John Muir Trail Record Attempt 22-July

Ralph,
Here are a few things I can clarify.
I know Brett. He is an animal. His wife was telling me at Barkley that during the entire time he sweats profusely. This means he can move just under his lactate threshold for at least 54 hours. Seemed about the same on the JMT as the last day he fell apart and "just hiked" it in to the finish. His previous 2 1/2 day pace was much quicker.
As far as his sleep schedule, I agree, but after his 6 hours of downtime, he virtually caught and passed Hal and Mike until Reds Meadow. The extra sleep must have done some good?

As far as Michael Popov. He was a big guy, 6'2" and 190 at the time of his attempt. He had a very solid hiking pace but it also took a lot out of him to burn that powerful engine. After 19-20 hours he needed that 4-5 hours of sleep. Without it, he would slowly go down hill. I had done a few events past 24 hours and I could keep up the pace and pass him in the end.
Problem was, he would be good to go with that 4-5 hours of sleep.

I let Krissy and Jenn know what I thought about sleep.
I said the best way to go is to just eat with the resupply and then have one of them head out with you and some sleeping bags.
After an hour or so of some uphill hiking you are going to burn off your anxiousness and the good 1,000 calorie meal you ate and be extremely tired.

I thought they should have gotten 4 hours the first two nights and 3 the last.
Getting sleep and being fast is much faster than a tired zombie walk any day.

Here is Krissy Moehl’s write up on her and Jenn’s failed JMT record attempt.
I guess the reason Krissy had to drop was a bad case of giardia.

Krissy Moehl write up of failed record attempt

Jenn had giardia a couple weeks ago, they think Krissy could have gotten it from her and it just began to show after its incubation period when they started the attempt.

Or, it might not have been giardia at all. You dont really know without stool exam. But a severe gastro disturbance for sure. Too bad. It takes a bit of good fortune to pull these things off. A few days earlier, or later, and the weather would have been a factor too. Its been an unusual weather month for the high sierra.

Darcy also failed to complete her FKT attempt. So, it's 0 for 3 on JMT record attempts this year!

I just wanted to announce mine and Marko's record attempt – slowest known time for the SOBO JMT.

We have trained long and hard for this – my own training involved moving to Texas, sitting on a couch and eating a dump truck load of queso and chips and drinking margaritas until my head swam. I feel that personally, I'm ready for this challenge.

My only worry is that I'll get my fitness back after the first week or so of walking up mountain passes and at altitude. I'm trying hard to not let this distract me from my goal of the SKT…but as we elite athletes are well aware, most of these record attempts are purely mental.

Feel free to follow my Delorme tracking – if you don't fall asleep while I take afternoon naps, read with my feet in a stream, stop to take amazing photos, and chat with friendly hikers nearby.

Thanks for all your support, and Marko…good luck.

Jennifer – we know from your interjections on other speed related threads that your preference is going slow. as you well know, competition is one of the central elements for the advancement of human civilization.
if you actually know what the SOBO slowest time is, and are seriously going to try and beat it, I commend you for your determination and tenacity.

"Darcy also failed to complete her FKT attempt. So, it's 0 for 3 on JMT record attempts this year!"

Hey! Ok, ok, since I wasn't actually attempting to break a record, I guess you're right.

I was wondering about that, Ralph!

I really enjoyed reading your recap and actually learned a thing or two from it.

Not enough pre-hike fanfare, it seems; better publicity before you do the yo-yo!! ;-)

Um, Art, I hope you do get it that I was being self-depricating in my speed-related posts – I very much want to run a 100miler for my 50th birthday. I'm a slow poke but not by choice, it's just what's happened in middle age ;)

The whole idea of a slowest-known-time is simply my making fun of myself for getting fat and lazy these past few years.

But if you have to explain a joke, then I guess it wasn't a very good one, then, was it?

Jennifer, I thought it was funny. Be aware that all these SO EXTREME MUST COMPETE!!! folks don't take kindly to excess commentary, funny or no. Also, are you anti-advancement of human civilization?

(That said… somewhere, someone is doing something amazing and not telling a single person about it.)

Speaking of weird records, this may interest you, Jen:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-28621775

I spent a few years in Texas(Austin) too, Jen. For me, it was the Shiner, brisket and 100 degree days that kept me on the couch. But you'll bounce back.

Mummm, Shiner Bock! Really good, locally made and cheap. I did most of my grad school problems sets slightly buzzed on Shiner!

Jennifer – you don't have to explain your joke, by now I get it, but each time you tell it, it seems even more like an inside joke of the anti fast folks, and an invitation for them to run in and trash talk those who make an effort, especially given the context.
but its your joke so have a good laugh.

on the other hand, as someone who's probably 15 years your senior and runs 100 milers, I can honestly tell you that simply wanting to run a 100 is not going to get it done. if you really want this goal then have at it. all respect whether you succeed or fail, the journey is the joy.

Art, it's an inside joke of someone who used to be fast, misses being fast, and instead makes a joke about getting fat and out of shape instead of facing the reality that I am very fat and out of shape.

I'm sorry if you interpret that as an "anti-fast" rant – because OHMYGOD it is most decidedly not. I would love to be fast. I think fast thrus are awesome, I follow their blogs/trip diaries/SPOTs etc. I have been dreaming of running the Marathon du Sables for 15 years. I used to adventure race. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done.

And I'm not an idiot – of course I know running a 100-miler takes more than just sitting on the couch, eating brisket and drinking shiner bock (yum!) – although that would most certainly be cool! – so lighten up, dude. I'm making fun of myself.

Jen,

Even I got and appreciated your posts….and you know how often we disagree! Art just gets sensitive because some people DO criticize speed attempts.

Michael, I think we've agreed on like TWO things now!!!

What is going on with the world?? We might have to -gasp!- go on a hike together and you can teach me about photography!

"We might have to -gasp!- go on a hike together and you can teach me about photography!"

I want to be on that hike. With a video camera….

I want to see Michael, Jennifer, and Doug together : )

"Speaking of weird records, this may interest you, Jen:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-28621775"

Wasn't that a Monty Python skit? But seriously, that guy makes the Tibetan pilgrims that genuflect over and over again for hundreds of miles all the way to Lhasa or some shrine say "that guy must be an idiot!"

"I want to see Michael, Jennifer, and Doug together."

This might go "Lord of the Flies" very quickly.

**just a joke!**

"I want to see Michael, Jennifer, and Doug together."

This might go "Lord of the Flies" very quickly.

—-I'm sure we have lots in common. Doug is a favorite poster of mine. And despite the fact that Jennifer and I disagree on 95% of topics, I respect her profession immensely!

Plus I don't know that I have ever talked politics/economy when hiking. I usually stick to sports and previous adventuring experiences. I think we'd get along famously. :)

I think you would find you agree with Jennifer much more than 5% of the time.

I don't mind talking politics or economics while hiking. Better when it's someone I disagree with a lot. Kind of boring to talk to myself.

I think the idea we disgaree 95% of the time is created (or at least reinforced and exploited) by people that want to divert us, arguing with each other, while they pass laws to unfairly enrich themselves

True. Should have said the 95% of the topics we actively argue about on here. In truth, the ones I agree with or am ambivalent to, don't always get a response from me.

Back on topic:

Anymore FKT this summer for the JMT?