Ultrarunner Averages 50 Miles a Day to Smash Appalachian Trail Fastest Known Time

Kristian Morgan creates history, blitzing the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in 45 days, 4 hours

Against all odds, British ultra-runner Kristian Morgan has set a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) (supported) Southbound on the Appalachian Trail, completing the 2,189 miles in 45 days, 4 hours and 27 minutes.

• Related: Ultra Runner Smashes Pacific Crest Trail FKT Record by 5 Days

Averaging 50 miles a day, Kristian beat the record by 18 hours, lowering the previous benchmark of 45 days and 22 hours, set by ultrarunning legend “SpeedGoat” Karl Meltzer in 2016.

An FKT on this famous North American trail is considered one of the most prestigious accomplishments in the endurance sports world.

The record demands athletes complete the equivalent of two full marathons for 40+ consecutive days and traverses 14 US states. The route involves 465,000 feet of vertical gain, equivalent to scaling Everest 16 times.

The 46-year-old completed on September 16, despite record amounts of rainfall and storms that led to two abandoned starts, six weeks of delays, and unseasonably wet and muddy conditions that escalated the difficulty of the challenge.

In sealing this achievement, Kristian also became the only person to complete the Appalachian Trail in both north and southbound directions in under 90 days in two consecutive seasons, a record that experts consider may never be broken.

The globetrotting/international ultrarunner and coach is widely regarded as one of the top endurance athletes in the world and a veteran of over 100 ultra-marathons. In 2020, he set the speed record for the South West Coast Path, Britain’s longest national trail, completing 630 miles in ten days.

“This was my fourth attempt since 2019 and I’m so pleased I finished, we had flooded river crossings and 100-mile winds over Mount Washington, which is the most dangerous part of the trail. I saw the obituaries of hikers who have died attempting to climb Mt Washington and thought I do not want my name added to this list. I had some serious setbacks with the terrible weather conditions that saw one hiker drown on a river crossing while I was there, I felt tremendous empathy for his family’s loss, I persisted with a new-found respect for the trail and conditions. I was able to maintain the pace needed to set the record, despite having some dicey moments, including a river crossing when my foot caught between two underwater boulders.”

– Kristian Morgan

Kristian puts his success down to a few factors, with previous attempts providing valuable learnings.

Describing it as a process of ‘breakdowns and breakthroughs,’ he says:

“I felt a lot more present and mentally strong this time and I feel I ‘cracked the code’ to the Appalachian Trail. Last year I didn’t achieve the record despite having perfect weather and less pressure. I had a 27-mile lead, which by day 31 fell to a ten-mile lead and then I fell off the pace and towards the end, felt more beat up and got more and more slow towards the finish. This year I didn’t have the same lead which created more pressure on me, but I was able to cope with it mentally and keep on pushing. I ran 85 miles in the same time it took me to run 55 miles last year. My longest day was my last day, I ran the final 85 miles in 27 hours with 27,000 feet of vertical gain and technical terrain.”

Kristian still feels he has unfinished business on the ‘AT’ and still has sights set on the overall record of 41 days on the northbound route.

“This has made me want to return next year and see if I can get the northbound overall record. We’ll see. It’s still early days and I know I can keep on improving.”

*Kristian’s record was ratified on September 27 and can be viewed at https://fastestknowntime.com/route/appalachian-trail

Fun facts – fueling and kit requirements for a 2,200-mile running challenge across the Appalachian Trail:

• Kristian consumed 6,000-8,000 calories a day, taking on 150 calories every 30 minutes during waking hours
• Kristian consumed two capsules of CurraNZ three times daily in the lead-up to and during the challenge, equivalent to over 10,000 New Zealand blackcurrants.
• He slept 7 hours a day, suspended in a tree tent
• He ran, hiked, and climbed for up to 15 hours a day
• His mother and friend ‘Iceman,’ both in their 70s, crewed for him. Mum was also his social media person.
• Kristian wore out ten pairs of shoes.
• At 46, Kristian is two years younger than Karl Meltzer, who set the record aged 48
• The desire to set the record was ignited in 2018 when Kristian paced Karel Sabbe when setting the FKT record for the trail.
• Hiking the Appalachian Trail usually takes five to seven months and has an 85% drop-out rate.
• He encountered incredible wildlife, including snakes, bears, bobcats, porcupines, and moose – one of his favorite parts of the challenge.