US ultrarunning legend John Kelly driven by Dad with cancer as he bids for new Appalachian Trail record

Ultrarunning superstar John Kelly is being powered forward by a very special force as he bids to set a new Appalachian Trail record time.

The American great is taking on the near 2,200-mille trail, for which fellow American Tara Dower holds the fastest known time of 40 days, 18 hours and five minutes which she set last year, something Kelly called: “Possibly the most impressive FKT ever.“

Kelly is a three-time Barkley Marathons finisher among many other achievements and he has always wanted to tackle the Appalachian Trail. And he has assistance – indirectly – from somebody very close to him.

John says thinking of the sacrifices his father made so he could have the opportunities he does today, is what is driving him on. He believes those sacrifices have ultimately came at great cost for his father.

Kelly fighting Virginia heat

Speaking in an Instagram post on Day 12 of his epic challenge, Kelly said: “It is another beautiful but hot day here in Virginia. So, trying to chill and back off a little bit during the heat of the day to keep from overdoing it. The main thing for me now really at this point is to find that rhythm and routine where this is just what I do every day. I get up and I put in the miles and I go to sleep, and I repeat. Just like any other job.

“I get asked quite often, ‘how do you go for runs that long? How do you do these things for multiple days in a row? What do you think about?’ And you know, it’s how people go to jobs that they hate, or that put them in harm’s way for multiple days in a row, and then 40 years in a row on top of that. That’s not a knock on those people at all. Do what you gotta do to survive and provide.

Thinking of dad when going gets tough

“My Dad spent his career working with a lot of bad radiological materials in order to provide for our family, give opportunities to me and my brother. And that’s almost definitely why he has cancer. And so I am going to continue to remind myself that this is one of those opportunities, that when things do get tough, I’m choosing to do this.

“It’s a pretty cool job. I’m going to continue to keep getting up, putting in those double shifts and doing what I can.”

While Kelly is less than a fortnight into his challenge/latest job, he is already thinking of the end, and retirement.

“I have also already put in my four weeks’ notice. And looking forward to that retirement party in Maine.”