Jogging the Appalachian Trail

GreatOutdoors.com is sponsoring ultra runner Ben Davis as he runs the entire length of the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness for ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Currently there is no cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and average life expectancy is only two to five years from diagnosis.

The Appalachian Trail is 2175 miles starting in Katahdin, Maine.  Davis expects to run the national scenic trail in 62 days, running through 14 different states including the Green Mountains of Vermont, rocky ridges from eastern New York to central Maryland, Blue Ridge Parkway in the Virginias, and the Great Smoky Mountains of Tenessee before finishing at Springer Mountain, Georgia.  The varying terrain and changes in elevation will make trying to average 35 miles per day a challenge.  Davis is currently running through New Hampshire at a pace near 25-26 miles per day, root for him and follow his daily progress at http://www.2175forals.com/.