Utah man sets new Appalachian Trail record in 45 days

CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL FOREST, Ga. — At 3:38 a.m. on Sept. 18, 48-year-old Sandy resident Karl Meltzer reached the Appalachian Trail’s southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia, after having set a new Appalachian Trail thru-hike speed record.

To put things in perspective, the Appalachian Trail covers approximately 2,200 miles, traverses a total of 14 states, is the equivalent to 16 ascents up Mount Everest and takes the average person 165 days to complete the journey.

Meltzer did it in 45 days, 22 hours and 38 minutes.

So, why would anyone want to subject themselves to such grueling torment, especially a 48-year-old man who already holds the record for the most 100-mile trail race wins on earth and the most 100 wins in a calendar year, including Utah’s own Wasatch Front 100 a record six times?

Well, it’s as simple as wanting to better himself, he said. “For some reason, my brain keeps telling me to push the bar,” Meltzer said.

But how does one prepare to complete such a feat? Meltzer credits his many training runs up Little Cottonwood Canyon, but says that growing up in New Hampshire near parts of the Appalachian Trail was the fuel that started the fire.

The AT was a trail my buddies and I would hike once in a while,” he said. “I just loved being in those mountains."

Meltzer had two previous attempts at the record that he said also prepared him, but it was in studying the course intensely, including driving it and serving as a crew member for Scott Jurek who broke the record last year.

Even with all his preparation, Meltzer knew that anything can happen on the AT.

And things did happen, specifically a fall in Pennsylvania on day 19 that nearly threatened his ability to continue on, let alone set the record. But it was Jurek who provided him the help he needed to keep going

“On day 24, I was really having some shin pain as a result of my fall, and I was talking to Scott Jurek on the phone when he suggested something that would help with my shin, and it helped a lot.”

It wasn’t just physical ailments that threatened his record attempt, but the mental aspect as well.

“I knew where I was in terms of record pace, but it’s still daunting,” Meltzer said. “You’ve gone so far, but you still have so far to go. I had a mental breakdown in Vermont, but Dave Horton, another previous record holder helped me get through it.”

Meltzer spoke highly of the ultrarunning community and its ability to help others succeed.

“We all just like to see people succeed," he said. "It’s not about, ‘I’m better than you,' you know, the ego thing. It’s about us being out in the woods and enjoying what we do. Just because I did the trail fast, it doesn’t mean that I’m any better than someone who does it slow.”

The fact still remains that Meltzer now holds the record, and naturally those who have followed his success have asked him what he has next on his adventure list, to which he responded, “I don’t have anything next right now, but there will be a ‘next.’ I don’t think I’ll do the AT again even if someone breaks the record; I got it. I broke it one time and that’s cool. You have to understand that it looks all good on paper for now because I did well, but the misery of every single day is endless. You’re walking along the trail and you’re just thinking, ‘Oh, man, I’ve got 8 or 12 more miles to the van. It’s endless day in and day out. It’s misery. It’s tough, and I don’t think I want to do that again.”

For now, Meltzer will say that he plans on playing a lot of golf — he holds the current World Record for 230 golf holes played in 12 hours — but he is also looking forward to supporting his wife, Cheryl as she runs the Bear 100 this weekend.

“Cheryl has helped me so much, the least I can do is help her complete her goal,” he said.

To follow Karl in his many adventures, go to karlmeltzer.com.

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