Runner's Forum: Karl "Speedgoat" Meltzer

Have you heard about Karl "Speedgoat" Meltzer?  He is a runner who has won 16 100-mile races in the past three years.  He has set a new goal to break the record time on completing the Appalachian Trail.  The current record is 47 days, 13 hours, and 31 minutes, set by Andrew Thompson "Trail Dog" in 2005.  He has a website where you can track his progress on the AT.  He starts his run at 5am on August 5th.  He's looking to cover about 46 miles a day.

I think this guy is awesome.  He has set a goal for himself and is pushing to make it.  Some of the people in the backpacking community have been talking about the fact that he will have "help"; he is going to have a team and an RV;  he is going to be sleeping in a bed every night.  He will, however, carry a daypack, no more than 5 pounds.  Andrew Thompson also had similar help. 

I'd have to say that this is a completely different sport than backpacking and roughing it for extended periods of time on the AT.  To complain about him having a team is comparing two different sports.  To stay safe, I think it is necessary to have a team.  He also has never claimed that he would be "roughing it" as many avid backpackers do on the AT.  What does everyone else think??

Here is the link to his website www.whereskarl.com