n Appalachian Trail Run

Horton was gainingground on "Maineak" with each step "I was able to keep track ofhisprogress by checkingthe registersatthe shelters alongthe trail," he said.

On day 39 Horton caught up with"Maineak"just inside the Vermont border, 1,574.6 milesfromthe starting point "I had only four miles left for the day, so I walked and talked with him therestof the way," he said

For the next four days,they played leap frog. "He wouldhikeuntil10 or 11 p.m and as a result, would go beyond where I had stopped at 4 or5 p.m.,"Horton said. "The following days I would pass him atearlier and earlier points. The lasttime I saw 'Maineak' was about 15 miles east of Hanover, New Hampshire, on my 43rd day out."

Although the two had not previously met,Horton enjoyed thetimethey were abletospend talking. "We had become good friends, and it was somewhatdisappointingnot seeinghim eachday," he said. "Hewas very helpfulin tellingme a greatdealaboutwhatlay ahead for me on the trail."

Thelast 10 daysproved to bethe hardest.During this time, Horton averaged 13hoursand 37minutes onthe trail. The greatestphysicalobstaclecame intheWhite Mountains of New Hampshire.

"They were unbelievably hard," Horton said "The trails are extremely rocky and steep and have no switchbacks."

TheAT's combined elevation anddescentalone totals 465,000 feet.Thatis the sameas starting at sea level and going up and down Mount Everest 16times It is also equivalent to making357 trips to the top of Sharp Top at thePeak'sof Otterand backdown (sevenround trips a day for 52straight days).

Quitting, however, was neveranoption.

"Many times when I would beclimbingthose vertical ascents in the White Mountains,I would claim God's promisein Philippians4:13, T cando all thingsthrough

Christwho strengthenethme,' and Philippians4:19, 'But my God shall supply allyour needs according tohis riches in glorybyChristJesus,'" Hortonsaid."Henever failed me!"

On June30, Hortonbecame thefastest person to ever hikethe AppalachianTrail.Butthis did notcomewithoutaprice. During the last oneand one-half weeks, the physical obstacle grew into a mentaland emotional one, as well

"Thetrail wasso toughin New Hampshireand Maine thatI started breaking down physically, mentally and emotionally," Hortonsaid. "EverytimeIthoughtabout my family, home or climbingthe last mountain, I would breakdown andcry."

Anotherpricehe had to paywasbeingseparatedfrom his wifeNancy, especiallyon May 21 - their 20th wedding anniversary. "At firstit was OK, but it gotvery difficult, because it was thelongestwe had beenseparated," Horton said. "My wife was always there and supportiveduringthis entire ordeal."

Theseprices werenotwithouttheir rewards. Horton not onlyset anAT record, hewasable to enjoythe climb up Mt. Katahdin with his 17-year-old son Brandon and his friends,NancyHamilton,DougYoung,JackMcGiffin andGlennStreeter, while his wife droveto the otherside to meethim

Sincethe openingofthe AT, approximately2,200people have gone the entire distance, but no one has doneit faster thanHorton.

"Thereis a tremendousfeelingof satisfactionin having accomplished thisgoal," Hortonsaid "I did itbecause of the challenge-to bethe best. You want to bethe best at something, and thisis what I do. I think the Lord has givenme a talent."

Hortonhasaposterin his office which says, "There is no greaterchallengethanto challenge yourself."

He holds stronglyto these words. "Dream dreams. If you don'thave dreams, you can't seethem come true."