A Finish Line Like No Other
This story didn’t arrive through a press release or media alert—it came from a phone call.
Sarah Lydick, owner of Sarah’s on Main, had just heard something unusual from a customer and friend, Sara Howard. Sara’s husband, Joe, was doing something “a little wild,” she said. As Sarah listened, the story unfolded: Joe was running the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon route—not once, not twice, but eight times in a row.
“This story needs covered, it is so crazy, and I thought of you!” Sarah told me.
She was right—it was almost unbelievable. I took a brisk walk down Main Street to meet Sara and hear more about her husband’s amazing story. When I arrived and sat with her, I joked that I was out of breath from the nearly two block walk. But I figured if Joe can run 100 miles, I can walk two blocks.
A Run for Robert
Joe Howard, a St. Clairsville resident and Wheeling native, ran an astounding 104.8 miles in just under 32 hours. Over the course of two days, he completed eight laps of the notoriously hilly Ogden Half Marathon course, totaling nearly 10,000 feet of elevation gain.
But Joe wasn’t chasing a medal or a headline—he was running for Robert McCoid, his sobriety sponsor and close friend, who recently passed away from cancer.
“What started out as simply running some miles in the dark for my man Rob”, Joe shared on social media, “morphed into something unforgettable.”
Joe met Robert in 2007, during the darkest stretch of his battle with alcohol. By February 27, 2010, Joe had taken his last drink—a milestone he attributes to the blueprint Robert laid out for him.
“Rob was unbelievably brilliant,” Joe said. “He saved my life.”
Throughout the run, Joe carried two sacred objects: Robert’s challenge coin and a tiny urn holding his mother’s ashes. Every step became a tribute—physically grueling, emotionally raw, and spiritually grounded.
Driven by Grit—and a Whole Lot of Love
Behind Joe’s incredible endurance stood a crew powered by friendship, faith, and sheer determination.
His wife, Sara Howard, ran logistics—solo. “Crewing for this type of madness is extremely tough,” Joe said. “She’s been doing it alone for years.”
Friends rallied around him, showing up at odd hours and on sore legs. Law enforcement officer Gordon J. Fredrick and his team kept Joe safe through the roughest nighttime loops. For the final lap, Gordon arranged a squad car escort through downtown Wheeling—sirens blaring, lights flashing—as Joe made his way to the finish line.
Chuck Zelek, just one year removed from surviving heart failure, joined Joe at 4 a.m. for lap seven. Vanessa Craig ran two miles down National Road with a donut and water in hand. And Natalie Zambori kept Joe fueled and focused with meals, encouragement, and unwavering presence.
“I had no idea the finish line was still set up,” Joe said. “Can’t believe all the people there showing support. Robert McCoid is certainly smiling big.”
Recovery, Redemption, and the Road Ahead
Joe’s transformation over the past 15 years is as much a spiritual journey as it is a physical one. His path through sobriety, fitness, and faith led him to found Uncommon Breed Performance, a St. Clairsville gym he co-owns with Sara.
“In the beginning of my sobriety, it was clear that working out was helping break my addiction,” he said. “But I also watched people in rehab go back to their old ways. I noticed a pattern. I wanted to create a space to help break that pattern.”
Uncommon Breed isn’t just a gym—it’s a launchpad for second chances.
Joe’s next challenge? The Burning River 100 this July in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio—an official 100-mile race where he’ll aim to finish in under 32 hours once again.
“I’m not the best at anything,” he said. “I’m just driven.”
Joe’s 104.8-Mile Run at a Glance
Distance: 104.8 miles (8 Ogden Half Marathon loops)
Time: 31 hours, 48 minutes
Elevation Gain: Nearly 10,000 feet
Why: In memory of Robert McCoid
Final Escort: Wheeling Police Department
Support Crew: Sara Howard, Gordon J. Fredrick, Chuck Zelek, Vanessa Craig, Natalie Zambori
Next Up: Burning River 100 – July, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
