07:30 We left the village of Litochoro—a small band of volunteers in matching shirts, riding up the mountain in a van packed with folding tables, fruit, and salt. I was in the passenger seat, smiling like a fool from the municipal stadium all the way to the Old Monastery of Saint Dionysios. Thinking, I was tracing the same steps of Kostas, Jess, and Niko when their mission kicked off in my book Running With the Gods.

By 09:06, the first ultra-runner reached our station—nearly ten minutes ahead of prediction. The first marathoner blazed through at 09:55. Our aid station was 9K above the finish line in Litochoro, on the same trail the fictional trio followed to the wooden bridge in the book.

This wasn’t just volunteering. For me it was communion—with the mountain, with story and the gods.

I had a great time with the team of dedicated volunteers that allowed me to tag along this year, I thank all of you!  And to Stefi, thanks for the invite and the years of friendship!

Running With the Gods releases October 1, 2025.