Helen Galerakis Arizona Trail - FKT Attempt
Donation protected
On Thursday October 17th I will be beginning my attempt to set the Supported Fastest Known Time (FKT) on completing the 803.5 miles of the Arizona Trail from the Southern Border of Utah to the Northern Border of Mexico, with over 110,000 feet of vertical gain and 110,000 feet of loss. The current FKT (which was Unsupported) was set by Jeff “Legend” Garmire and stands at 15 days, 13 hours and 10 minutes.
I only started running 4 years ago after leaving the Corporate World of 22 years. 2 years ago I embarked on my first trail run at Rob Krar’s Ultra & Trail running camp in Flagstaff, Arizona and a few weeks ago I completed my first 100 mile race. So, attempting this FKT will be a challenge for sure!
I decided I wanted to run the Arizona Trail about 18 months ago when I was contemplating my future running goals. I wanted a challenge that was somehow linked to the community I had discovered here in Flagstaff. While at the running camp, I experienced for the first time what it felt like to be part of something, a community, somewhere I belonged. I had found my people. This feeling was so profound, that this was one of the main reasons why I decided to move to Flagstaff, only a month after the camp.
By embarking on this challenge I hope to encourage others to embrace their communities and reap the rewards. I am constantly amazed by the positivity that flows through our little town and it lifts my spirits when in today’s world we are surrounded by so many bad news stories. It makes me want to be a better person in the hope that I can impact others lives as this community has mine.
If you would like to sponsor me on my adventure, any support you can provide in helping me to achieve this goal and help inspire others would be greatly appreciated. As you can imagine a lot of gear and logistical planning will be required to successfully complete this trail.
Gear List:
Trail Food
Sprinter Van & Gas
Garmin InReach devices
Running wear
Poles
Camp Food
Support Crew Food & Gas
Running Packs, flasks & bladders
Socks
Ultralightweight Emergency Kit (Base Layers, sleeping bag, mat, puffy, bivy etc)
Goretex Rain pants & wind proof jacket
4 x running shoes
First Aid Kit
Gaiters
Compression wear
Vitamins
Thank you for your generosity.
I will be raising money for the Arizona Trail Association (ATA), specifically contributing to Passage 35 Babbitt Ranches where we will be converting double track dirt road to sweet single track, so that in some small way I get to give back to this community and celebrate the great work the ATA does in protecting our open spaces that we enjoy.
An 800-mile, non-motorized path from Mexico to Utah, the Arizona Trail (AZT) is one of only eleven National Scenic Trails whose challenging mountains and canyons are met with word class views. Over the last 25 years, the Arizona Trail Association has brought together tens of thousands of volunteers to build and maintain the AZT and serves as a voice for the outdoor recreation community. To continue the legacy of the AZT, they maintain meaningful outdoor youth education programs to inspire the next generation of stewards, empower young women with skills in the outdoors, hire youth crews and conservation corps, partner with groups to promote “volunteer vacations”, and host trail skills workshops for youth and adults.
Please note anything received above and beyond expenses at the end of the FKT will be donated to the ATA
If you would like to follow me, I have set up a Facebook Group:
Facebook
Or you can follow my blog:
http://livehappyrunfree.com
Or catch me on Instagram:
Instagram
I only started running 4 years ago after leaving the Corporate World of 22 years. 2 years ago I embarked on my first trail run at Rob Krar’s Ultra & Trail running camp in Flagstaff, Arizona and a few weeks ago I completed my first 100 mile race. So, attempting this FKT will be a challenge for sure!
I decided I wanted to run the Arizona Trail about 18 months ago when I was contemplating my future running goals. I wanted a challenge that was somehow linked to the community I had discovered here in Flagstaff. While at the running camp, I experienced for the first time what it felt like to be part of something, a community, somewhere I belonged. I had found my people. This feeling was so profound, that this was one of the main reasons why I decided to move to Flagstaff, only a month after the camp.
By embarking on this challenge I hope to encourage others to embrace their communities and reap the rewards. I am constantly amazed by the positivity that flows through our little town and it lifts my spirits when in today’s world we are surrounded by so many bad news stories. It makes me want to be a better person in the hope that I can impact others lives as this community has mine.
If you would like to sponsor me on my adventure, any support you can provide in helping me to achieve this goal and help inspire others would be greatly appreciated. As you can imagine a lot of gear and logistical planning will be required to successfully complete this trail.
Gear List:
Trail Food
Sprinter Van & Gas
Garmin InReach devices
Running wear
Poles
Camp Food
Support Crew Food & Gas
Running Packs, flasks & bladders
Socks
Ultralightweight Emergency Kit (Base Layers, sleeping bag, mat, puffy, bivy etc)
Goretex Rain pants & wind proof jacket
4 x running shoes
First Aid Kit
Gaiters
Compression wear
Vitamins
Thank you for your generosity.
I will be raising money for the Arizona Trail Association (ATA), specifically contributing to Passage 35 Babbitt Ranches where we will be converting double track dirt road to sweet single track, so that in some small way I get to give back to this community and celebrate the great work the ATA does in protecting our open spaces that we enjoy.
An 800-mile, non-motorized path from Mexico to Utah, the Arizona Trail (AZT) is one of only eleven National Scenic Trails whose challenging mountains and canyons are met with word class views. Over the last 25 years, the Arizona Trail Association has brought together tens of thousands of volunteers to build and maintain the AZT and serves as a voice for the outdoor recreation community. To continue the legacy of the AZT, they maintain meaningful outdoor youth education programs to inspire the next generation of stewards, empower young women with skills in the outdoors, hire youth crews and conservation corps, partner with groups to promote “volunteer vacations”, and host trail skills workshops for youth and adults.
Please note anything received above and beyond expenses at the end of the FKT will be donated to the ATA
If you would like to follow me, I have set up a Facebook Group:
Or you can follow my blog:
http://livehappyrunfree.com
Or catch me on Instagram:
Organizer
Helen Galerakis
Organizer
