Ultra marathoner Scott Jurek, (Photo above from Scott Jurek Facebook) just set a new unofficial record last week for the fastest transit of the 2,200
mile-long Appalachian Trail . I have two thoughts
about that.
One – Good for him.
Two – What's the point?
Notice I didn't say he hiked
the trail. Far from it. He scurried from Georgia
to Maine
They travelled in a custom
van, splashed with manufacturers' logos, containers brimming with swag. He
carried no pack – didn't make or break any camps. Anybody who fancies
themselves as somebody, who has already exhausted their 15 minutes of fame
once, twice, or even three times, seemed to jump on for the ride.
No one is allowed to
advertise on the AT. Unless, of course, like Scott Jurek, you turn yourself
into a human billboard. In nearly every photograph Jurek is wearing a headband
with corporate logos. I guess capitalism's scarlet letters don't equate with
lifting your metaphorical skirts – providing you can hide behind the fig leaf
of "sponsorships."
Personally I think he would
have been much more comfortable, particularly on humid days, if he had just had
the logos tattooed on his forehead.
The AT was created to be a
place for personal journeys. The Appalachian Trail Conference is to be
congratulated for refusing to maintain speed records for the trail. They
understand there's a big difference between being able to claim you've completed
the Appalachian Trail and bragging you did it
faster than anyone else. It's there for taking measure of yourself. Fast or
slow, all at once, or in sections, how you do it is up to you.
The only clock that counts is
the beating of your own heart.
When you turn a trip into a
global media event supported by a cast of thousands, however, it is not only
the tradition of the trail that is diminished. The inability to see that as a
subversion of purpose diminishes the individual's personal accomplishment as
well.
Those who actually do the Appalachian Trail adopt, find, or are bestowed with
"trail names." Some bring them from past lives or adventures while
others wait to discover it as part of the journey. I don't know if Jurek had
one for his trip but I would like suggest one that fits – both physically and
spiritually: "Been there – didn't see that."
Particularly disappointing
was the disrespect shown to Baxter State Park , here in Maine
If you haven't seen it yet,
check out this Facebook
post on the park's page. Nice to see that common sense is still in ample
supply in the shadow of Maine
On the Maine Woods Discovery
Facebook page this week, Jurek is hailed as a shining example of Northwoods
spirit. I can't begin to express how disappointing it is that whoever is making
those posts thinks that's the case. He's a good example, maybe, of the spirit
of getting a bunch of frat guys to book a cabin, grab two kegs of beer, and
scream like pantywaists while running Cribwork Rapids on a rafting trip.
But a true representative of
spirit of Maine
Make no mistake, running some
50 miles a day for 46 days is an impressive accomplishment. He should be proud.
If I met him face-to-face, I'd shake his hand. There's no way that I could do what he did, a fact several of those critical of this communication will no doubt
point to in an attempt to divert attention away from the fundamental truth of
these words.
Even at the top of Katahdin, Scott
Jurek didn't remove the headband, undoubtedly contractually-bound to leave it
there especially when cameras were present. The end result is that a man didn't
make it to the top of the mountain. His 'brand" is what everyone was celebrating
on top.
Last week, news stories
should have announced that a headband, with prominently-placed corporate logos,
set the speed record on the AT.
In selling his prime facial
real estate to the highest bidders, it's obvious that those corporations own Scott
Jurek. Sadly, by extension, they now own his accomplishment as well.
www.earlbrechlin.com
www.earlbrechlin.com
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