CLINTON, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — A Hunterdon County native is preparing to take on a 93-mile endurance challenge through Egypt’s White Desert, pushing himself physically and mentally during a four-day event beginning Friday, Nov. 13.
Matt Amabile, 29, of Clinton, will participate in the White Desert Ultra, a 150-kilometer endurance event scheduled for Nov. 13-16. The challenge will take participants through the Egyptian desert, with Amabile planning to cover approximately 18 miles on the first day, 22 miles on the second, 25 miles on the third and 28 miles on the final day.
Amabile, who grew up in Alexandria and graduated from Delaware Valley Regional High School in 2015, said the event represents an opportunity to test his physical and mental limits while experiencing a part of the world he has always wanted to visit.
“I got into ultrarunning to challenge myself. I’ve learned that voluntarily putting yourself through difficult things can make you stronger and more capable when life brings challenges you weren’t expecting,” Amabile told RNJ.
A friend is organizing the event as an endurance retreat, and Amabile said his personal goal is to complete the distance over the four days. He also hopes to visit Egypt’s pyramids during the trip.
Although this will be his first organized endurance event, Amabile has spent the past three months preparing through a training schedule that has included two marathons, approximately five half marathons and two self-directed half-Ironman-distance efforts involving swimming, cycling and running. He had previously registered for an official half Ironman, but the event was canceled.
Amabile recently returned to Hunterdon County after spending two years living in Costa Rica. He said one reason for returning was to train on roads better suited for cycling, noting that the dirt roads and potholes where he lived in Costa Rica made training difficult.
A graduate of Rutgers Business School, where he studied supply chain management, Amabile works full time as a real estate investor. He began investing at 22 and left his job at 24 to focus on real estate, building a portfolio of rental properties in Phillipsburg and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
He said the flexibility of his career has allowed him to dedicate time to endurance training, although maintaining discipline and consistency remains an important part of his preparation.
Beyond the physical demands, Amabile believes the mental challenges of running through the desert will be among the most significant obstacles.
“I meditate a lot and have focused inside for a while. I think the mental strength will be the biggest part here,” he said.
At 230 pounds, Amabile said he expects joint and muscle fatigue to be his biggest physical challenges. He is focusing on mental strength and his faith in God to help him complete the event.
For Amabile, the challenge is about more than finishing the 93-mile distance. He hopes the experience will help him discover new levels of physical and mental resilience while encouraging others to pursue their own goals.
“I want to push myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I want to learn more about myself and explore parts of my mind and physical ability that I haven’t explored before. I think challenges like this can help you step into new versions of yourself and unlock new possibilities in your life,” Amabile said.
Amabile has also documented his fitness journey on Instagram, where his account, @mattamabile, has grown to more than 100,000 followers. He said he created the page to share his experiences and encourage others to get outside, challenge themselves and develop a more positive outlook on life.
As he prepares to begin the four-day journey, Amabile hopes his experience will inspire others in his hometown community to pursue challenges of their own.
“I’m excited to share this next chapter with people back home in Hunterdon County. I hope the journey encourages someone else to get after life and explore what they’re capable of,” Amabile told RNJ.
Those interested in following his journey can find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mattamabile/.
