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LAKE PLACID - Jay resident Drew Haas has given a new meaning to the term "motivated employee" - showing up to work just hours after completing the 135-mile Northville-Placid Trail in 2.5 days.

The 30-year-old employee of The Mountaineer gear store in Keene Valley completed the Northville-Placid Trail in just 60.5 hours to set what is believed to be a speed record on the trail for hikers going unsupported.

Haas left Northville on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 11:40 a.m. and finished at the Lake Placid train station Friday night at 12:10 a.m.

"I actually called up my boss on my cell phone at one point, and said, 'I'll be at work tomorrow,' and I still had 45 miles to go," Haas told the Enterprise. "That made me keep on going instead of taking my time. It was Labor Day weekend, so not working wasn't an option."

Haas broke a record set last October by Oneonta resident Erik Schlimmer, who finished in 80 hours. An average hiker may take 10 days to complete the trail.

"His style is fast hiking and my style is running," Haas said. "I wasn't focused on bettering the 80 hours, but just seeing how fast I could go. I had a good feeling that if everything went fine for me, then that 80 hours wouldn't be difficult. Not to be arrogant or anything like that but I have a different style."

The Enterprise is aware of only one other person to complete the trail faster than Haas. Vermont photographer Tim Seaver ran the trail in 37 hours and 31 minutes in 2005. But he received "support" from others so his time falls in a different category than Haas.

The Northville-Placid Trail starts at the former train depot site in Northville and ends at the train station in Lake Placid, with the route following valleys along the way. It goes through the heart of several wilderness areas: Silver Lake, West Canada Lake, Blue Ridge and High Peaks. It also passes nearby three hamlets: Piseco, Blue Mountain Lake and Long Lake.

The founder of the Adirondack Trail Running Club, Haas carried only 12 pounds in his backpack and ran what he estimated was half the distance of the trail. His essentials included a locator beacon, cell phone, small stove, high powered headlamp, Swiss Army knife, duct tape and a Steripen, which uses ultraviolet light to purify water.

For meals, Haas ate dehydrated rice and beans, cheddar mashed potatoes, pasta and even downed two slices of cold pizza. He snacked on Gu, beef jerky, Snickers, a Clif bar, Fritos, fireballs and made tea when he needed a caffeine kick.

Haas slept only six hours during the trek. During his two-hour naps, he laid down on a 3/8 inch-thick foam pad, bundling up in a sleeping bag liner wrapped in an emergency space bag.

"It was enough to keep me warm for a couple of hours, and then I would wake up with a lot of moisture," Haas said. "But it was kind of the perfect alarm clock."

During the three days, Haas had ideal weather. Temperatures were in the 60s and 70s during the day and 40s and 50s at night. The forecast played a big role in choosing the date for the trip, which was originally planned for mid-September.

"I saw the weather report and scrambled at the last minute and went for it," Haas said.

This is the second time Haas has attempted to complete Northville-Placid Trail at such a fast pace. Last summer, he tried to complete the route but had to stop after 96 miles because he developed serious blisters on his feet.

During that attempt, he traveled from north to south and had help from friends and family. This time, he decided to go on his own and traveled in the opposite direction.

Haas is no beginner when it comes to endurance activities. He's a veteran of two 100-mile trail run races, having finished the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run in Virginia in 35 hours and the Vermont 100 Endurance Run in less than 24 hours. The experience of competing in those two events helped him during this trip.

"In 100 milers, they say you run the first 50 and the second 50 you do it mentally," Haas said. "It's physical, but it's very mental when you're body's beat up and you're tired and you want to sleep and you don't feel very good. It's just telling yourself to keep on going, keep on going."

Haas said he went for the speed record on the Northville-Trail to challenge himself. Knowing that he had to work four days after he started was just extra motivation.

"I finished on Friday just past midnight and I had to work the next morning, so that was kind of like the time constraint that I put myself under because I was pretty much doing this on my days off from work," Haas said.