Gunning for the Appalachian Trail – Kristian Morgan
"Son, if you don’t have anything to live for in your life, then you better find something to die for!"
Kristian Morgan, Ultra runner, Coach, Leki Ambassador and podcast host sat down with Ultrarunner Magazine to have a chat about all things Ultras. Talking us through his childhood and the boxing club that led him into Ultra running, he discusses the power of the mind and self-belief!
“I remember Tupac Shakur’s mother Afeni Shakur said, “Son, if you don’t have anything to live for in your life, then you better find something to die for”. I know it sounds insane and a bit weird, but that ‘thing’ for me is Ultras. I am prepared to die for this sport, and at some points, I have believed that I might”.
Pacing for Karel Sabbe on the Appalachian Trail, Kristian became inspired to have a go at the record for himself, but during a global pandemic and unable to make it to America, Kristian turned his eye to Damian Hall’s record on the South West Coast path and shaved a remarkable three hours off the FKT to set a new record.
“When I was a child, growing up in Australia, I would go out into the mountains all day long, chasing massive spider webs and splashing through the creeks barefoot. When I moved to England the intense heat and tropical rainstorms were replaced with snowy winters and drizzle, but still, I could not keep my shoes on. I remember our neighbours going and telling my mother that I was running around outside with bare feet. It might have been a strange sight in the UK, but that is how I had explored. To this day, I still run barefoot, heading to the park and letting my skin connect with the ground. It is a good way to keep your feet strong and an opportunity to feel like a kid again, for a little while.”
My nan was a huge sports fan and when I was a boy, we would watch the Olympics together, particularly fixated on the track and field running stars. Viewing athletes who had dedicated their lives to performance, I was inspired with the realisation of what was possible for the human body. Watching Linford Christie, in awe, as I started to understand how the body could be shaped by dedication.
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