Hoop Time
08-19-2008, 18:48
By CHRIS A. COUROGEN
The quest for the record appears to be over, but Karl Meltzer is not ready to pull the plug on his effort to through hike the Appalachian Trail.
A lower leg injury has put Meltzer's record attempt on ice -- literally, but the Speedgoat says if rest, ice and anti-inflamatory medication prescribed by his doctor do the trick within a few days, he plans to get back on the trail to complete his trek to Georgia.
"We'll give it a week," said Meltzer in a telephone interview Tuesday evening. "If it is still pretty bad in three or four days, then there is obviously some damage."
Meltzer's self diagnosis of the problem centers on the tibialis anterior, a large muscle that runs down the outside of the shin. But Meltzer is not certain of that diagnosis. His only consultation with a physician came over the phone with his doctor back in Utah.
"I have never had shin splints, or any injuries like this, so I can't really diagnose myself," he said.
Meltzer speculates the problem was caused by the poison ivy he got on his foot. The discomfort of the poison caused him to run more on his heels, favoring his toes. Ironically, the poison has all buy cleared up and is no longer effecting his stride.
"i'm going to let the meds do their work. If I can continue, I will," Meltzer said.
If not?
"The trail will always been there. I'll be back," Meltzer said.
He concedes the time off the trail likely means he won't be able to break Andrew Thompson's record of 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes. But he repeated his pre-start pledge to finish the hike regardless of the record if he is able.
"It's not all about he record. The record is icing on the cake," said Meltzer.
If he can't finish this year, Meltzer said he plans to return next year or the year after. Even if he finishes this year. Meltzer won't rule out another shot at the record in the future, perhaps with a slightly different approach.
"You learn from experience," he said.
Among the things Meltzer might tweak would be the way he has depended on his support RV for overnight accommodations.
"I might have a bivvy set up once in a while so I could go an extra seven miles instead of stopping at the RV when it is still daylight," he said.
A little more research into road crossings might also help, he said, citing a day where he stopped early at a road crossing, only to cross several roads that did not show up on his map early the next day.
Said Meltzer, "There are ways to go faster."
The quest for the record appears to be over, but Karl Meltzer is not ready to pull the plug on his effort to through hike the Appalachian Trail.
A lower leg injury has put Meltzer's record attempt on ice -- literally, but the Speedgoat says if rest, ice and anti-inflamatory medication prescribed by his doctor do the trick within a few days, he plans to get back on the trail to complete his trek to Georgia.
"We'll give it a week," said Meltzer in a telephone interview Tuesday evening. "If it is still pretty bad in three or four days, then there is obviously some damage."
Meltzer's self diagnosis of the problem centers on the tibialis anterior, a large muscle that runs down the outside of the shin. But Meltzer is not certain of that diagnosis. His only consultation with a physician came over the phone with his doctor back in Utah.
"I have never had shin splints, or any injuries like this, so I can't really diagnose myself," he said.
Meltzer speculates the problem was caused by the poison ivy he got on his foot. The discomfort of the poison caused him to run more on his heels, favoring his toes. Ironically, the poison has all buy cleared up and is no longer effecting his stride.
"i'm going to let the meds do their work. If I can continue, I will," Meltzer said.
If not?
"The trail will always been there. I'll be back," Meltzer said.
He concedes the time off the trail likely means he won't be able to break Andrew Thompson's record of 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes. But he repeated his pre-start pledge to finish the hike regardless of the record if he is able.
"It's not all about he record. The record is icing on the cake," said Meltzer.
If he can't finish this year, Meltzer said he plans to return next year or the year after. Even if he finishes this year. Meltzer won't rule out another shot at the record in the future, perhaps with a slightly different approach.
"You learn from experience," he said.
Among the things Meltzer might tweak would be the way he has depended on his support RV for overnight accommodations.
"I might have a bivvy set up once in a while so I could go an extra seven miles instead of stopping at the RV when it is still daylight," he said.
A little more research into road crossings might also help, he said, citing a day where he stopped early at a road crossing, only to cross several roads that did not show up on his map early the next day.
Said Meltzer, "There are ways to go faster."