Navy Veteran Completes 110-Mile Run For Military Families

EAST WINDSOR, CT — An East Windsor native and U.S. Navy veteran who took up ultra running about two and a half years ago successfully completed a quest to complete a 110-mile run to benefit an organization which supports military members and their families.

Fred Pinero, 41, a personal trainer by trade, traversed 75 laps of a 1.47 mile triangular loop comprised of East, Clark, Thrall and Middle roads. He began his trek at 3:37 a.m. Saturday, and finished at 8:27 Sunday morning. His plan had been to complete the endurance run in 32 hours, but he actually finished well ahead of expectations, in 28 hours, 46 minutes and 55 seconds.

His run was set up as a fundraiser for the Fisher House Foundation, an organization founded in 1990 which builds comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital. There are 88 Fisher Houses nationwide, with Connecticut's being located at the West Haven VA.

"As one of the thousands of veterans who have directly benefited from this fund, this is a local organization where donations make a direct and immediate impact," Pinero wrote on his Facebook page promoting his run. "Donate 5 or 500. My goal is 1,500. I will be running my ass off. In traditional military fashion, I will be "Embracing the Suck.""

Pinero's fiancee, Melissa Cole, said he began endurance running "to develop mental fortitude and toughness. He figured if he can push through running 100 miles, he can push through anything else that life throws at you."

Most distance events have been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, so Pinero decided to host his own event and turn it into a fundraiser.

"As a Navy veteran, he decided to give back to the military," Cole said. "He chose the Fisher House Foundation because not a lot of people know about it, and he wanted to bring awareness to it."

Pinero set a goal of $1,500 for the fundraiser; by 8:30 a.m. Sunday, nearly $2,300 had been raised for the foundation.

Several people joined Pinero on his journey for brief periods of time Saturday. .

Anyone wishing to contribute to the cause may do so by clicking here.