AT Unsupported Speed Record Attempt

[Odd Man Out]

You might have company. This guy is going to try to break the supported record. http://www.sportiva.com/live/live-ar...record-attempt

This makes me sad in so many ways:

His grammar is very poor (doesn't Sportiva proofread his stuff?).

He was convinced he could run 50 miles per day on the AT because he got beat up on a Everest trek (a trip that thousands of people of all abilities take every year) and then failed to run the 50 miles from Lukla to Jiri in one day (a well-trodden trail at lower elevations that has been used for hundreds of years).

"My goal was not to beat this but to shatter (sic)." (in reference to the record)
Where have we heard this before?

"I'm sure you could shoot and or stab most ultra runners and they would still finish the run. Why? Because it makes for a cool story and that feeling you get from doing something that difficult (sic)."
This is almost unreadable.

"But because she was a women it made such huge news." (in reference to Jennifer Pharr Davis' record).
Now I'm really getting upset. http://adventure.nationalgeographic....r-pharr-davis/

"My thing is this. Speed is relative, fun is not."
ug?

I have no problems with trail running, setting records, etc. HYOY! I am not predicting he won't set the record. He is obviously a fine athlete. I wish him the best of luck as I do all thu hikers. Let's just say I probably won't be routing for him as I was for JPD.

"Everyone I ever meet hiking or running is amazing. Everyone their own story (sic). I love it. 2,184.2 miles of smiles. I will however be packing heat just incase (sic)."
I'm getting sic

"I hope that I can go out there and entertain people while I put myself through hell. I want people to be so inspired they donate money to the American Cancer Society." I'm not feeling inspired or entertained, sorry. Neither is my wife (cancer survivor - 10 year).

"I guess this comes back to the word endurance. People misuse this as a word for stamina. This is not true."
Actually it is true. Look it up.


Sportiva, Cliff, and Petzel have all chipped in free stuff to sponsor Mr. Blanton.

[nehiker]

This makes me sad in so many ways:

"But because she was a women it made such huge news." (in reference to Jennifer Pharr Davis' record).
Now I'm really getting upset. http://adventure.nationalgeographic....r-pharr-davis/

Isn't there some truth to this though? Did the previous record breakers make it into the NYT and the National Geographic?

The woman who broke the unsupported record last year seemed to be actually enjoying the hike, not just going for some speed record for the sake of the record by relying on dozens of other people. A lot of professional marathon runners could easily break her record if supported by a couple of dozen people and could make money from doing so. They run a marathon in 2 hours. I doubt they would have much trouble doing a marathon in 3-4 hours in the morning and another in the evening, even with some elevation gain; this would be more than enough to break the supported record.

[Rocket Jones]

Isn't there some truth to this though? Did the previous record breakers make it into the NYT and the National Geographic?

The woman who broke the unsupported record last year seemed to be actually enjoying the hike, not just going for some speed record for the sake of the record by relying on dozens of other people. A lot of professional marathon runners could easily break her record if supported by a couple of dozen people and could make money from doing so. They run a marathon in 2 hours. I doubt they would have much trouble doing a marathon in 3-4 hours in the morning and another in the evening, even with some elevation gain; this would be more than enough to break the supported record.

Maybe, but can they do it day after day after day after day after...?

[leaftye]

Maybe, but can they do it day after day after day after day after...?

It'd be more like twice a day, day after day, etc.

[nehiker]

Maybe, but can they do it day after day after day after day after...?

I am not one of them, but I would think so. Many people who hike quite a bit could manage 4 miles in an hour, but I suspect most would find this pace unsustainable, while being able to sustain about 2 miles an hour for 10+ hours (perhaps 4 and 2 should be 3 and 1.5; it does not really matter for my point). Likewise, if one can cover 26.2 miles in 2 hours with 100% effort, it seems covering the same distance in 4 hours, even over slightly hillier terrain, would be no big deal for them, just like walking 8 (or 6) miles in 4 hours for many of us, and it is something that can be done twice a day, day after day. With a good a support team, they would not need to carry anymore than they do on their actual marathons.

The current supported record is certainly very impressive, but I think it is something that a professional marathoner could easily beat and ``professional" is an appropriate comparison to make in this case, given the support crew. For this reason, I find unsupported records more remarkable than supported ones.

[max patch]

I find unsupported records more remarkable than supported ones.

I agree with you. I have no interest in how fast someone can run the AT when they helpers cooking their meals and giving it to them when they pass a trailhead or have their tents set up for them when they arrive or crash in a comfy RV. But if you carry your own gear and actually hike the trail and cook your own meals and set up and break down camp then you've got my attention.

[tenn_hiker]

This is the guy who emailed me (at LightHeart Gear) looking for donations for his socks, 20 something pairs of shoes, a GPS watch and an MP3 player

Who?

And just so everyone knows I will be going for the unsupported record, no guarantees, but I'm going to try!

[nehiker]

Who?

And just so everyone knows I will be going for the unsupported record, no guarantees, but I'm going to try!

I think she meant the sportiva guy going for the supported record.

Good luck with your attempt. Since you are young, you should have no joint issues slowing you down, but over 35 mpd, for 60 days straight, in downpours and in 100-degree heat, no matter the terrain, is still hell of a lot.

[jersey joe]

And just so everyone knows I will be going for the unsupported record, no guarantees, but I'm going to try!

Good luck on your hike! Do you know when you are heading out and if you will be posting a journal or updates online for us to follow?

[ChinMusic]

And just so everyone knows I will be going for the unsupported record, no guarantees, but I'm going to try!

Those are words worthy of rooting for.

The odds are strongly against you. If it doesn't work out, the experience will help you for subsequent attempts.........if you still have the bug.

[Papa D]

I agree with you. I have no interest in how fast someone can run the AT when they helpers cooking their meals and giving it to them when they pass a trailhead or have their tents set up for them when they arrive or crash in a comfy RV. But if you carry your own gear and actually hike the trail and cook your own meals and set up and break down camp then you've got my attention.

I also tend to be more respectful of the un-supported style too but everyone has some support. It might be someone sending packages from home, cell phone to shuttle service into towns, a campground night, a slack-pack (which I don't do btw) - - the question becomes where do you draw the line because it's not so clear. If you have a chase vehicle and a local "crew" then you ARE clearly supported but how much support can you receive and still check the "un-supported" box? - - I really don't know - - maybe it's just a "hike your own hike" thing .....

[matthew.d.kirk]

the question becomes where do you draw the line because it's not so clear. If you have a chase vehicle and a local "crew" then you ARE clearly supported but how much support can you receive and still check the "un-supported" box? - - I really don't know - - maybe it's just a "hike your own hike" thing .....

Papa D, this is indeed a very good question.

I believe that the new standard for an "unsupported" thru-hiker speed record should be set in a similar "no vehicular support style" such as what's been upheld by Scott Williamson and Adam Bradley on the PCT:

‘I will NOT have anyone following, or otherwise meeting me in prearranged manner to give me support. I plan to do this hike as a backpacker, carrying all of my food, equipment, and water between resupply towns. I will walk into supply towns to pick up mailed, prepackaged food boxes or to purchase food, then walk back to the trail via the same route I came in on. I will not be getting into a vehicle for any reason during this attempt, or skipping any section of trail. If I receive a lift from any vehicle or skip a portion of trail (no matter the distance) the attempt is off. I will be following the official PCT route, taking no detours, road walks or alternates of any kind.’

I think this would be a good way to set the new standard for future attempts on the AT because clearly hitch-hiking can be a slippery slope into prearranged shuttles, which can be a slippery slope into an even more supported attempt.

In case anyone is interested, map man did a great job of working out the logistics of just such a hike (in a southbound direction):
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...46#post1229946

[T.S.Kobzol]

Hmm. Now that you mention this. I would like that :-) Can I do the AT and have catering for the entire hike?

I agree with you. I have no interest in how fast someone can run the AT when they helpers cooking their meals and giving it to them when they pass a trailhead or have their tents set up for them when they arrive or crash in a comfy RV. But if you carry your own gear and actually hike the trail and cook your own meals and set up and break down camp then you've got my attention.

[Malto]

Likewise, if one can cover 26.2 miles in 2 hours with 100% effort, it seems covering the same distance in 4 hours, even over slightly hillier terrain, would be no big deal for them, just like walking 8 (or 6) miles in 4 hours for many of us, and it is something that can be done twice a day, day after day. With a good a support team, they would not need to carry anymore than they do on their actual marathons.

I would completely disagree this. Let's look at a slightly different comparison. Marathon running vs. ultra trail running. I doubt even the most elite marathon runners would be competitive in say a 100 mile ultra. They are just too different. If there was a pool of folks that could be competitive with the supported record it would coming out of trail running crowd not the marathon runners.

As far as Jennifer Pharr Davis only getting the press because she is women..... That is a bunch of BS. She got the attention because it was a huge accomplishment to do what she did. I believe Skurka won that honor doing a long fast hike but JPD accomplishment is at least equal to Andrew's. I doubt there are many folks out there that have done multiple 40+ mile days that wouldn't agree that she deserved the recognition.

Finally about Mr Sportiva Running Man, He has done nothing yet, just declare a bunch of foolishness. He should be a bit more humble until he "walks the walk" Reminds me of Sam Fox that was going to shatter the PCT last year. Great athlete but completely clueless on the nuiances needed to break a record. I suspect the unsupported record will go down in the next couple of years, the supported I believe will last a while.