John Kelly vs. the Appalachian Trail: Lessons from the Edge

I’m joined by the legend himself—John Kelly—just about a month after his Appalachian Trail FKT attempt. We go deep. Like "0.1 miles felt like a day" kind of deep.

Consider donating to support the trevor project as I attempt this record https://give.thetrevorproject.org/JeffAT

John opens up about the logistics, the emotional toll, the storm-soaked first week, and the injury that brought a nearly successful record run to a halt with just 300 miles to go. We get into the mental shifts that come with long efforts, how to manage a massive support team, and how his body literally stopped cooperating.

He talks through mistakes made, lessons learned, and whether he’ll ever go back. He also dishes out advice for anyone attempting a self-supported effort (cough like me in less than a week cough) and reflects on what he learned about the trail—and himself.

This is a raw and real conversation with someone who’s done more miles than most of us have steps. Thanks for listening. Stay elite, my friends.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Appalachian Trail Attempt

02:58 The Journey to the FKT Record

06:06 Adapting to the Trail and Body Changes

08:51 Planning and Support Dynamics

12:07 Challenges Faced on the Trail

15:01 The Role of Support Crew

17:59 Daily Video Updates and Family Involvement

21:06 Emotional Rollercoaster of the Attempt

23:52 Reflections on the Experience

27:04 Advice for Future Hikers

30:07 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

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