Why I Keep Coming Back to run the Appalachian Trail

Kristian Morgan is an experienced ultrarunner with a deep history on the Appalachian Trail, one of the world’s most demanding long-distance trails. Over multiple record attempts, Kristian has crewed, raced, and set elite performances on the AT, including breaking the self-supported speed record southbound in 2023. Known for his resilience and strategic approach to endurance challenges, he continues to return to the trail in pursuit of pushing his limits even further.

There are easier ways to spend 2,197 miles. 

The Appalachian Trail is relentless. It’s rocky, steep, technical, and constantly demanding. It has humbled some of the strongest endurance athletes in the world. And this year, I’m heading back for an attempt at the self-supported speed record.

People often ask why I keep coming back.The honest answer is that the Appalachian Trail has been part of my life for years, and every time I’ve stepped onto it, it has taught me something new. My history with the AT started in 2018, when I helped crew Karel Sabbe during his successful record attempt. For 15 days, I moved through the trail just behind him, carrying his gear as he ran ahead. It gave me a front-row view of what it really takes to move at record pace on one of the toughest long-distance trails in the world. Watching that effort up close lit a fire in me. 

The following year, in 2019, I made my own first attempt. It ended at Hot Springs after six days. It wasn’t the outcome I wanted, but it gave me my first real taste of what the trail demands.I came back again in 2021 and pushed farther. In 2022, I set the second-fastest time in the world. Then in 2023, I returned southbound and set the self-supported record, breaking Karl "Speedgoat" Meltzer’s long-standing mark. You’d think that would be enough but the Appalachian Trail has a way of pulling you back. 

In both 2024 and 2025, I made it deep into record attempts and got close to finishing, but I knew I didn’t have what it would take to achieve what I was aiming for. Making the decision to stop is never easy, especially after investing so much physically and mentally, but the AT has taught me that knowing when to walk away is part of respecting the challenge. That’s part of why I’m back.The self-supported style is what makes this challenge so compelling. There’s no crew waiting at road crossings. No one handing over food, solving problems, or making decisions for you when things get difficult. Everything has to be managed on the move, from resupply strategy to gear choices to keeping your head clear when exhaustion starts clouding your judgment. It strips the challenge back to something raw. It becomes just you, the trail, and your ability to keep moving forward. Every attempt has sharpened my understanding of what it takes. I’ve learned how quickly things can unravel when nutrition slips. I’ve learned that pacing on the AT is completely different from pacing on smoother trails. I’ve learned that sleep deprivation changes everything. Most importantly, I’ve learned that resilience matters more than perfection. 

No AT attempt goes exactly to plan. Something always goes wrong. The key is how you respond. That’s why I keep coming back. Not to erase the past, but to build on it. The Appalachian Trail has shaped me as an athlete more than any other challenge I’ve taken on. This time, I’m heading back smarter, more experienced, and ready for another shot. Just me, my gear, and 2,197 miles of unfinished business ahead.