This is a sponsored post brought to you by Astral.
lolo “Sparkle” Veloz is almost five months into a massive undertaking: She hopes to hike more than 10,000 miles this year, including all three Triple Crown Trails and then some, and in the process surpass Madison “Peg Leg” Blagden’s record for the most miles hiked by a woman in a calendar year. He’s done about 4,000 so far and is on track to reach his goal, but an increase of this magnitude leaves little room for error.
As the first woman to finish the 5,600-mile ECT, a trail that spans the Florida Trail, the Appalachian Trail and beyond, Sparkle is perhaps better prepared than most to take on the year’s challenges. Sure enough, when I talk to her in late May, she is entering the White Mountains and concluding the Appalachian Trail portion of her hike.
I get to hear about her journey so far, her mindset along the way, and her favorite pieces of clothing that have helped her get where she is today. For a full rundown of their gear list, read our previous interview.
pedal hard
Sparkle has averaged 28 miles per day on challenging East Coast terrain every day since January 1st. This number includes the four days off you took this time: On each day of hiking, your goal is to complete between 30 and 35 miles. Your hope is that an average of 32 miles per day will give you the flexibility to handle the logistics of this 10,000+ mile hike, including the days you know you’ll have to spend traveling from the end of one trail to another.
Creating a buffer is important for several reasons. Among them is a dilemma familiar to hikers: Post offices in small trail towns can be unpredictable, and navigating the mail can be a challenge. Sparkle tells me about the time she was accidentally mailed the wrong size item and ended up enlisting the help of a tracker angel named Gary to help coordinate delivery of the correct size replacement.
Everything went well; He loved spending time with Gary, and the whole experience was a good reminder of the strength of the trail community and the fact that the trail always delivers.
As I listen to her, I notice Sparkle frequently returning to a mindset of positivity and joy. At one point, he spells it out: “The legs are the car, the shoes are the tires, and the attitude is the fuel.”
Sparkle’s favorite piece of equipment
When I ask her about her favorite team, Sparkle tells me about her shoes; as she says, her “tires” on these trails.
First, we talk about why good shoes are so important to her and she explains, «Your shoes are the most important piece of equipment because you can have the lightest backpack, you can have the strongest knees, but if your shoes aren’t comfortable… you’re not going to have a good time. Most of your problems will start there.»
Sparkle began her journey in Key West, Florida, in a couple of astral nosboswhich, according to her, were already well used and very worn. He continued to wear Nosobos throughout the hike, including two pairs that lasted over 1,000 miles each.
«The shoes held up! They were intact, they still had a little tread on them,» he says. «If I had replaced the insoles, I probably could have squeezed a few more miles out of them.»
He replaceable midsole The Astral Nosobo means you can change the interior of your shoe once it wears out, giving it extra life for a trail runner. «I think it’s hard to go back to wearing normal shoes after this,» Sparkle tells me. «I can’t find another pair of shoes that has such a comfortable footwell.»
Hardest miles yet
When asked about the hardest part of the journey so far, Sparkle gives two answers.
The first is a challenge many hikers face: missing loved ones back home. Sparkle talks about the nephew she hasn’t met yet, her family, and her friends in Denver. Reflect on the fact that, for everyone else, life keeps moving while you’re on the road. «I’ve missed weddings. I’ve missed birthdays. I’ve missed big life events.»
To combat this feeling, he tells me, he carries around stamps so he can easily send postcards to his friends and family and remind them that he’s still thinking about them, even if he can’t be there in person.
The second hardest part comes from familiarity. Sparkle tells me that repeating sections of trail can be a double-edged sword. While having already completed the ECT gives her an advantage in many ways, re-hiking some sections immerses her in memories of some of the hardest days she’s ever had on the trail.
It has been difficult for her to make progress in the areas that were most difficult with ECT in 2023. “Going into this year, I knew my biggest priority was my morale,” she tells me.
Find joy and look forward
In the spirit of high morale, I ask what the best part of this experience has been so far. The answer is easy for Sparkle: it’s all the loved ones she’s been able to connect with while hiking the East Coast.
Since 2020, Sparkle has logged over 16,000 miles, leaving her with a host of friends spread across the country. As she continues to travel arduous kilometers, she has been able to take advantage of this time to see friends, share meals, and even convince some to follow the path with her for days at a time. «It’s amazing that I have so many friends I can call to fall in love with… 30, 35, 40 mile days,» he says, adding with a laugh, «I have a list!»
As she nears the end of the Appalachian Trail during a cold spring on the East Coast, Sparkle tells me she’s looking forward to hiking the PCT. Not only is this trail the only one left from her Triple Crown, but she says she’s really excited to be in the Mojave Desert in June. After five months of being cold, Sparkle tells me, «I’m ready to fry!”
The PCT has eluded Sparkle before. He attempted to complete it twice and twice had to leave before the end. With Katahdin approaching and a flight to the west coast approaching, Sparkle simply tells me that «third time’s the charm!»
moving forward
To help support Sparkle’s journey, she has created a page where can you find it GoFundMe for food and lodging expenses along with your social networks and non-profit organizations you support. And, if you are interested in following her, you can find daily updates, videos, and vlogs about her. instagram.
All photos, including featured image, courtesy of Lolo “Sparkle” Veloz. Featured image graphic design by Mackenzie Fisher.
