Franklin resident James Flannery will attempt a record-breaking 100-mile run across the northernmost leg of the Appalachian Trail on June 20, 2025, to raise awareness and support for mental health. Fundraising proceeds will support Franklin area nonprofit SAFE Coalition.
“The goal for me is to make it end to end, raise money for SAFE, and have a good day,” says Flannery.
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| James Flannery |
Known as the “Hundred-Mile Wilderness,” the leg runs from Monson to Abol Bridge in Maine and is considered the most remote and rugged part of the entire Appalachian Trail with a total elevation gain of 18,000 feet. The trail often takes hikers 8–12 days to complete. Flannery plans to traverse it in under 30 hours.
“It’s about stepping into the unknown,” Flannery says of why he’s drawn to the challenges of distance trail running. “I like not knowing how my mind and body are going to respond. You get to the second 50 miles, that part you’ve never done before, and you think, ‘This is new, this is fun.’ I could definitely go out for a 30-mile run with friends and it would be a good time. But there’s no mystery, no butterflies in my stomach. The unknown is what does it for me.”
What he calls his “B-goal” is to achieve a Fastest Known Time, or FKT, on the course. The current FKT for the Hundred-Mile Trail is 29.5 hours nonstop. “If I have a remarkable day, an FKT might be a cherry on top,” he says.
Adding to the challenge, Flannery is planning a rare southbound route, taking him across the trail's highest elevation gains in the second half of the race. “The first 50 [miles] will be kind of casual,” he says, laughing. “Then, I’ll have enough in the tank to do the mountainous sections. That’s more exciting for me.”
An active trail hiker, trail runner, and ultramarathoner, Flannery has “yoyo hiked” the 272-mile Long Trail in Vermont, summited 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado, and hiked the Hundred Mile Wilderness route.
“I used to take longer trips, but I don’t have the time to take one to two months here and there anymore,” Flannery says. “Trail running packs the same bit of adventure into just one to two days.”
Beyond the personal challenge, Flannery is committed to raising mental health awareness and increasing access to resources. As such, he chose to fundraise for SAFE’s support services like teen programming, support groups, one-on-one counseling, and more, which are all available at no cost.
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Flannery knows of SAFE’s work from the support his loved ones have received. “As someone who has struggled with mental health at times myself, I can definitely see why SAFE’s work is helpful to folks,” says Flannery. “I am inspired to help the cause, and I don’t have a ton of money to donate. But I can do this adventure run and raise money, and I hope it will be as helpful.”
Knowing his love of nature often buoys him, his route will put him at the summit at daybreak to watch the sun rise over Mt. Katahdin before he faces the final 50 miles of his journey. “This way, I’ll be hitting the mountains, maybe struggling, and the sun will be breaking on the horizon,” he says. “It should be enough to keep me going.”
