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.
HE'S DONE!
Submitted by Marit Fischer on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 05:01
"MARIT!" That's all I heard when I picked up the phone. It was Karl. Then the phone cut out. He's done! I just love the fact that the cell phone reception is so bad that I can't connect to get all the details. Of course it is. Why should now be any different than the rest of this adventure? I just tried calling back. "I'm all done!" he answered. "Congratulations! How do you feel?" Nothing. Silence. I'm sitting here in the dark at my desk waiting for a txt or call back with the details.
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Comments
Congrats Karl!
Enjoyed reading about your journey - thanks for the ride!
hooray!
Yeehaa!!!
olga
Matt Hart
I wonder why there is no inclusion of Matt in all the kudos going up. He was with Karl during the tough time in ME and seemingly did a great job. So thanks to everyone on the scene and behind the scene.
Great job Karl. I am looking forward to hearing your perspective on the trip. I hope it still appeals to you next year but I bet it is a new adventure and challenge that motivates you?
Katonah
Congratulations Karl and team
Way to go guys! The way you guys hung in there to see it through to the end was truly impressive. Well done and hope you enjoy some much deserved rest.
Bedrock
how does this rank?
i am curious how this compares to other AT time records.. It's really fast, and yes I know he didn't get the record, as pointed out many times on this site. But in the bigger picture...
Who are the 10 fastest? When? How long did they take. other notable times? What's a normal AT hike take?
Thanks in advance.
Rank
A "normal" backpacking trip of the AT takes 4-6 months
Top 5 supported speeds, Andy Thompson
Pete Palmer
David Horton
Karl Meltzer
Scott Grierson
Fastest unsupported record is 60 days by Ward Leonard
Lone Wolf
Congrats!
Congrats, Karl! Way to go, buddy. You did it.
Congrats also to all of the crew, esp. Marit and Billy; Cheryl and Karl's family for all of their support. You guys are all amazing.
See you back in SLC,
Missy B.
:)
Enduring Achievement!
Congratulations Karl!
Coming back and finishing strong after the tough days in Maine and NH is truly inspiring. You do have that NH granite in your muscles and your soul to have seen it through. What an epic adventure.
Hats off to the crew who through it all kept everyone so well informed and kept you fed and going. It almost felt like being there.
Sam
Great Job in Fine Form
Way to go. You are an incredible inspiration. Glad to have met and spend trail time with you in PA. I am still smiling from that early morning meeting on the trail.
Thanks for sharing with all.
The Yeti
"Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of Victory" - General George Patton
And so it is
Fantastic job! What an accomplishment.
The only logical question, "Now What?"
"…like every man who comes to the end of something there was nothing to be done but to begin again."
- The Crossing, Cormac McCarthy
Rest up first.
Jeff
Thanks for sharing the journey Karl AWESOME finish
I hope you can do something like this again. Maybe the continental divide next time? See you in SLC.
Scott
Tell him congratulations!!
So many more would have tossed in the towel. I hope he tries again (IF he wants to).
Congratulations...
Congratulations to Karl and all the other thru-hikers who followed white blazes through the long green tunnel and completed the AT in 2008. For most, the AT is the accomplishment of a lifetime.
Congratulations!
Congratulations Karl and crew! It was a great pleasure following this adventure.
-Ira
THE END
This is a wonderful thing, the hard work, the sweat, the tears, the effort, the run. This has all come to an end. For now. There is always another challenge, there is always another race, there is always more. Now more, is just a little less now that this goal has been met. This will make future goals, future races a little less daunting and I am sure will bring tremendous amounts of inspiration to those who never thought they could reach their goals. Thank you Karl for showing people that sometimes getting to the end is just getting us ready for the next beginning.
THE END.
Congratulations
Karl, congrats on a great achievement! Marit, sorry to hear about your reception woes, but that sort of goes hand-in-hand with the seclusion of the AT.
Cell phones
Do not belong on the AT. For everyone who sees this and is thinking of a trip on the AT: THERE IS NO CELL PHONE RECEPTION ANYWHERE ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL DON'T EVEN BOTHER BRINGING IT WITH YOU.
Nothing's better than someone calling home from a shelter.
Way to go!
Great job, Karl! You hung in there through the gnarly weather and finished strong. Thanks to Marit and the rest of the gang for posting the blog entries and keeping us up to date on Karl's progress.
Phil "Superfeet"
GA -> ME '02
Big Congrats
Well done, Karl and team. Way to hang tough and finish strong.
-Lloyd
Great job Karl. Thank you
Great job Karl. Thank you very much for the vicarious tour of the AT. I can't wait to do my own run. You've helped me rethink my concept of endurance and toughness. Greg L.
Great job Karl and team!
You'll be inspiration for me a long time! Enjoy the upcoming days/weeks! Regards from The Netherlands,
Jeroen
Phenomenal!!
Congrats, Karl. You've been a heck of an inspiration!
Your journey reminds me of the famous Teddy Roosevelt quote:
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
AMEN!!!
Congrats
Congratulations, Karl. Great blog!! Great pics!! Great Run!!!
Hayden
Awesome!
You kick ass man! Truly an inspiration to a lot of people. Congratulations on a job well done, now go grab a few beers and take it easy!
Bravo!
The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.
-- Longfellow
Congratulations Karl!
baaah whooo
nice work! this will remain in the back of my mind when times seem tough in a 100.
leo
WHAT???!!!!
No yoyo? Congratulations on a nice run Karl!
Pat
Congrats and thanks!
Great job Karl on finishing it off in fine form! It's been very inspiring watching you get through this thing, having to adapt along the way and still going hard with all the determination you had from the very beginning.
Take some time to process and enjoy the satisfaction of this before planning what's next. Oh yeah, and get some rest too.
Congrats to everyone on the team and a big thank you for sharing your ride with us.
Derrick
Yarker, ON
Congrats, Karl
What an accomplishment!!! It's been a great ride and thanks for sharing it with us. Marit & Cheryl, thank you for the updates. Cheryl & family, it was great meeting you at Neels Gap!!! Just like Karl's accomplishment, the support you showed was a true inspiration.
Congrats
Congratulations !!!
Modiyooch-Hickory, NC
Right on Karl!
Now that's called endurance and it's awesome Karl!
The Only Wanderer
congrats!!
unbelieveable.i would sleep till 2 in the afternoon for the next week.
Awesome!
Your commitment and perseverance will serve as a model for all that have been following your adventure. Congratulations!
Tin Man
Congratulations,
Congratulations, Karl.
Roland
Good stuff
I will go for a run this morning in Karl's honor.
Lone Wolf
Congratu
Congratu
Hell YES
Nice job Karl. 57 days. Amazing. What's the next goal?
More like 55 full days and maybe a couple hours
Not sure what time he finished compared to what time he started on that first day. Congrats. Way to finish strong!
BRAVO KARL!
trailangelmary saying Yahoo!!!! Cheers to you!!!
TMM
Hey girl, it's time for that dance.