Nick Ciarrochi: Taking Simple Steps to Achieve Big Success

by Sheila Turner-Hilliard

Cover photo by Crissy Everhart Photography

We would like to thank BRADLEY TREE EXPERTS for sponsoring this month's Resident Feature.

This month we are excited to introduce you to Nick Ciarrocchi: A product of Newtown Square who is crushing big goals by literally putting one foot in front of the other. His story will inspire you to rethink what you think is impossible. Nick moved to Newtown Square with his parents and younger sister when he was 8 years old. He went to Culbertson Elementary and Paxon Hollow Middle School. Nick graduated from Marple Newtown High School where he played football and lacrosse and worked part-time for his father’s residential masonry company.

I learned a lot about discipline and hard work while playing sports,” Nick said. “Coaches Davey Jones and Kevin Merchant really made an impact on me and Coach D’Alonzo taught me how to have confidence on the field.

After high school, Nick was accepted to Temple University, where he studied Engineering with a focus on Construction Management. Temple is also where Nick met his fiancée, Amanda. Amanda grew up in Lansdowne and studied at Temple’s Tyler School of Art, earning her degree in Visual Studies and Art Education. She is an art teacher at St. Eugene School in Primos and Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) school in Darby. She, Nick and their 18-month-old son, Domenic, currently live in Drexel Hill but hope to buy a home of their own in Newtown Square in the near future.

Today, Nick works as a Project Engineer for Warfel Construction and is based out of their Paoli office.

Right now, we’re working on a major renovation at Dunwoody Village,” Nick said. “I am really enjoying managing a project in my own hometown.

It was during Nick’s college years that he began practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This martial art uses the principles of leverage, angles, pressure and timing, as well as knowledge of the human anatomy. The goal is to achieve a non-violent submission of one’s opponent. It’s a sport that requires equal parts physical and mental toughness. As time went on, Nick continued to practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at a local gym. That was until Covid hit, and his gym had to shut down.

Nick Ciarrocchi after a run at Ridley Creek State Park

Photo by Crissy Everhart Photography www.CrissyEverhart.com

I needed to stay active, so I began running every day,” Nick said. “I set goals for myself to stay motivated by adding one mile and one more day each week.

He started running three miles three days a week, then four miles four days a week until he was running every day.

Nick said he has always been physically active but admitted that running wasn’t an activity he particularly enjoyed. “Back in college, a few of my friends encouraged me to do the Broad Street Run,” he said. “At the time, I thought running 10 miles was a stretch, but I did it and felt accomplished.” After that race, Nick began thinking that if he could do 10 miles, why not try for 26.2? He signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon, laced up his sneakers and hit the pavement. Nick started running early in the morning before he went to work so he could come home at night and enjoy time with his family.

Eventually, I decided that running would replace my Jiu Jitsu training because I could do it on my own time and around my family’s schedule,” Nick explained. “Someday, I would like to start practicing again, but I’ll wait until my son can go to the gym with me.

Nick and his friend, Eric at an aid station during the Eastern States 100

Photo courtesy of Nick Ciarrocchi

With his firm commitment in place to run, Nick set out to accomplish what many think is impossible. He set his sights on the Pine Creek 50-mile race in September 2020 and placed 3rd overall. From there, Nick ran the Pine Creek 50-kilometer in 2021 with another impressive finish. Then in 2022, Nick decided it was time for the next challenge – the Zion 100-kilometer ultra-marathon in Utah.

“The cool thing about running these races is that my family can travel with me,” Nick said. So, in April 2022, Nick, Amanda, Domenic, Nick’s parents and his sister all made the trip to Zion in Utah. “We got to explore and enjoy a new place we had never been.” Nick said that running also gives him the opportunity to connect with nature. “It’s one thing to admire the mountains and the woods from afar, but to run through them is a completely different and humbling experience.”

But Nick wasn’t done there. It was time for him to take on the Eastern States 100 this past August. The Eastern States is a 103mile trail race in the Wilds region of the Allegheny Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania. It’s a course that brings participants through extremely remote terrain with over 20,000 feet of climbing. It’s a historically tough race that sees less than half of the runners who start successfully cross the finish line.

Nick’s family and a few of his friends were there to cheer him on once again. There was a plan to meet up with them at designated checkpoints, but with no cell service and no tracking devices, it was impossible to predict where he would be at what time. Nick said that late into the race, he met up with his friend, Eric, who had planned to run 17 miles with him. “Eric was supposed to run 17 miles but ended up running 40!” Then at mile 75, Nick took a misstep and sprained his ankle. “I needed Eric’s support and encouragement to finish. Needless to say, I owe him a lot!”

Nick at the finish line of the Zion 100-kilometer Ultra Marathon with his parents, Dawn and Rick Ciarrocchi

Photo courtesy of Nick Ciarrocchi

Crossing the finish line was very special for Nick. “Having my family there and watching my son run towards me with the biggest smile on his face was overwhelming,” he recalled.

Domenic is the reason I continue to challenge myself. I want my son to see that you can achieve and accomplish things that seem unachievable as long as you are disciplined and consistent in your pursuit.

And, as you may have guessed, Nick isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon. He is going to run the Philadelphia Marathon again next month and is anxiously waiting to hear if his lottery number will be selected to run the Boston Marathon in April 2023. “I am excited about these races, but I really have my heart set on the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run,” he said. “It’s the ultimate endurance trail race through the mountains in California.”

Nick is often asked about his training routine and how he mentally and physically prepares for races. “Honestly, I don’t follow a set plan,” he explained.

My philosophy is simple and can be applied to just about anything in life: Don’t overcomplicate things, because what you think is impossible is not. Wake up every morning and take a step in the direction you want to go, even if it’s just one small step. Take responsibility for your actions; eventually, you will achieve more than you ever dreamed possible.

Thank you, Nick, for sharing your inspirational story and words of encouragement. Your Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors are looking forward to following your adventurous footsteps.

Do you know a Newtown Square family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.