Karl Meltzer is on pace to break Jurek's Appalachian FKT

If Karl is on the AT in Virginia and in/around Shenandoah, it is an area Meltzer knows well. IIRC, Massanutten 100 (which he has won 4 times) runs thru Shenandoah and those parts. Should be able to put in good mileage the next few days. I would expect a few 50+ days in a row.

Good point. Has any one checked their testosterone levels? We could be dealing with more intersex here.

Turk wrote:

"Day 27 Update: ... Tomorrow he will begin the first real test since the White Mountains as we enter Shenandoah National Park."

I thought SNP was actually a relatively easy section?? Yeah it's hilly but the trails are nice and smooth, definitely very runnable. It's one of the few sections I've done (also from Harper's ferry through the southern 50mi of PA) and people were telling me a lot of the rest of the trail was much more rugged.

I thought SNP was actually a relatively easy section?? Yeah it's hilly but the trails are nice and smooth, definitely very runnable. It's one of the few sections I've done (also from Harper's ferry through the southern 50mi of PA) and people were telling me a lot of the rest of the trail was much more rugged.

I can confirm. Hikers often put in big days in Shenandoah. The trail is a lot smoother.

Is he running a little bit or just walking "fast"?

Once he's in the park it is pretty flat. You climb up a small mountain then on a ridge for half a day back down and again until the end of the park, couple hundred miles?

100 miles in length

You've obviously never been in the Greens, Whites or Western Maine or you would know it makes a difference which way you go.

Clefairy wrote:

BrewGod wrote:

In my opinion he's not on pace to break Scott's record. Scott when North Bound. He's on pace maybe to break the South Bound record.

Hardrock has 2 records one for CCW and for CW.

Good for Hardrock. We're talking about the AT though.

The only difference it makes is in a thru you get the hard stuff out of the way first. If you're implying that the terrain is actually easier southbound than northbound then you have never done the trail in both directions.

Monah wrote:

The only difference it makes is in a thru you get the hard stuff out of the way first. If you're implying that the terrain is actually easier southbound than northbound then you have never done the trail in both directions.

No one on these boards has actually ever run on trail.

Having your pace suffer by being on technical trail? Not around here!!

that's my point - Scott had how many days of running 50 miles a day before he got to the brutal hard stuff in New England. Karl didn't even have to run up Katahdin. He walked up and started the clock from the sign. Probably one of the hardest climbs on the trail.

Monah wrote:

The only difference it makes is in a thru you get the hard stuff out of the way first. If you're implying that the terrain is actually easier southbound than northbound then you have never done the trail in both directions.

BrewGod wrote:

that's my point - Scott had how many days of running 50 miles a day before he got to the brutal hard stuff in New England.

Karl didn't even have to run up Katahdin. He walked up and started the clock from the sign. Probably one of the hardest climbs on the trail.

Monah wrote:

The only difference it makes is in a thru you get the hard stuff out of the way first. If you're implying that the terrain is actually easier southbound than northbound then you have never done the trail in both directions.

Lol run up Katahdin. You just revealed you know diddly about the actual trail.

Day 34 (yesterday), Karl was about 4 miles behind Jennifer's record and 55 miles behind Juke's record. He'd have to average 51 miles per day from here on out to break the FKT (Jurek's).

Thanks for the update. Fun to read

Scott Jurek came out to run with Karl...

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=713719282102194&id=596168280523962&substory_index=0

legday wrote:

Scott Jurek came out to run with Karl...

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=713719282102194&id=596168280523962&substory_index=0

Reverse psychological tactic? Maybe Scott is trying to lay some Stockholm syndrome on him.

Is that dude's beard real? Nasty dark black and perfect. Thoughts?

I would have done northbound that way the easier parts can be taken advantage of while fresh, especially since he's a runner. Its not a pretty sight though seeing these elite men zombie night half dead to the finish line only to beat the girl power record by a few hours. And she hiked the whole thing! She should come back and put the record out of reach, or some other female as its becoming clear women are better at the month long endurance stuff.

jTjg wrote:

Is that dude's beard real? Nasty dark black and perfect. Thoughts?

It looks like one of those beards that are knitted and attached to a beanie... the crew guy, right?