Horton attempts CT Speed Record

[Bearpaw]

I felt like I was moving pretty solidly when I thru-hiked the CT. 34 days, 23 hours or so. I took only two zeroes and the rest of the days, I was moving solidly.

Any one that can beat nine days has my respect. Being supported makes it different, you say? Not when you're churning out that sort of mileage. It's Herculean. I find it damned impressive.

[Homer&Marje]

Go Horton....great to see ANY attempt at a record like this....olympic in nature, true athlete.

[Tinker]

I have no doubt he can do it. The biggest reward for him will be the accomplishment, not the accolades.

[JJJ]

Horton's lookin' OK on this one. Puttin' the hurt on some Ben & Jerry's too.

[ChinMusic]

Wait a min.....Horton uses poles? I wonder how fast he would be without the handicap.......lol

[jersey joe]

64+ miles yesterday...he's gunna do it.
How old is Horton?

[ChinMusic]

I'm starting to see the power of Twitter. It's great seeing timely updates like this from about an hour ago:

Update for JB. #Horton into seg 15@11am now headed 4 marshall pass. Doing good.

[ChinMusic]

How old is Horton?

I'd guess late 50s. He was married in 1971 and got a BA in 72.

[Lone Wolf]

64+ miles yesterday...he's gunna do it.
How old is Horton?

i think he just turned 60

[Lone Wolf]

i think he just turned 60

he turned 59 this past february

[RITBlake]

Go on son, go on!

[Mags]

This info was posted on Montrail's FB page.

Pretty gnarly stats! 60 miles and 12k gain..egads!

Today is day 7 for Horton as he attempts to break the supported speed record for the Colorado Trail. He's feeling good and moving along well and on track.

Yesterday he covered segment 17, 18 and 19 over 47.9 miles and a total elevation gain of 5,320 feet as he approached the La Garita Wilderness in the San Juan mountains. Beautiful and rugged terrain.

Today is a big day for Horton, the biggest in terms of total elevation gain, as he'll cover 60.5 miles and a total elevation gain of 12,700 feet. Epic! He'll cover segments 20-23 (there are 28 segments to the Colorado Trail) and will cross three mountain passes. If all goes as planned, Horton will finish on Sunday afternoon with a new Colorado Trail speed record. Good luck Horton, hang in there, we're pulling for you.

Day 1 - 57.6 miles, 8720' elevation gain
Day 2 - 60.1 miles, 9660' elevation gain
Day 3 - 52 miles, 7900' elevation gain
Day 4 - 62.4 miles, 9760' elevation gain
Day 5 - 50.3 miles, 9840' elevation gain
Day 6 - 47.9 miles, 5320' elevation gain
Day 7 - 60.5 miles, 12700' elevation gain
Day 8 - 51.6 miles, 7850' elevation gain
Day 9 - 42.1 miles, 5040' elevation gain

Total Distance = 484.5 miles
Total Elevation Gain = 76,790 feet

[kythruhiker]

Major bummer, he was well on track to take the record...

Horton is off the trail at end of Day 6 – CT speed attempt is over

http://www.eco-xsports.blogspot.com/

[ChinMusic]

I saw that via Twitter on my way home. Major bummer for David. From reading the blog he has been through hell the last couple days.

DEF the right call to pull off. His health is just too much to risk.

[Mags]

David reported that for the last four days he has been urinated blood.




Definitely the right choice. I'm no health professional, but urinating blood I imagine is one of the top signs that your body is saying "STOP"!!!

[fiddlehead]

Bummer!
Old age creates new problems for extreme athletes.

[warren doyle]

I wonder if covering 330 miles of mountain trail by foot in only 6 days is a new record?

I don't know anyone who has averaged 55 mpd over 6 days.

Talk to you soon David.

[jersey joe]

Yes, 55 miles/day over 6 days is an awesome acheivement!
Good stuff, despite coming up a little short...

[Jeff]

Yes, with all that David Horton has accomplished in his 50's, it is more proof that long distance hiking and running requires strong mental disipline. It's mostly all a head game.

[Lone Wolf]

long distance hiking and running requires strong mental disipline. It's mostly all a head game.

there's a big difference between the 2