without significant sleep was 168 miles in Pennsylvania. He also completed a 410-mile race from Illinois' southern border to its northern state line in seven days, sleeping at hotels each night.
Last week, Schultz said he was dedicating the race to his nephew, Nick, who died unexpectedly a year ago Friday.
Skocaj said Schultz was the fifth and final 200-mile competitor to finish the race. Five others couldn't complete the arduous task. The 200 miles consisted of running a 10-mile loop, which included a pair of creek crossings, 20 times.
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