Search

RUN247 / Running News / John Kelly beats brutal heat, storms, foot injury to hit ‘home stretch’ on epic Appalachian Trail record attempt

John Kelly beats brutal heat, storms, foot injury to hit ‘home stretch’ on epic Appalachian Trail record attempt

Published on

Ultrarunning legend John Kelly has hit the home stretch on his quest to set the fastest known time for the Appalachian Trail.

Kelly, who has three Barkley Marathon finishes to his name, posted on Instagram on Monday how he has entered the Shenandoah National Park.

He is ahead of schedule to beat the 40 days, 18 hours and five minutes mark set by his fellow American Tara Dower – and he says not even brutal heat, a foot issue and a big storm can stop him now.

Advertisement

Lying shirtless in a creek

Approaching 900 miles on Day 16 of his journey, Kelly said in the post: “Beautiful stretch of the country here. Kinda the home stretch. Finally in the long Virginia section of the AT and where things start to get more moderate for a while.

“Yesterday did end up getting quite hot and muggy again as I went up what really is my last long sustained climb until New England. I did struggle a bit on that.

“We did finally have a brief storm roll in near the top and I went in a manner of minutes from lying shirtless in a creek trying to cool off to putting a jacket on for the first time in a week. That’s how quickly mountain conditions can change.

john kelly winter spine race 2024
[Photo credit: Montane Winter Spine Race]

“You can’t ever scrimp on warmth. You have to look at the worst imaginable forecast for the night and imagine you are going to get stuck out there and immobilised and alone all night long and pack accordingly.

“Fortunately that storm did cool things off a bit rather than it going right back to a steam room.”

The epic, near 2,200 mile-long trail, running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, passes through 14 states and is part of ultrarunning folklore.

“Brutal heat”

Kelly, who says he is powered by thoughts of his Dad who is suffering with cancer, has had his ups and downs on the run so far. But he reckons struggling through scorching earlier temperatures, and shaking off an injury, will help him stay the course.

He said: “I have a small foot issue. Fixed that at the last support point and had a quick nap. Now I’ve had a good strong morning.

“Still had some good elevation gain but it’s much more sneaky and moderate. These trials [on this section] might as well be paved. It’s nice to have some real runnable sections. I’m also hoping that in terms of adaptations, the brutal heat will help me adapt to any hotter days from now on.”

Written by
Paul Brown
Freelance sports journalist. A regular contributor to Josimar and Reach nationals including Mirror, Express and Star. Former employers include Press Association and Reuters.

Latest Running News

Kilian Jornet Sierre Zinal 2024 mountains [Photo copyright: Golden Trail World Series]
Broken Arrow Sky Race results: Kilian Jornet catches a cold as US star claims an epic victory
Chris McCormack triathlete Trail Running One Hundred Sports Group
IRONMAN triathlon legend Chris McCormack now wants to make trail running a MASSIVE deal
Anna Troup Summer Spine Race 2025
Summer Spine Race results: 55-year-old ultrarunner Anna Troup beats absolutely everybody for INCREDIBLE overall win
Chris Cope Summer Spine Sprint South 2025
Summer Spine Sprint results 2025 as records are SMASHED in iconic test of endurance
John Kelly day 2 Barkley Marathons 2023 photo credit: Davidmillerphotography_ on Instagram
John Kelly epic Appalachian Trail record bid latest – hitting New Jersey and bedtime routine
trail running on your terms

Never miss out with our trail alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.

The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...