RECAP - Day 30 - 2024 Appalachian Trail - Fastest Known Time Attempt 🏃♂️
⏰ Start time: 3:59am
📏 Distance: 49.9 miles
⏳ Time on trail: 17hrs 32mins
🚶♂️ Avg. speed: 2.8mph
⛰️ Elevation gain: 9,779 feet
⬇️ Elevation loss: 9,966feet
Crossing from Massachusetts to Vermont last night was unforgettable. 🌲✨ I found myself confusing distance, relying on the FarOut guide, which had a mistake that led me astray.
By day’s end, I faced a choice: push on and camp alone or stop early with the crew. I decided to keep moving, unwilling to break my streak of +50 mile days. The trail has a way of teaching us perseverance—sometimes beyond reason. 🌄🔥
Camping on the trail has become one of my favorite parts of the journey. I heard heavy animal breathing nearby, but was too tired in my tent to worry. In moments like these, we realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things. 🌌
The next morning brought joy as I reconnected with Stephen Grierson and his brother Stanley. Stephen joined me for a stretch, and it felt like catching up with an old friend. 💙
Sadly, this marked the start of some tendinitis that ultimately halted my progress. On my way to the Vermont border, I pushed hard with a heavy pack I had used to sleep overnight. In that moment, I unknowingly sealed my fate. 🏞️
Lesson learned from last year: don’t let emotion guide your decisions on the trail. When your body is already doing its best, pushing harder can lead to injury. Strength comes not from force, but from balance. ⚖️
As always, the crew was amazing, supporting whatever decision I made. In hindsight, maybe camping wasn’t the best choice, but we know how clear things become once we’ve passed through them. As they say, hindsight is 20/20. 👀
When I return to the trail this year, I’ll be ready for whatever challenges come my way, embracing the mismatches of data and the uncertainty along the way. Sometimes the journey teaches us more than we expect. 🌿
And if you’re interested in coaching, 🤟
