Karl Meltzer

Ultramarathoner

"100 miles is not that far."

Biography

I’ve been trail and ultrarunning for 34 years and have 72 ultramarathon victories.  I hold the southbound record on the Appalachian Trail, have been with First Endurance for 20 years and will continue to do so until death. 

Palmarès

Appalachian Trail Record

2194 miles in 45 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes

Most 100 mile wins

47 Wins

20 YEARS IN A ROW

With at least one 100 mile win

Karl's Top Picks

Q&A

Goal(s) for 2023:
Complete 100, 100 mile finishes (currently at 74).

What’s your favorite quote and where did you first hear it?
'100 miles is not that far.' I made it up after I broke the Appalachian Trail record.

Who is your favorite author and what is their best work?
Don’t read much.

What’s the best training advice you’ve ever received and who gave it to you?
'Rest is important.' - Jim Hopkins.

How did you get started in your sport?
After being a ski bum in Utah for a year, I started running around the mountains and was hooked.

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever gotten?
Run barefoot.

If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs—such as food and water—were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?
Sunglasses and beer.

If you could have one superpower, which would you choose and why?
Levitate. Running would be painless.

What’s your favorite website?
No such thing.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Athlete of some sort. Running or golf.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Quit all commitments, except marriage, build a golf course on my own property and live large.

Describe your first bike.
Ross Gran Tour circe 1979.

What's the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you?
I became a movie star in “Made to be Broken."

What's your favorite movie and why?
Deliverance. No need to understand why, it’s just good.

Describe yourself with one word.
Speedgoat.

If you were starring in a movie, what would your theme song be?
'Rocky Mountain High' by John Denver.

Proudest sporting moment? Proudest life moment?
Breaking the AT record, and making the decision to be a ski bum.

Guilty pleasure food item?
Pizza.

Guilty pleasure song?
'Annie Song' by John Denver.

Where is your “happy” place?
On a golf course with no other people, except friends, or on a summit just chillin’.

What is your most memorable meal?
Bickford's bacon pancakes.

What is something that you learned from a parent or grandparent that has guided you in life?
Seek what you love.

Who is your greatest mentor and what did they teach you?
Dad. Be nice.

Tell us about your pet(s).
First dog “Binger” (black Lab), super hero frisbee catcher. "Cinder" (black Lab) and "Burney" (Aussie). Both adorable. "Luna" (black Lab), 6 year old knucklehead. 😊

Who is your favorite band or artist and their best album and song?
So Well. "Strangefolk."

What word do you hate the most?
Fuck.

What word do you love the most?
Speedgoat.

What’s your favorite sound?
Hitting a golf ball.

What’s your favorite smell?
Green forest.

What’s your “kryptonite”?
Green forest.

What are your favorite pre-race/event rituals and/or meals?
Sleep well. There's never a special meal, I just eat something I like that day.

Finish this sentence: “The world would be a better place if….”
Everyone were nice.

When I’m not riding/running or otherwise crushing it in my sport, you’ll find me:
Golfing.