The Take a Walk in the Woods Challenge: Katahdin or Bust, is a free and fun way to virtually hike/run/bike/swim the next 1000 miles of the Appalachian Trail from where we left off at the end of 2021.  Last year we followed the 800 miles that Bill Bryson walked in his hilarious book, Take a Walk in the Woods. (If you want to read A Walk in the Woods you can purchase it through the publisher)  In 2022 our course begins where we left off in 2021 at Front Royal Virginia with our goal to reach the Appalachian Trail's northern terminus on Mount Katahdin's peak in Maine.  Make it your goal in 2022 to stay fit with your friends and family, and revisit the book or read it for the first time. Read all about last year's event in the 1/24/2021 Arizona Daily Sun High Country Running column.  

To enhance your experience on your virtual Appalachian Trail adventure, check out these useful tips.  

Once you register and are ready to log your activity, click on the "submit virtual results" button at https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/105190#resultSetId-234971;perpage:100 .
After waiting a few minutes, click on your name in the results to go to your results page. Then click on the "compare results map", and zoom in on your location.  If there is a blue dot near your map location, drag the yellow human icon on it and it will show you a 360 degree view of your stopping point. How cool is that? You can take a screen capture and share with friends on social media. You can also add friends to your progress map to see their progress and where they have set up camp for the evening. 

Thanks to NATRA's 15 year partnership with Sweatvac, you can optionally purchase a colorful hi-tech dye-sublimated short/long-sleeved shirt (Unisex medium short-sleeved shirts are on back order, and will not be shipped until after mid-January). Visit our Take a Walk in the Woods apparel shop here.  With our NATRA discount, the shirts are only $15/$20 (not including shipping); they normally retail for $25/$34. To see unisex and women's sizing visit the Sweatvac sizing page. You can also order the colorful Sweatvac Shapeshifter neck gaiter/mask for $10; it normally retails for $15. Sweatvac products are incredibly soft, wick moisture, and because of the dye sublimation process, the artwork is dyed into the shirt so the artwork breaths and you don't feel the weight of the design that occurs with screen printed shirts. Stay tuned as we may be designing a race cap!  

If you enjoy Facebook groups, I have created one at https://www.facebook.com/groups/712878626085205 Right now this is a public group, so you can share posts and invite friends to join the fun. I will make it private in a heartbeat if anything inappropriate such as ads, political posts, or profanity shows up. 

Also from your results page, you can upload pictures from your daily activity. I was surprised to find out that several of you have already done so. Keep in mind the photos are open to the public, so please be careful about what you upload.

If you wish to do your activity wearing a bib, I created one from a photo that co-race director Karen Brockman took on one of her trips on the real Appalachian Trail. Go to your runsignup profile and click on "view bib" to print out. 

Co-race director Karen Brockman and I hope this event will safely keep you fit, connect you with friends, and make some new ones all year long. We have 1000 miles to go, so let's do this!

About NATRA LLC

Take a Walk in the Woods virtual challenge is brought to you free by Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association (NATRA LLC).  Founded in fall 2001, NATRA’s mission is to promote trail running in Northern Arizona to folks of all abilities. We organize group runs of 5 to 8 miles at various trails on Saturday mornings whether there is rain, snow or shine!  If you are new to running or a seasoned veteran, come join us off road and discover the incredible forest trails of Northern Arizona.

We also organize the October 8th 23rd Annual Soulstice Mountain Trail Run. The race is limited to 225 entrants, and since 2003, has been a sellout. Entry is done through a lottery system held on April 1st. In Spring 2011, Runners World listed Soulstice as one of the top 32 trail races in the United States, calling it "one of the best post race parties anywhere." Soulstice is put on entirely by volunteers.  All proceeds of Soulstice benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff mentoring programs helping Northern Arizona children succeed in life.  You can learn more about Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association by visiting our web page.