AT supported record attempt – Scott Jurek

[Phillip Asby]

Anyone else following Scott Jurek's attempt to break the supported AT through hike record?

https://www.facebook.com/ScottJurek

I admit to being somewhat ambivalent about this kind of thing – it is an impressive feat athletically but is so counter to why I go backpacking.

Still, this guy is 41 (closer to my age than Jennifer Pharr-Davis by a good bit) and thus far is moving pretty doggone fast. I don't know much about this kind of speed hiking but would think injury from one tired/bad step would be by far the greatest risk.

[Allen C]

Clearly enjoying the wilderness incorrectly!

[Hikin’ Jim]

Yeah, it makes me a little uncomfortable too, although hopefully he's being responsible.

We have a "big deal" trail out here called the Skyline Trail that ascends 8000' vertical in about 8 miles. People are always trying to set FKT's (Fastest Known Times), and they're discarding water bottles along the way. Drain it and drop it. I don't mind them going fast, but litter? That just plain sucks.

I hope anyone fast is also being reasonably LNT too.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving
Hikin' Jim's Blog

[BlackHatGuy]

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=103702

[Alexander S]

Well I suppose that speed portrait painting would still technically be considere art.

[Ryan Smith]

Fell off pace with a 33 mile day yesterday on an easy section of the trail, most likely due to battling injury. Can't have anymore of those until New England. Starting NOBO could prove to be costly for him.

Ryan

[Phillip Asby]

sorry for the double post Ryan.

I did a search (I promise!) before posting this and nothing came up … but I admit to having spotty success with the search function at times (and no, not a complaint).

[Edward Jursek]

Scott is an accomplished ultra marathoner so this kind of thing seems like a logical extension. Not my cup of tea and his last name is missing an "s" but I wish him luck anyway.

[Art …]

I do hope that this thread does not deteriorate as it typically does on this site when someone is doing something fast.

if its not your cup of tea please just start your own thread to say so.

Scott Jurek is an amazing ultra runner ( 7 time Western States winner) and a very great all around guy.

best wishes for a successful attempt.

[Ryan Smith]

So far, he's a little behind pace, but not far enough to say it's over with so much trail left. Appears he's getting over some initial injuries and hitting the high numbers again. Will have to average ~50mi days for the next few weeks to stay close…

Ryan

[[ Drew ]]

This seems to be more of a endurance running topic than a backpacking topic. IMO, there is a huge difference between a backpacking-the-AT-record and a running-the-AT-with-a-support-van record.

[Ryan Smith]

Yeah, there is a big difference(technically, 8 mpd in this case) but no less interesting for some of us. The amount of endurance needed is probably no less. Both are amazing feats.

Ryan

[Ryan Smith]

Update-

Things have been going well for Scott the last several days. He needs to only average 43mpd the rest of the way to break the record. Barring a freak injury – I think he's got it and will end up beating the current record by 1+ days

Ryan

[michael levi]

So does he have a van that follows him the whole time? And he gets to camp at the end of the day and someone walks up to him and cooks his dinner and fills his water and stuff? That would surely help with time.

[Andrew U]

@Michael

I don't know the exact particulars of the logistics of his support team, but yes, he has people following him and 'support' him. The only thing he carries on his person is a running vest loaded with the day's snacks and water and maybe a few emergency supplies. That's it.

His team most likely takes care of things like camp set up and water and food prep. All he has to worry about is running.

It's similar to running any ultramarathon. There are typically aid stations at fixed points along the race course so the runner doesn't need to worry about carrying all food and treating water, etc. This is just a very very long ultra with a mobile aid station that follows you.

[Ito Jakuchu]

http://trailrunnermag.com/people/news/1828-scott-jurek-on-pace-to-break-appalachian-trail-speed-record

[Hiking Malto]

"So does he have a van that follows him the whole time? And he gets to camp at the end of the day and someone walks up to him and cooks his dinner and fills his water and stuff? That would surely help with time."

Not exactly. He will walk up to fully functioning camp not the reverse. In most cases it has been a road crossing so he is hiking/running every day to his support vehicle.

He has averaged over 50 miles per day for over 20 days. I have done a few 50 mile days on the AT but to do this over and over frankly is amazing. I love to see stories of people pushing themselves to find the limits. It make me question those barriers that I have for myself.

[Mike M]

I've seen several blog posts of runners meeting up with Scott at various points and spending an hour or two running with him; if he ever decides to do the CDT I think I would definitely make a point to spend some time running with him :)

[Tipi Walter]

Phillip Asby starts this thread about speed hiking and Scott Jurek and says in part:
"It is . . . so counter to why I go backpacking."

Then Art comes in and says
"If (going fast) is not your cup of tea please just start your own thread to say so."

And yet Phillip Asby started his own thread—this one—by saying "It is . . . so counter to why I go backpacking."

Did Art miss this?

FASTEST KNOWN TIMES
I'm much more interested in SLOWEST KNOWN TIMES. Taking 7 days to backpack a 21 mile trail.

A discussion of Jurek and speed hiking isn't complete without presenting its opposites—slowing down and living out.

[Ito Jakuchu]

I'm highly in favour of a FKT / Fastpacking / Trailrunning subforum.
Combine with SUL?

No doubt there would be a thread or two dedicated to fast vs slow and how the others are doing it wrong, but that way we don't have to have that discussion every time a thread about FKT or fast packing trip is being posted.

Seems like FKTs and trail running are more and more common and UL is of interest for the people participating in it. So BPL seems like a good place to have a subforum dedicated to it.

Wouldn't hurt to have a place for that, apart from the Philmont, Scouting, Fishing etc. fora. ?

(Just to make sure, I don't care how fast/slow/long/short/light/heavy everybody likes to move through the wilderness – one, the different ways are often not mutually exclusive, and two it seems like there is more than enough place for all of it).

[Art …]

Tipi – yes Art did miss that short comment by the OP.
so I guess those in favor of slowness can have at it here.
although most of this web site seems to be about slowness,
so I am also in favor of a separate fastness sub forum as suggested by Ito.

[Jake D]

just a Fyi… Tipi shows up in the fast forums too to tell us how rad making camp every few hundred yards is.

Friend ran into Jurek in the Whites this weekend, said he had a short 30mi day.

[Ryan Smith]

Yep, lets keep this thread on track – Scott Jurek's FKT attempt. Tipi – If you want to debate the merits of one style versus another, please start a separate thread.

Jurek has been really struggling the last few days which is expected given that he is now in the toughest part of the trail and has 2000mi on his legs. It's going to be close I think, but he should beat the current record.

Kind of a shame really. If he would have only planned better he could have really shaved some time off the record.

Ryan

[jimmer ultralight]

I have been following Jureks run and think he planned it just fine. Its the part he could not plan that tripped him up..

First, by going Northbound, he avoided snows & flooding up North during a spring start.

Second, July and August can be hellishly hot down South to finish.

Yes, the final leg is tough ,but marathon vets typically get stronger over time..Many who have run the AT say the second 1,000 miles are easier than the first.

The problem with Jurek's run is that to meet his ambitious time goal ,everything had to go perfect.

His injuries early on really set him back. It AMAZING to me that a guy 41 years old not only bounced back from his early injuries while on the trail but actually ran many 50-60 mile days to get caught up.

He cruised through "Rocksylvania" in pretty good time. If he beats Pharr Davis' time at all, he has done enough.

I hope he makes it.

[Ian]

It's time to face facts. Hiking or running through the wilderness is complete bull$#!+. It's soooooo 2014.

2015/16 is all about the slowest known times whilst pursuing new records for the heaviest ruck on the trail.

Formula I propose is weight ounces / miles * troll posts per month on bpl.

eg 1600 ounces / .5 * 9 = 28,000 sluggard points.

Shall we name this new technique Sluggard Supa Slow aka S3?

[Author]

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