Netflix adds documentary on Appalachian Trail thru-hike speed record

Two summers ago ultrarunning legend Karl Meltzer broke the Appalachian Trail thru-hike speed record with a time of 45 days 22 hours and 38 minutes, and it was documented in the film “Karl Meltzer: Made To Be Broken.” The 42-minute documentary has just been added to Netflix, right as many thru-hikers have set off on their own journeys through the nation’s most iconic trail this summer.

Since Meltzer ended his run and the documentary was initially released on Red Bull TV, the film’s title has taken on additional meaning since as last summer Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy broke Karl’s record by 10 hours. However, there’s still no better look into the challenges faced during the 2,190-mile trail than “Karl Meltzer: Made to Be Broken.”

Meltzer has high praise for Maine too, out of all the states that encompass the trail. “Maine can be intimidating because of the remoteness, but that’s exactly where the reward is,” he said. “The green tunnel through Maine is thicker than all other states combined. Truly my favorite state.”

Photo courtesy of Interpret Studios/Red Bull Content Pool
RECORD TIME ON THE TRAIL — Karl Meltzer attempts to break the record for running the length of the Appalachian Trail on Aug. 25, 2016. Netflix recently added a documentary on Meltzer’s feat, “Karl Meltzer: Made To Be Broken.”