For most runners, completing a marathon is a pinnacle achievement. For Michael Koehler, 42, it was just the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would lead him to run 100 miles three times - including once through his beloved Wissahickon Valley Park.

The Mt. Airy resident and professional photographer discovered ultra-marathoning - races longer than the traditional 26.2-mile marathon - through a deeply personal mission. In 2019, Koehler ran the New York Marathon as part of the NF Endurance Team to raise funds for the Children's Tumor Foundation after his daughter was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder causing tumors throughout the body.

"I ran that race to raise money for my daughter, who had the disease," Koehler said. "Fortunately, her tumors were non-cancerous." His finishing time of three hours and 35 minutes was impressive for a first-time marathoner, though he admits, "I did have difficulty at the end."

That initial marathon sparked something in Koehler, who has called Mt. Airy home for 13 years. He began pushing his distances further, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source. "I began reading about German mystics like (Johannes) Kelpius who had magical experiences in the Wissahickon, as I have also," he said. Soon he completed a 55-mile run, followed by the challenging Laurel Highlands Ultra 70-mile Run in southwestern Pennsylvania.

His first 100-mile achievement came on New Year's Eve 2021 at the Hainesport 100 in New Jersey - a grueling 100 laps around a one-mile loop. Of the approximately 100 runners who started, only 25 finished. Koehler completed the distance in 23 hours and 15 minutes, sustained by peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from aid stations every two miles.

But it was his second 100-miler that proved most meaningful. On November 11, 2022, Koehler began a solo journey through the Wissahickon at 4:30 p.m., finishing the following evening at 10:10 p.m. "My buddy, Jim Paul, brought me food at Valley Green and Kitchens Lane," he recalled. "It was magical. We watched the sunrise at Valley Green with coffee."

That same year, he tackled the Allen Ginsberg "Howl" run, covering 93 miles through New York and New Jersey. The race finished at Greystone Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, NJ, where the legendary poet's mother and folk singer Woody Guthrie were once patients.

After knee surgery and a lengthy recovery, Koehler conquered his most challenging ultra-marathon yet - the Leadville 100 in Colorado this past August. "You go up to 12,300 feet, which makes it even harder," he said. "It took me two weeks to recover."

Beyond running, Koehler has built an impressive career in photography and education. His journey began dramatically - his first day as a photography student at New York University was September 11, 2001. "When I realized what was happening, I rushed down and took photos from 5th Avenue and 11th Street of the Twin Towers coming down," he said. "My photos are in the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Going through that experience gave me a lot to be grateful for and appreciate the preciousness of every moment."

Born near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Koehler moved to Germantown at age 4. After graduating from Chestnut Hill Academy, where he played tight end and linebacker for the football team, he studied photography at NYU. He returned to Philadelphia at 28 and has taught at Germantown Friends School for the past 11 years.

His teaching legacy is evident in his successful former students. Schuyler Alig works as a photojournalist and cinematographer, recently completing a documentary in Alaska. Jacob Smith has established himself as a designer and artist in Los Angeles, while Naeem Murdic has become a professional filmmaker.

"It definitely makes me feel good to see my former students do well professionally," Koehler said. "I like to think of my class as a 'bliss station.'"

Koehler’s own photography focuses on Northwest Philadelphia history. He carries a camera along when he’s running, and often stops to photograph sites he finds interesting – and then makes it a point to look up the subject.

"He is amazing," said Michael Schantz, a running partner and friend from his CHA days. "He is a virtual encyclopedia of local buildings. He tells me all about them. That makes for a very interesting run."

Koehler's work has been exhibited at the Imperfect Gallery in Germantown and is part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's permanent collection. He also photographs weddings and other significant events.

At home, Koehler shares his active lifestyle with his wife of 17 years, Lauren McGuire, a runner and weightlifter who works as an associate director of recruiting for a consulting company. Their children - Stella, 12, attends AIM Academy, while Charles, 15, is a student at GFS.

Though he's recently taken up surfing, the Wissahickon remains Koehler's spiritual home. "There is a wonderful language that those of us who spend a lot of time in the Wissahickon share," he said. "I will keep running the 100-mile runs until I can't anymore."

For more information: michaelmkoehler.com