By David Freeze
Amaral Completes 100 Mile Ultra Marathon
Jim Amaral is 37 years old and has always been passionate about physical activities and competing in sports. He said, “As a kid, running was a form of discipline or conditioning by my coaches, so it was a chore rather than an enjoyable activity. In my early twenties, I sustained a serious knee injury that involved the separation of my quadriceps from my kneecap and even exposed my kneecap. This injury limited my physical ability at the time and ended sports participation.”
But in his mid-twenties, Jim discovered yoga which helped him regain strength and flexibility in his knee joint. He moved to Rowan County in 2016 and joined a workout group at the South Rowan YMCA. He ran with some of the group members, and from there, things snowballed. A half marathon led to a full, which then led to a half-Ironman, and eventually, he completed a couple full Ironmans. An Ironman includes a 2.4 mile deep swim, 112 mile bike and full marathon of 26.2 miles to finish up.
After completing both Ironmans, Jim found himself wondering, “What’s next? Why not an ultra?” In December 2024, he ran his first 40-mile ultra, followed by a 50-mile ultra in January 2025. Both were part of his training and preparation for Blackbeard’s Revenge 100-mile ultra on the Outer Banks.
Jim said, “I simply enjoy the challenge. Physical fitness and achievements through races are earned through hard work and sheer willpower. There’s no shortcut. No flattery to get ahead, no financial advantages, and little to no luck involved. Privilege doesn’t play a part (aside from having a capable body). There’s something pure and incredibly fulfilling about that.”
No ultras are easy, but this one was extreme. Jim said, “The wind made the experience very challenging. While crossing two bridges, at times the wind would push me into the concrete barrier. I quickly realized that running was not an option on the bridges; I made more progress by staying low, shielded by the concrete barriers, and power walking. In some sections, when exposed to the sand dunes the combination of wind and sand was so fierce that it felt as if my skin was being sandblasted.”
Jim had a support team of four, including his wife. He said, “They were there for me every step of the way. At times they paced me, gave me pep talks, waited for me at exchange points for sock and shoe changes, and always had my favorite fuel ready. Having four people that dedicated an entire weekend to support me was truly special. There’s no way I could have achieved the success I did without them.”
While growing up in New England, specifically in southeastern Massachusetts, the beach was a regular part of Jim’s life. OBX and its scenery reminded him of home. He said, “I’ve lived in North Carolina since 2008, and I’m proud to say that I finished 6th overall in the Blackbeard’s Revenge, and the first person from North Carolina to finish this North Carolina race.”
Jim is the Assistant Director for Salisbury Rowan Utilities where he takes pride in serving the community by overseeing their most vital resource, water. His wife of 15 years, Heather, is from Stanly County and is a nurse practitioner at Rowan Diagnostic Center.
The couple is in the process of adopting a little 3-year-old girl named Aubrey. Aubrey was brought into the practice where Heather then worked in very poor physical condition. Jim and Heather believe she was approximately 10 days old as she was not born in a medical facility. Jim added, “Aubrey was rushed to Presbyterian in Charlotte where we received approval to stay with her, and she has been with us ever since! We received guardianship of her December 2022 and hope to adopt her soon!”
Jim’s plan is to lay-low and enjoy the summer, run around the county but most importantly stay healthy and active for his two girls. Heather and Jim plan a trail ultra together soon but haven’t decided on the race yet.
Next Saturday’s race locally is the One in 5K and Fun Run at Salisbury Community Park. Look for more details on this and other upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org
