Scott Jurek Appalachian Trail Record Attempt

Look, we understand what you guys think it is all about but Brokeback and Berkshires are completely different mountains so lighten up. Start focusing on your wedding plans now that it's legal everywhere.

Positive Contribution wrote:

Cliche Douchebags wrote:

I know this has been mentioned but I love a couple guys getting hammered and eating smores droning on about another "missing out."

Maybe you get hammered on two beers but normal people don't.

Btw it wasn't a bitch fest. His name came up and opinions were given for about 30 seconds.

Here is one more link that I forgot to include:

It's the AT Elevation Profile through the State of Maine:

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/content.php/829-Appalachian-Trail-Elevations-by-States-and-Sections-Maine

really helpful/cool to see what is between him and the top of Mt. Katahdin

Positive Contribution wrote:

Cliche Douchebags wrote:

I know this has been mentioned but I love a couple guys getting hammered and eating smores droning on about another "missing out."

Maybe you get hammered on two beers but normal people don't.

Btw it wasn't a bitch fest. His name came up and opinions were given for about 30 seconds.

People get jealous. You're a thru-hiker you expect a certain amount of status and deference, so it must bother them that all everyone is talking about is "Jurek, Jurek, Jurek".

Just checked Jurek's facebook page -- he seems to be stopped on top of Avery Peak, which is his last 4000-footer until Katahdin. I'm actually cautiously optimistic at this point about his finishing in decent form. A 40 mile day yesterday was a good sign, and he seems to be moving OK today. Once he descends Avery/Bigelow, he's got ~20 miles of just rolling hills in front of him till he gets to the Kinnebek. He knows what he needs to do...Unless his legs are really blown, I expect he'll finish with days in the upper 40's or even a lower 50. But we'll see!

I think the goal would be to arrive at Baxter late Saturday night, so he could start up Katahdin first thing Sunday morning. (I'm not sure what rules the rangers enforce in a situation like this -- you're supposed to register at Katahdin Stream Campground before you climb, etc.)

Wanted to post this link, which has a current article:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1997316/will-scott-jurek-break-appalachian-trail-record-maybe

We'll see. It looks like it's going to be a matter of a few hours either way. In any case, I think we're seeing that Pharr Davis's record is no joke.

“Speed is absolutely the motivator here. It’s what drives what I’m doing,” says Jurek. “It’s not fun. It’s not a good time. At the end of the day, it’s really just work.”Pharr Davis has a different take: “You really have to be the tortoise out there. Even when all you can do is crawl. So while it may seem counterintuitive, the way to break the record is to be really, really good at going slow.”

onwards wrote:

Wanted to post this link, which has a current article:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1997316/will-scott-jurek-break-appalachian-trail-record-maybe

onwards wrote:

Wanted to post this link, which has a current article:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1997316/will-scott-jurek-break-appalachian-trail-record-maybe

It looks like the chick who has the record had to sit out a few days because of snow. Makes her even more impressive than Jurek.

Today is going to be a pivotal day on whether or not he can get the record. People are stating that he still ahead of, or on, record pace still, but his current pace sure doesn't look that way.

snow days wrote:

onwards wrote:

Wanted to post this link, which has a current article:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1997316/will-scott-jurek-break-appalachian-trail-record-maybe

It looks like the chick who has the record had to sit out a few days because of snow. Makes her even more impressive than Jurek.

Jenn's record is no doubt proving to be spectacular. However, the article exaggerates the time lost to snow.

"Both Thompson and Pharr Davis lost days waiting out snow and wintery conditions in New England, near where Jurek is now."

Possibly, cumulative time waiting for better conditions added to something greater than 48 hours (i.e. "days"). Even that seems to be stretching the truth. Her mileages per day through this section were 44, 42, 39, 34, 33, 32, 35, 41, 39, 40, 43, 46. No zeros. Worst day being 32 miles. Her crew definitely helped her optimize progress through unfavorable conditions.

snow days wrote:

onwards wrote:

Wanted to post this link, which has a current article:

http://www.outsideonline.com/1997316/will-scott-jurek-break-appalachian-trail-record-maybe

It looks like the chick who has the record had to sit out a few days because of snow. Makes her even more impressive than Jurek.

Jenn's record is no doubt proving to be spectacular. However, the article exaggerates the time lost to snow.

"Both Thompson and Pharr Davis lost days waiting out snow and wintery conditions in New England, near where Jurek is now."

Possibly, cumulative time waiting for better conditions added to something greater than 48 hours (i.e. "days"). Even that seems to be stretching the truth. Her mileages per day through this section were 44, 42, 39, 34, 33, 32, 35, 41, 39, 40, 43, 46. No zeros. Worst day being 32 miles. Her crew definitely helped her optimize progress through unfavorable conditions.

The spreadsheet hasn't been updated as I write this, and I've been confused by the GPS signals in the past, but it looks like he more or less pushed through the night, stopping for maybe two hours for rest on the trail somewhere a few miles short of Pierce Pond. Mileage maybe a bit over 40 for yesterday from Spaulding Mt Lean-to?

As of 8 am, he's getting close to the Kennebeck, where they apparently have a canoe ready to ferry him across. After that, it's 151 miles to the end.

His pace overnight wasn't really as fast as I thought it would be, but it was night hiking and I'm sure he's feeling the effort -- having hard conversations with what Noakes would call his "central governor."

As far as comparing Jurek's effort to Pharr Davis' record completion -- personally, I think both athletes sort of benefit from the examination. JPD has the AT in her blood -- as I recall, doesn't she live in VA, not far from the trail? In any case, before her record attempt, she had already thru hiked the trail and even written a book on her experience. And I think that she had attempted and failed one time before her successful completion. So she benefited from experience, and she was re-traveling the trail.

Jurek comes in with basically no AT prior experience -- in fact, from what I can tell, no real multi-day "thru hike" experience of any sort -- and he comes in from the West. Everything is new -- the trail, the environment, the experience of holding things together for such a long period of time. And I think he has held things together well. He hasn't crumbled under the pressure after 43 days... Whatever happens, I'm impressed -- and it certainly validates what Pharr Davis accomplished!

Bottom line, Jurek's attempt has elevated his own legend and the name of Davis. This is why competition is healthy -- it brings the very best out of people.

I know this is supposed to be Jurek's final effort, but can you imagine how cool it would be for him and Davis to do a 2016 attempt together? I wonder how much faster they'd go if they had each other to push the pace.

RunHarwell wrote:

how cool it would be for him and Davis to do a 2016 attempt together? I wonder how much faster they'd go if they had each other to push the pace.

Now THAT would be something amazing!

"Bottom line, Jurek's attempt has elevated his own legend and the name of Davis. This is why competition is healthy -- it brings the very best out of people."

^THIS

Forget the hating and side-taking. Competition, mutual respect, inspiring achievement. Sport at its best.

I don't know if there was mutual respect if you say you will beat the current record by two days with no specific preparation. I believed it too in the beginning even though it sounded disrespectful because i thought no way running will lose to hiking. now I'm thinking the AT record will be taken down by a strong long distance hiker who works running into the record attempt as opposed to the other direction. Davis could have taken this record far lower with that strategy, with how strongly she finished.

This guy's book changed my life. One of the most mentally tough athletes I've ever come across. No doubt he'll shatter this.[/quote]

He should be able to shatter this soft record set by a girl

legend elevation wrote:

now I'm thinking the AT record will be taken down by a strong long distance hiker who works running into the record attempt as opposed to the other direction.

It has to be a tough as hell hike/run/climb (whatever you want to call it) if Jurek, JPD and guys like Jared Campbell and Karl Meltzer can't even do it in 45 days. Every one of these people is an accomplished ultramarathoner and used to long distance events. It's day in, day out, 40+ mile days, with major elevation changes and a technical trails.

legend elevation wrote:

I don't know if there was mutual respect if you say you will beat the current record by two days with no specific preparation. I believed it too in the beginning even though it sounded disrespectful because i thought no way running will lose to hiking. now I'm thinking the AT record will be taken down by a strong long distance hiker who works running into the record attempt as opposed to the other direction. Davis could have taken this record far lower with that strategy, with how strongly she finished.

Yes. If there was ever a tortoise and hare kinda deal... this is it.