There was a typically thoughtful Memorial Day update from John Kelly as he got his Appalachian Trail attempt up and running.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces and it is observed on the last Monday of May.
That was day two of ultrarunning legend Kelly’s tilt at 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.
Paying his respects
Speaking on an Instagram video he said: “Alright, we’re at the end of day two on the Appalachian Trail. We’ve left Georgia on the approach to the Smokies. I got a pretty good cut and knock on my head today running into a low down – overheated a bit in the afternoon, but otherwise things are pretty good.
“It’s also Memorial Day and I did want to pay my respects to those who have given it all so that amongst other things we can be out here doing things like this.
“There’s a John Adams quote I’ve always liked. To paraphrase it, I must study war and politics so my children can study math and science so their children can study the arts. And I’ll lump ultrarunning into that last category.
‘I hope I can do a little bit of good’
“So, you know, when I’m out here, please don’t call me hero or warrior.
“Save those titles for the people that have really put it all on the line. I hope I can inspire some people, do a little bit of good. But at the end of the day, I’m a guy running through the mountains for a mostly selfish goal.
“I am supported by an incredible team and the best way I can earn that support is to bust my tail all the way to Maine. And so that’s what I’m gonna do. Day two is almost in the books.
“66 miles, I think 69 the first day. So we’re hitting a sitting at about 136 total.”
It’s obviously very, very early days but that is well ahead of Dower’s average mileage of 55 a day during the course of her epic feat.
