Appalachian Trail Record Holder Ready to Pass the Torch - Runner's World Newswire [Archive]

WhiteBlaze

07-06-2015, 22:20

<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"></td><td valign="top" class="j"> <div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHrEmsvO1qMapCWoGFKFm3g5K0h_g&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=WzebVfjUKuPA8QGAl4GICg&url=http://www.runnersworld.com/trail-racing/appalachian-trail-record-holder-ready-to-pass-the-torch">Appalachian Trail Record Holder Ready to Pass the Torch</a> Runner's World Newswire “I was actually on the Appalachian Trail when he called, but he left a very nice message,” Davis told Runner's World Newswire. Jurek left Springer Mountain, Georgia, on May 27. Now, 41 days into his own record attempt, the accomplished ultramarathoner ... <a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dd-ImB8UCIFi0PM&authuser=0&ned=us"></a></div></td></tr></table>

More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHrEmsvO1qMapCWoGFKFm3g5K0h_g&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=WzebVfjUKuPA8QGAl4GICg&url=http://www.runnersworld.com/trail-racing/appalachian-trail-record-holder-ready-to-pass-the-torch)

BirdBrain

07-06-2015, 22:53

The thoughts expressed by JFD in that article are examples of why I hope she retains the record. I will never know any of these people. Scott might be as much a quality person as her. She just seems so down to earth. I like the thought of a person like her holding the record. Hopefully Scott is a worthy successor if he breaks the record. It is a fairytale view I have of such things. It normally is not reality.There are too many jerks holding records. It is nice when someone that cares holds the record. Not saying Scott is not worthy. It is just safe where it is now.

imscotty

07-07-2015, 00:48

JFD is a class act.

Driver8

07-07-2015, 01:07

Jen's such a fine person. Would be aok if she retained the record.

Singto

07-07-2015, 07:43

Breaking and holding a record isn't about the character of a person, it's about the accomplishment. Word's such as "jerk" are a subjective term. One person's jerk is another person's hero and vice verse. Things such as respect the rank, not the person and respect the office not the holder bear this point out. To each their own, live by the no harm principle and hike your own hike.

Coffee

07-07-2015, 07:50

If he breaks the record at this point it might not be by a huge amount so she might decide to make another run to reclaim the title. That's what competition is all about. It's better to be a class act but ultimately it is about accomplishment. Some of the greatest professional athletes are total jerks.

Dogwood

07-07-2015, 07:53

+1 JPD is a class act. Despite any record she holds is the limelight that should be placed on her character! Read her books. Listen to her interviews. Go see her talk. Lots of no BS honesty, integrity, and strength in that woman!

CalebJ

07-07-2015, 08:19

Everything I've seen of/from JPD has been very impressive. She's a great person with rock solid integrity and very down to earth. For what it's worth, that's been the same impression I get from Matthew Kirk here on the forums, and from David Horton through ultra running and meeting Scott and Jenny as they came through this area. It's a close community of really solid people.

Water Rat

07-07-2015, 08:45

JPD is a class act and I would love to see her retain the overall FKT for the AT, but that record will (at some point) be broken. Even with Scott Jurek's attempt, she would still retain the FKT title for women. And, she set an extremely high bar for the next person (be it Scott Jurek, or the next person to come along). Not just for the record, but for the shoes that person would be filling.

From the article, I get the impression that JPD left it all out there on the trail and is at peace with her time and where her record stands. Records are broken, but if you are at peace with the effort you put forth, then it is easy to move on. I do not get the sense she feels the need to set a new record... Her life is just different now. Doesn't make her less competitive, or in any way mean that drive is gone... But, she is not a one trick pony and the AT is not her only trail. The AT and her hike(s) are part of her life, but do not define who she is as a person. Having her record fall will in no way change who she is as a person. The best way to be!

Though, I would selfishly love to see her give it another go. :)

BirdBrain

07-07-2015, 09:10

Breaking and holding a record isn't about the character of a person, it's about the accomplishment. Word's such as "jerk" are a subjective term. One person's jerk is another person's hero and vice verse. Things such as respect the rank, not the person and respect the office not the holder bear this point out. To each their own, live by the no harm principle and hike your own hike.

I knew when I wrote that word, it might be quoted. Think outside of the AT for a moment. The sports world is full of cheats and criminals that hold records. I did not want to make this about them. Therefore I did not name names. As a Boston fan, I could name many on the teams I cheer for. It is frustrating to be a fan of a team when they have a major player who is an open jerk on it. Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez, and Kevin Garnett to name 3. just wish there were more like Rico Petrocelli. If you ever met him, you would get my point. There seems to be no escape except to not be a fan. With JFD, I have an interest where the record holder is truly inspiring in so many things. Jen is awesome. I just hope Scott is too. He just might be.

Dogwood

07-07-2015, 10:41

JPD is a class act and I would love to see her retain the overall FKT for the AT, but that record will (at some point) be broken. Even with Scott Jurek's attempt, she would still retain the FKT title for women. And, she set an extremely high bar for the next person (be it Scott Jurek, or the next person to come along). Not just for the record, but for the shoes that person would be filling.

From the article, I get the impression that JPD left it all out there on the trail and is at peace with her time and where her record stands. Records are broken, but if you are at peace with the effort you put forth, then it is easy to move on. I do not get the sense she feels the need to set a new record... Her life is just different now. Doesn't make her less competitive, or in any way mean that drive is gone... But, she is not a one trick pony and the AT is not her only trail. The AT and her hike(s) are part of her life, but do not define who she is as a person. Having her record fall will in no way change who she is as a person. The best way to be!

Though, I would selfishly love to see her give it another go. :)

Well said WaterRat. These FKT holders don't or shouldn't encompass all who they are. We've been able to graciously get a glimpse into JPD's world through all her communications. No less than Jurek is simply a running machine. Give these folks some more credit for all who they are not just as it pertains to FKTs.

Pedaling Fool

07-07-2015, 11:08

Ok, I'm going to air another one of my "uncomfortable thoughts" that run thru my head and this isn't anything against JPD; I like her, never met her, but she seems like a great person.

And it's possible that I'm reading too much in that remark, but it just struck me as a little odd that someone wouldn't know that their record attempt wouldn't have the (very predictable) effect of starting something like we have witnessed after her amazing accomplishment.

Actually, it didn't start it, but it sure gave new surge of momentum to that rolling ball. She probably had the biggest effect on this record-setting pursuit, both because she smashed the previous record and she's a she and lastly, because she's not really in the same league of the others.

BTW, I agree this should definitely remain (and I'm sure it will) and unsanctioned event. However, it still can grow quite a bit, anyone has to see that.

The fact is that these attempts do negatively affect other people's trail experience, but so does Trail Magic and other things. I hate trail magic, but I deal with it and those people will just have to deal with this, that's part of being in a society -- a little give and take. There are other things I hate, but I'll save them for later.

This is the quote from the article that bugs me:

“What I really don’t want to see is one person’s record attempt negatively impact other people on the trail,” she said. Davis added that she supports the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s decision to not officially recognize records.

“There’s no trophy at the end,” she said. “It is an amateur pursuit based on the honor system, and that makes it pure and unique in our culture. I love that it is an underground sport, but I don’t know that it will stay that way.”

I'm going running now, because I'm not ready for the potential blowback;)

Water Rat

07-07-2015, 11:40

I think it is possible that she didn't know what her hike and subsequent record would mean in the grand scheme of things. It's possible she might not have internalized what it would all mean beyond what she was trying to accomplish for herself.

While she admits to having a competitive streak, I don't think she is truly a competitive person... She isn't one to brag, doesn't go out there looking to crush every record in her path. My perception is that it was more of a personal goal for her, and she might not have thought about the bigger picture. She also didn't have the following (at the time) and entourage that Scott has in place. Her followers were more from her close, personal circle.

We are also looking at it from the post JPD record. Everything I have read leads me to believe that while she had the record in mind, even she was surprised by what she accomplished (in the grand scheme of things) and everything that spiraled outward from that hub.

Not sure you will get much blowback - You weren't attacking her, or her accomplishment. :) Yours was a thoughtfully worded question.