Why, oh why.... Speed Record

[Malto]

Very serious question....... Over the last couple of years there have some of the most ridiculous announcements of speed records of various long trails. Who can forget the grand daddy of them all - The Initiative. But there was also the Navy Seal, Matt Huffman who remains MIA, Sam Fox (who may have the horsepower but lacked the experience) and others. There have been a couple recently that I can't really determine if they are a joke to see the reaction or whether they are so delusional that they believe they can get off their couch and break a record held by world class athletes. Normally, I am the first to defend those that want to push the envelop AND are willing to do the preparations to have a fighting chance to deliver on the announcement but few of these fall into the category of serious. (Natureboy, JPD and Scott Williamson were the exceptions.) Now the question...

Are these seeming delusional announcements:
a) A chance to get 30 seconds of fame with no real expectation of success.
b) A complete and innocent misunderstanding of what is involved in a record thru hike.
c) Your opportunity to explain this bizarre behavior.

[Bearpaw]

Are these seeming delusional announcements:
a) A chance to get 30 seconds of fame with no real expectation of success.
b) A complete and innocent misunderstanding of what is involved in a record thru hike.
c) Your opportunity to explain this bizarre behavior.

I'd say a lot of B. Just no idea how difficult the grades and nearly constant ups and downs can be.

I had just gotten out of the Marine Corps, from a pretty high intensity unit, when I began my thru-hike. I averaged about 15 MPD at the start, which most folks thought was pretty crazy. I had expected that mileage to be mellow and easy. It was perfectly doable, but was much tougher than I'd expected after coming from the mostly flat Carolina coast.

I imagine there are folks who can run a marathon comfortably expect that 26 miles of the AT will much the same. Unfortunately, it's not even close.

[Captain Blue]

My answer is A & B.

[stranger]

I believe it's a touch of A, in the internet age anyone can get 'press' simply by coming on here and posting. But mainly I believe it's B. The reason I say this is because of how incredibly huge the gap is between what people say they are going to do, and what they actually end up doing. I see these guys saying "I'm going to do this, that, other thing" then it comes out they have no real experience, and have not demonstrated that they can walk continously for hundres of miles, let alone thousands. Take the Initiative...cause it was probably the most significant joke in this category. An unknown and unproven person 'wanted' to hike 12,500 miles in 365 days, if he had done his homework he would have seen that NO ONE has every done that before, not even close. Not Skurka, Williamson, The Onion, Trauma, Robinson... The next closest thing to the Initiative would have to be Trauma's 10,000 mile hike years ago, where he hiked for 356 days and 'only' averaged 28 miles per day. There simply must be a complete lack of understanding of what it's like to hike long-distances, because Sam Gardner said he was going to average 34 miles per day, for 365 days straight...then in practice lasts two months, alot of that in motels, is hiking 7-10 mile days, and never gets out of New York. How does that happen? It's almost unbelievable.

[hikerboy57]

I cant take anyone who hasnt yet thru hiked the AT(or any othr LD trail) very seriously when it comes to these "attempts"yes, will and determination are probably the two biggest factors in completing any AT attempt. but these guys have no idea what theyre in for until theyre out there doing it.still waiting for mr huffmans first trip report.or last one.whatever.

[scope]

Probably some very good athletes doing some math at home and saying to themselves, "why not? I can do that!" Then, they get on the trail and realize the math doesn't add up.

[Tom Murphy]

I am guilty of this most everytime I plan a backpacking trip.

I look at the topos and imagine long days filled with lots of miles and lots of elevation changes. Then I go out for 2-3 days averaging less than 10 miles per day with many more hours spent stopped than actually moving.

I try to accept that I am a really a camper and not a hiker.

But then I look at the topos again and it starts all over again.

[Tom Murphy]

[thread drift]

I think the fastest known time for a supported hike of the AT will not improve very much going forward. Jenn had a a very smart support team approach that took most of the "slack" out of the aspect of the record. Others may be able to improve the FKT based on their stamina and conditioning but I don't think there is much time to be gained from "better support".

[/thread drift]

[jersey joe]

I am guilty of this most everytime I plan a backpacking trip.

I look at the topos and imagine long days filled with lots of miles and lots of elevation changes. Then I go out for 2-3 days averaging less than 10 miles per day with many more hours spent stopped than actually moving.

I try to accept that I am a really a camper and not a hiker.

But then I look at the topos again and it starts all over again.

Yeah, I do this a lot too. Plan out a grand trip and realize once I'm out there that I'm in for more than I bargained for. Our eyes are bigger than our legs.

I don't mind seeing people go for a record on the AT. They make our radar because we are on whiteblaze, but for the most part, they go un-noticed by the general public.

[Slo-go'en]

I don't mind seeing people go for a record on the AT. They make our radar because we are on whiteblaze, but for the most part, they go un-noticed by the general public.

They do give us something to talk about.

[sbhikes]

I for one was quite surprised that Sam Fox (of run while you can) actually completed his thru-run of the PCT. With his inexperience, I really didn't expect him to get out of Washington. The only trouble with his whole thing was you never heard what was going on from his point of view, only from his silly hyperbolic babysitters who blew it all up into some kind of epic of pain and suffering and taking care of a hopeless, running-addicted man-child. Anyway, I think it's a whole lot of B with A forefront in the person's mind. Heck, half the people doing thru-hikes and not even attempting records these days all seem to be doing it to raise money and try to get sponsors and all that, as if what they are doing is so amazing and newsworthy how can people not rush in with money and support? Sheesh. You're all just ordinary thru-hikers enjoying a long hiatus from boring workaday life like the rest of us. Get a grip on yourselves.

[XCskiNYC]

I did that running thing too, figured conservatively I'd do 20 miles a day, probably more. Then came the first ascent with a 40lb pack.

[Jeff]

One guy who announced his record intentions was Carlos Goldberg (Galilee Man) from Israel. He nearly beat the record, amazing for a hiker on his first AT attempt.

Every once in a while there is a story worth following. Here is his Trailjournal:

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=308189

[Odd Man Out]

One guy who announced his record intentions was Carlos Goldberg (Galilee Man) from Israel. He nearly beat the record, amazing for a hiker on his first AT attempt.

Yes, and to his credit, he didn't call a press conference in advance, claim he was going to "shatter" the old record, or do something unprecedented. Also, the record didn't seem to be the primary justification for the hike. From his final entries you can see that his failure to break the record had nothing to do with his overall view of success and accomplishment. +1

[Marta]

I think the phenomenon may have something to do with the AT's long-time mythology as a life-changing accomplishment. A lot of tales of successful AT hikes are comin-of-age stories, sort of like Zane Gray novels. City boy conquers the wilderness. Ordinary person does something extraordinary--that is the narrative of most AT stories. Of course enough people have already "conquered" the AT, including old people, blind people, one-legged people, and so on, that diseased minds in search of glory take hold of the idea that they will do it in a way much more special than anyone has before. The less one knows about the AT, and the less experience one has with long-distance hiking, the more feasible such a plan seems. That's the only reason I can think of that people cook up these silly plans, and that gullible reporters give them coverage. If the same person announced that he was going to run a 3-minute mile, I doubt he could get anyone to grant him an interview.

[Speer Carrier]

One guy who announced his record intentions was Carlos Goldberg (Galilee Man) from Israel. He nearly beat the record, amazing for a hiker on his first AT attempt.

Every once in a while there is a story worth following. Here is his Trailjournal:

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=308189

I was going to mention him as well. A friend of mine hiked with him briefly in New York. Apparently, they were in the same shelter one night, then the next day they both started out at about the same time. Of course Galilee Man leaves my friend in the dust. About noon, my friend sees G.M. coming toward him. He had gotten turned around and hiked several miles in the wrong direction. He also got sick for a few days as I recall. I always thought that if he had been better prepared with a plan he might have done it. Physically, and mentally I think he had the right stuff.

[The Walker]

One guy who announced his record intentions was Carlos Goldberg (Galilee Man) from Israel. He nearly beat the record, amazing for a hiker on his first AT attempt.

Every once in a while there is a story worth following. Here is his Trailjournal:

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=308189

I took a peek at his journal and it looks like he had some strategic issues in the beginning. That 49 mile day first day on May 7 backfired with the next 9 days being all in the 20's. He looked like he kept right around record pace for the last half of the journey. He might break the record if he ever made another attempt. Of course, good to excellent weather would help.

I think Ward had some wiring issues that gave him some special benefits for long distance hiking.

[Slo-go'en]

I think Ward had some wiring issues that gave him some special benefits for long distance hiking.

Ward's "wiring issues" had more to do with dealing with people. I suppose that helped in that he didn't get to spend much time in town so he spent it all on the trail. What no doubt helped him in long distance hiking was his long legs. By the time he set the unsupported speed record, he had done the trail a whole bunch of times and for all practical purposes was a professional hiker at that point. That's why his record is so hard to beat - especially by those who haven't yet done the trail once.

[Big Dawg]

D. They stumble across Andrew Skurka's website, and become delusional.

[stranger]

I took a peek at his journal and it looks like he had some strategic issues in the beginning. That 49 mile day first day on May 7 backfired with the next 9 days being all in the 20's. He looked like he kept right around record pace for the last half of the journey. He might break the record if he ever made another attempt. Of course, good to excellent weather would help.

I think Ward had some wiring issues that gave him some special benefits for long distance hiking.

I think it's easy to dismiss Ward as people generally fear mental illness. If Ward had an advantage or two from his illness, he was no doubt disadvantaged 10 fold. Make no mistake about it, Ward faced far more difficulties on the trail than someone like Jennifer Pharr Davis will ever have to. His record has stood since 1990, his 3 hikes in one year still stands as well. Ward Leonard holds the unsupported record because he is argubly the greatest natural hikes the AT community has ever seen, and I feel priviledged to have met him. 36 miles a day, in 1990, before silnylon and cuber fiber, before 24 ounce tents, before trail runners...think about it. Also it needs to be mentioned that NO ONE has ever 'averaged' 36 miles per day for longer than 45 days that I know about, Skurka came close on his Great Western Loop, but not quite. Skurka did manage to average 38 per day on the PCT, but for 45 days. Ward Leonard deserves much credit, especially back in 1990.