On August 5, 2008, uber ultra-runner Karl Meltzer set off on the biggest race of his life. His challenge: to run the entire length of the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail in less than 47 days. Definitely daunting. Absolutely grueling. Probably insane. But when he does it, he’ll rule the AT as the guy who conquered it, all of it, the fastest on two feet. This is going to be Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Self, Man vs. Clock – and it’s going to be good.
It's on to the finish
Submitted by Marit Fischer on Sun, 09/28/2008 - 19:02
Karl just left Neels Gap at 6:10 p.m. and the word is that there will be no stopping until the finish line. Billy joined him at the last waypoint, 6.2 miles back at GA 348 - Hogpen Gap, and will continue to run with him through the night. Karl feels great and has been averaging a pace in the high threes, but is predicting a slow down through the night. He thinks he'll get to Springer around 4 a.m. Billy doesn't think it will take that long. Just FYI, Billy is a pro at gauging Karl's pace based on terrain and fatigue level and, while I was with him, pegged Karl's arrival time within two minutes at every single stop. I'd put my money on Billy this time too. Plus, since you and I are so good at math and figured in my last post that 4 a.m. is on the slow end of things, we know as well that they'll most likely get there before 4. Cheryl, Senior and Pam are all well, and are ramping up for the long haul ahead. No rest for Karl means no rest for the crew either. Cheryl sounded excited, but she knows well: "It's going to be a very long night." They're planning to catch up with Karl and Billy at Woody Gap ten miles up, then Hightower Gap, then Pig Stamp Gap. And then on to Springer. Sorry guys, because he's going to be running in at a time that my grandmother would call "an ungodly hour," it's not going to be a photo op finish or one that many of you will get to see. But you can't really blame him. He's ready to be done. He's tired. His body hurts. He's pretty much sick of running. He wants to go home. He wants to sleep in. He wants to catch up with all his coaching clients that he's had to neglect the past two months. He wants to veg out in front of the television and watch Seinfeld reruns. He wants to reflect on this whole adventure on his back patio, looking out on the fall colors splatter-painted on the Wasatch Mountains. Nah. You can't really blame him. Cheryl will be calling and txting me throughout the night. Each time I hear from her, no matter what time it is, I will post an update. Here we go.
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Comments
Pig Stamp Gap? Must be a new
Pig Stamp Gap?
Must be a new one.
Warren Doyle
That's a typo
Wizenheimer
The AT hasn't crossed through
The AT hasn't crossed through Big Stamp Gap (USFS 42) in over 20 years.
So, it is more than a typo.
Warren Doyle
awesome job
Way to go and push through the last 80+ to the finish. Thanks to the entire crew for sharing stories and posting photos. Now I have to find something else to do for my morning at work.
all the best from the flat landers in memphis,
richard
Way To Go Goat, Bahhhhhhhhhh
I am one of the many who followed this happening and I feel as if it was one of my greatest enjoyments. Next month it will be a memory. I hope life remains good but WHERSKARL will leave a bit of an empty place. Thanks to all for the great ride, the frequent distractions from the real world and especially the chance to dream.
Mr. Goat, it was a pleasure to meet you on the trail. You are a real new age gentleman. It has never felt so good to be dusted so close to the bottom of a long up hill. Mainly because I will always be one of the many Trail Runners to see your back disappear up the trail ahead!
I hope I see you again at the same place next year but I will wait at the top to maybe hang on a little longer on the downhill.
Katonah
Congrats!
Enjoyed following along. You're an inspiration, especially to those of us still out there and over 40. Go get some rest and God Bless.
Jon
Yeah Karl! You're really
Yeah Karl! You're really almost done! This is amazing.
See you soon back in SLC; beers on the patio; can't wait to hear the tales...
Missy B.
:)
WOW what a show!
i've known Karl since '99 when my wife started working with him up at the bird... enjoyed many margaritas and beers (not bears) poured by him... and still know, deep in my head (not brain) you runners are WAY twisted in your's, but could not miss a day checking the blogness!
congrats my friend, earl in UTAH
Thanks Marit & Cheryl
Thanks so much for the update and for hanging in there overnight to keep us die hards updated.
GO KARL. GO COACH WOODSTOCK!
Karl, thank you so much for sharing the adventure with all of us. I am going to try to stay awake until I see a post that you are done! And then I'll be giving a hoop and a holler for you from my balcony on Ann St. in Duncannon. I imagine when you are done and from what Marit has told us it may be a while until you post on here or any of your blog pages. First up will be getting some rest, getting home, getting some rest, sleeping in, getting some rest, digesting it all from your porch at home, getting some rest, catching up on your own coaching of ultra runners, getting some rest,... And after that I hope you have time to blog on one of your sites and tell us more of your adventure from your point of view.
I hope if you try for the record again you will let us know.
HATS OFF TO YOU KARL. I am honored that I had the chance to meet you above all and Billy and some members of your crew and your parents. You and they have been fun, funny, down to earth, friendly, and respectful during the entire journey. I hope that our paths meet again sometime. Much admiration and respect from Duncannon to you. The speed assault has been amazing and inspirational.
One more time...GO SPEEDGOAT KARL!
And to all the fellow posters. It's been fun and I hope maybe someday we will get to meet in person too.
HUGS AND GOD BLESS TO KARL & ALL in Karl's extended AT family!
trailangelmary
P.S. I have been walking a little more each day from your inspiration. I am starting to notice a definite improvement in my legs and therefore less pain in my arthritic knees.
Thanks
for the consistent good wishes, prayers and quotes that you posted. -Mom in PA
amazing
wish i was there can,t even imagine the sense of accomplishment. WAY TO GO KARL thanks for the inspiration
maybe one day back in Utah I would have the honor of being on a trail as you go flying by. 2147 MILES UNBELIEVABLE.
CONGRATULATIONS KARL!!!
Congratulations on such an amazing feat! It has been so great to watch your experience along the AT. I am sure it has inspired a lot of others as well to take on a new running challenge. Thank you so much for letting us share all these miles with you!
Heidi
Outstanding
Karl, Crew, supporting sponsors,
Thank you for the ride, it's been exciting. Karl, you are amazing. I cannot even fathom the thought of what you have accomplished, Congratulations!
Rest Hard,
Christian Johnson
Well, now that: Karl has:
learned that Maine is wet
healed the blisters
taken steroids
resolved that anterior compartment syndrome
survived the foot infections
counted "round beards"/bear butts
met TMM and Lost Wolf (in person no less)
experienced bears and "that snake"
been served steak on the AT
hiked the trail both in day and night
learned that the North has notches while the South (Dixie) has "Gaps" but.....no gaps in their hospitality
learned that the AT courses through some of the most beautiful country anywhere - especially in Dixie
learned that if southerners like you they have your back
learned that in Dixie, NASCAR and Football are bigger than hiking but only drain his following on weekends and Monday nights
learned that there is also a little "Cult" in Wesser NC to help make him feel at home
experienced that the AT trail conditions are much different than western trails
learned that Root beer seems to be the "long neck" of choice by blog followers
seen that Warren does know a H%$L of a lot about the AT
that SPOTT is spotty at best
shown that advertising does reach the masses - even if Blackwater shows no increase in sales
learned that some people dont like braggers and self promoters
heard that ALL (repeat ALL) blog followers admire his "stick with itness"
a deep desire to get that "AT record"
plans to finish the SB trip within 24 hours
gotten in the best "trail shape" of his life
has scouted the trail in its entirety, then............
Why not , step on that marker on Springer, raise a root beer, kiss Missy B (no I meant Cheryl), address that snake, consult with Warren by cell phone (not face to face), turn 180 degrees so he is headed North, add Lost Wolf to his crew and set out immediately on a 46 day NB AT record so all of us will have something to do between coffee breaks (or naps as the case may be)?
Congratulations SpeedGoat!! Please "advertise" any future trip so Dude, Bro and I can come along too. Its been a lot of fun, especially with you doing all of the work.
;-) dedicated to all of those dedicated followers (ie Cult) and supporters as well as those who helped "stir the pot."
Thanks for a great AT Cybertrip.
Bye to new friends, Missy B, TMM, Jen, Lost Wolf, aging PA Mom, Jill and too many others to mention. (I think I gave these the roughest time.)
With friends like you and
With friends like you and your ilk, who needs enemies.
ILK?
What the heck is ilk?
def
family, class, or kind: he and all his ilk.
ILK
a baby ELK
Lone Wolf
Adios Amigo
- Mom in PA
20% chance
I give him even less than Warren's 20% chance of breaking the record, if he turns around at Springer and heads north.
Remember when the Big "K" closes!
K closing
That just may be where he needs Warrens "expertise." Pick up that cell phone!
Don't need any poison pigs like Doyle!
...so what if Warren is knowledgeable about the AT? So what if he is a "star?" He is a dark star, a nattering nabob of negativism.
Stay away from him, stay far, far away.
Oh, he'll plead he was just "keeping it real." Yet there is a clear consensus that his comments came across as snide and dismissive.
Rather than taking the tack of being optimistic and supportive, his comments were at once small-minded-yet-arrogant, with a piquant of holier-than-thou, and an after-taste of bitter nihilism.
FYI: He is an Assistant Professor of Instruction and Administration at Lees-McRae College.
Would you really want someone like that on YOUR team?
Anyway, SpeedGoat, your epic has been truly inspired and inspirational!! I've started my own trail running regimen becasue of you, and though I will never come close to your ability, at least you got me to make that effort!!! Thank you!!!
Sound-bites on the information superhighway
"Poison pigs"
"dark star"
"a nattering nabob of negativism"
"his comments were at once small-minded-yet-arrogant, with a piquant of holier-than-thou, and an after-taste of bitter nihilism"
Some new vocabulary words to add to my "Names the Computer Called Me" chapter.
I like to be on teams that like to counter 'myths' with 'facts'.
Warren Doyle
Bring it on home Karl,
Bring it on home Karl, fantastic run! We had one hell of a time watching you, can't even imagine the motivation you've held.
Here's to a cold one, and a blazing time!
Hal
KARL YOU ROCK
Its been fun tracking this. Great site, great content and an amazing athlete. Thanks guys. Thanks Karl. Congratulations.
The final countdown!
Wow, that's so exciting. Congratulations Karl. It's been quite a treat following your trek. Just think... you can now sign all your posts ME -> GA '08 :-)
Phil "Superfeet"
GA -> ME '02