Record Attempt in the Smoky Mountains

I am attempting to set a record in trail running this weekend! AH!

I plan to slay “Double SCAR,” unsupported — my biggest/scariest venture to date. EEEEEK! 

What is Double SCAR? 

S.C.A.R. (Smoky Challenge Adventure Run) = ~73-mile trail segment on the Appalachian Trail that traverses the ridge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GSMNP) between Fontana Dam and Davenport Gap. 

*Double SCAR is running this segment in both directions (~147 miles) for double the fun and challenge.

This 147-ish mile trail run has ~36,000 feet of elevation gain and only three points for bail out (it’s quite remote). I’ll be climbing above 6,000 feet in altitude, reaching the highest point on the Appalachian Trail.

What are the FKT details? 

There are several categories for “Fastest Known Times” (FKT): primarily, “Supported” and “Unsupported.” I will be attempting this effort unsupported (meaning I will not have crew or pacers helping me). Besides not having human assistance (which makes a huge difference), I think the biggest differentiator between supported and unsupported efforts is that my running vest will be heavy as I need to carry all of my gear and food for the entire length of the run!

Goals? 

If I finish, I will be the first woman to finish “Double SCAR” unsupported! 

The goal is to finish in one piece and not quit! A woman just recently attempted this a few weeks ago and quit half way. I hope to set the record so women in the future will be inspired to come out here and push themselves to do the same!

Why is this my biggest challenge to date?

Yes, I’ve hiked many more miles before. I just finished 400 miles on the Arizona Trail, and the Appalachian Trail was 2,200 miles. So, 147 should be no big deal, right? The main difference between this FKT effort and my hikes is that I will be running this in one go; no sleep gear, just a running vest. My pace and effort will be faster/harder and my pack lighter.

The sustained effort will have a compounding mental and physical effect greater than my long hikes. In the one sense, my hikes are harder because I’m on trail for so many more days and my feet start hurting in ways that running for 2-3 days can’t replicate. But D-SCAR is scarier to me because I must stay focused and push myself constantly for ~58-60 hours (and eat and drink way more!). When I’m backpacking, I can take breaks, sleep, rest, and have more flexibility in my days. I can be more adaptive to the weather, trail difficulty, and my body’s condition. This time, I just push no matter what, the whole time. Being the first woman to complete D-SCAR is the mission, but I’m also trying to do my best and am treating it with a race-like mentality. I don’t want to take 5 days to do it. I want to be close to the men’s unsupported time (roughly 54 hours) or if it’s within reach, the women’s supported time (52-ish hours).

What am I most nervous about? 

Many things can go awry out there. My primary concerns are tick bites/Lyme’s disease, hypothermia/rain (it’s a rainforest and will definitely rain some, but hoping it’s not too bad), muddy/wet trail making my feet waterlogged and the mud slowing me down, GI distress (!!!), breathing issues (bronchial spasms I can’t come back from), and massive fatigue from 2+ nights of no real sleep (yes, I plan to take “dirt naps” for 5-20 minutes here and there as needed). BUT! With all these potential issues, I’ve mentally prepared as best I can and look forward to feeling the highs and lows that come with huge challenges like this.

What am I most excited for? 

I can’t wait to see a white blaze again. I am excited to have some quiet solo trail time again (I miss it from the AZT 1 month ago). I am excited to explore my mental and physical strength as I have a milestone birthday this year. I am excited to dance around the rocks and roots on the mossy fairy-wonderland trails of these mountains in daytime and night. 

But, why? 

I want to reclaim this trail for myself. I thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail (AT) 7 years ago and went back to rehike the Smokies 5 months after finishing (in April, 2019). Both times were with my ex-husband. I was a different person then in many ways. 

During my thru-hike, the Smokies were the crux of the AT due to their extreme weather patterns and harsh conditions. I want to re-write the crux of the AT to have this trail for myself and with myself. 

Reclaiming the AT feels like a part of my healing and growth journey. I haven’t returned to the AT since I was married. I haven’t seen a white blaze since I was married. The AT, while so important in my life, was also semi-traumatizing in many ways. I have honestly been scared to step foot on this trail again even though it is so dear to my heart. The AT and I have a complicated relationship! I have been scheming about Double SCAR for 6 years, but I have never felt “strong enough” or ready. It kept feeling too big. Too scary. Beyond just the physical feat, imagining the emotional reckoning of taking back my power on the AT has filled my body with heat and fear. So, why go back?

I don’t shy away from energy. I notice it, feel it in my body, and usually turn toward it. I don’t want to be afraid of this trail that changed my life. I want to run and move free with the white blazes. 

This is a record attempt, of course, but more importantly, I want move through the feelings that will certainly arise as new parts of myself emerge. I am taking on the Smokies in a new way (running instead of hiking) to weave my post-divorce free spirit into the spider webs of a trail that holds many memories as I create new ones. 

My “why” is layered. I am also drawn to “forest bathing” as a lifestyle value. These mountains are special and I want to feel enveloped in their majestic beauty. They are called “the Smokies” because they have a unique ecosystem, causing a rainforest-like environment and they appear to have a smoky haze due to the low clouds and mist. GSMNP is the #1 most visited national park in the U.S., and for great reason. This area of our country is full of diversity and wildlife (including many black bears, flowers galore, and so many trees!). Stoke is high to reconnect with these mountains and woods.

I am also inspired to be the first woman to complete this feat and serve as a role model for younger people and girls. I want them to see real people they know setting out to do hard things and break glass ceilings. 

I had the opportunity to work two very full days right before I left. I did something I don’t usually do — I told some of the 17-year old females I work with about my venture. Their enthusiasm and support filled me with more excitement and purpose than any personal reason ever could. Honestly, their reactions made me the MOST excited I have been to do this as it provided much depth to my effort. 

I had told people I wanted young girls (like my niece and students) to see someone like them (a non-pro female) do incredible and challenging things. Maybe having a role model in their corner can help pave the way for them to take on seemingly impossible feats and encourage them to be strong during hardships, to persevere and achieve more than they thought they could. Maybe it will have a trickle effect and their resilience and strength will impact their peer group and together, these young people will change the world.

I would be remiss if I left out the males. I am also inspired to be a role model or inspiration for the boys and men in my life. Many of my students are young boys and I hope they see my strength and it deepens their respect and reverence for the girls and women in their life too. 

For my niece, Lou Lou, I hope one day you read about your tia and know that your very existence pushes me to greatness. I want you to be able to call on my strength as I do from all the women in my life.

Mantras and inspiration?

I have made a list of all the women in my life. I’m beyond lucky to have an unusually rich circle of women to channel strength from. I know thinking of each one and sitting with their deep inner strength will push me through the night.

Tara Dower — she crushed the AT speed record last summer and beat all the boys! She ran with sparkle and strength and she inspires me on this particular trail and in the FKT arena.

Red Stripe — my hiking bestie, who I met on the AT 7 years ago and have had the honor of hiking many trails with since, just finished her triple crown a few months ago. This woman embodies a deep inner strength and determination that pushes me to remember that the trail will show me what I need and that I can handle whatever the trail throws my way. When I doubt, I will think of her and hear her voice and strength pushing me with her feminine power.

Mantras:

• I am a Mountain Queen

• Sprout is a hiking Machine

• Dance, eat, pick up your feet!

• I am bulletproof proof 

Have I done anything like this before? 

Yes, but it’s been a minute. I set a speed world record for running unsupported across the Grand Canyon in 2021 from rim to rim to rim x2 (~100 miles), breaking the previous record by 7 hours. 

How to track me? 

Here is my tracking link (active Saturday 5/31 at 4:00 AM EST). I will start at “Fontana Dam” on Saturday morning, run to Davenport Gap, then turn around and finish at Fontana Dam again. The canopy of the forest is thick and the tracker may not work perfectly, but hopefully you can see my little GPS dot move along over the entire weekend! My goal is to finish before darkness on Monday afternoon (or Monday morning!). 

A million little things and hundreds of big things need to go very “right” for efforts like this to run successfully. I’m prepared to take on all the challenges that arise and look forward to telling you the story after I finish (early next week)!

What is my gear?

I am carrying a Solomon running vest (12 L) and Patagonia fanny pack, along with three pockets in my shorts to carry all my food and gear.

The umbrella is bulky and “heavy” for a pretty optional piece of gear, but it puts my mind at ease for hypothermia (which the Smokies are a recipe for with their late afternoon showers and nighttime rain storms and cooler temperatures — nothing dries on the AT, ever). The umbrella will help keep my head, core, and pack dry if it’s warm so I don’t have to wear my rain jacket. Sweating a lot in my rain jacket can make me just as wet. I hiked much of the AT with an ultralight umbrella and it was a game changer in managing my body temperature.

I am carrying an emergency bivy and first aid supplies, which hopefully don’t get used.

ALL THE GEAR + FOOD! (pack weighs about 15.4 lbs with 1L of water). *Minor changes: I am wearing my white Hoka hat instead of the black PI visor and added two packets of Starbucks coffee powder

Otherwise my gear is pretty standard (wool long sleeve, two extra pairs of socks, buff, gloves, mitten liners, mosquito net, bug spray, Garmin InReach for tracking and SOS, 

Nutrition?

Since I have to carry everything I’m pretty limited in the amount of real food I can realistically bring. I am relying heavily on liquid calories in the form of Näak “soup flavored” drink mix and a chocolate meal-replacer smoothie powder (higher fat and protein content than the carbs in the rest of my nutrition plan). I don’t plan to start caffeine until the second day/night.

I sometimes struggle to get in enough food, but I’ve been practicing eating a lot of carbs in the last few weeks to prepare my gut. My gut hasn’t been super thrilled about the practice, so we’ll see how I can handle it on trail. Most ultra running communities suggest 200-300 calories/hour and upping the protein/fat content later in the event. I am small, and will be moving more at a thru-hiking pace, so I’m bringing slightly less than the recommendation, but I feel beyond maxed out at 11,200 calories for 58 hours.

I am hoping that my pack weight and bulk will encourage me to eat so I have a light pack at the end!

Sleep?

My caffeine plan is to start caffeine the second night at 9:00 pm and progress the mg amount over the course of the rest of the time I’m out there according to my body weight. I’ll take the caffeine over the course of about 2 hours and then begin the next round of caffeine about 5-6 hours later. 

I plan to sleep whenever I’m tired (hopefully middle of the day when I’m at a shelter!). But, naturally, my body will be most tired between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM. 

The Route?

The first 32 miles is basically all uphill, so I will start slowly (which is good!) My water stops are mostly 6-8 miles apart with 2-3 that are around 3-4 miles apart. I have four long water carries (10 miles x2 and 12.5 miles x2). Luckily, some of them will be later in the route when hopefully my pack is less full. I plan to carry about 2L of water for these longer carries, however, there has been so much rain lately, so I don’t need to bring my water insecurity from the AZT with me. I believe there will be many impromptu sources and I hopefully won’t need to carry more than 1L at a time for a majority of the time. However, much of my calories comes in liquid form, so I’ll need to stop frequently to filter water and use my funnel to pour powder into my water bottles with tiny holes for filling (Solomon — please make women’s bottles with wider mouths!)

Weather?

Well… about 48 hours prior to my planned start time, I had to make the tough last minute decision to delay my start by 1 day due to the onslaught of rain predicted for day 1 of my effort. Yes, I will still get rain, however, starting in the rain and spending the entire first day (and climbing up to the high point where it would be SOOO cold and windy too) and getting everything totally drenched would be making things unnecessarily difficult. 

The glorious thing about an FKT attempt versus a sanctioned race is that I get to choose my start time/day, so pushing it back a day was the right call for my safety and will optimize my chances of success. I’m a bit worried that the trails will be completely wet and turn into streams (as they tend to do in the Smokies). I prefer stream-trail to the mud bath of Arizona, so I will likely have very wet feet.

Original start date was Friday -- changed to Saturday for obvious reasons!

I feel the humidity doing wonderful things to my lungs and this climate feels good to me (as long as it’s not too cold)!

Support for my unsupported effort?

I have recruited a top tier support crew of 1! Meet “Chap,” who I met on the last few days on the AZT a month ago. He has hiked the Smokies 3 times, thru-hiked the AT, PCT, and AZT and follows many ultra runners and is familiar with what I’m tackling. He has been helping me plan the last few weeks and it has been a game changer to know I have someone in my corner. It truly feels like I have a teammate in Chap and I had an ‘aha’ moment the other day when I realized I understand fully when people say “I couldn’t have done it without you.” 

Chap & Sprout reunited at Fontana Dam (AT!)

I legitimately don’t think I would have been logistically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to take this on right now if Chap had not volunteered to be the Crew-of-the-Year. He has been vital to the many decisions I’ve made along the way, knowing when to say “don’t overthink XYZ” and just be a cheerleader and when to have tough conversations about concerning trail beta he’s read on the FarOut comments or changing my start day.

Scouting the start/finish line at Fontana Dam

Chap has a YouTube channel and filmed episodes for each day of his thru-hikes, so he’s a practiced vlogger. He interviewed me on a "live" about Double SCAR, so check it out! (Also, I'm highly featured in the last day of his AZT hike and the day after "the end"). He decided to document my effort and has been excellent at capturing content and creating a story to share with everyone afterward. THANK YOU! I know video editing is a long process and I’m lucky he’s into it!

He is also 100% committed to making my start & finish as special as possible and has tried to do many surprises by getting people to attend or send video wishes to me. While many of his plans may not pan out (due to my last-minute date alteration), the thought was there and it truly feels incredible to feel so supported. Getting to share some white blazes together and doing some recon prior to my start has been really important to my mental state. He’s been incredible at anticipating things I may not have thought about and managing my many shifts in ideas/moods/requests etc.

While he can’t support me during the actual event, knowing he will be nearby in case of an emergency and having him as my teammate before and knowing I’ll have someone to greet me at the finish line makes me feel like I can actually do this thing.

Chap has also been my chauffeur through the rain! (For the one minute I was awake for the drive)

Final thoughts?

I am feeling all the feelings. At times, I’m at peace, calm, focused. Seeing the Smoky Mountains filled in mist and drinking in the GREEN and TALL trees of the AT in late May/early June makes me feel excited and connected to nature in a different way than I’ve felt in a while since I have spent so much of my time in the west lately. Stoke gets high whenever I look out the windows of the hotel or we are driving around!

I’m nervous and don’t know what the trail has in store for me, or what wisdoms I will learn out there this time, but the mystery is part of what makes this so special and different from other races. There is so much room for surprises and the practice in staying agile while keeping a cool, calm, and collected headspace when things are hard, is what it’s all about. I am appreciative of all the support friends and family have sent my way via message and calls. I feel connected and held by my community and am ready and strong enough.