On each of Kristian Morgan’s seven attempts to set the fastest known time on the 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail, there has been one constant: his mother as his crew.
At this point, Morgan’s name is synonymous with the trail. Over almost a decade, he’s experienced successes and failures of various kinds and gotten as close to the speed record as second-best in his 2023 attempt. In this new short film “Terminus,” we follow Morgan and his mother — acting once again as his crew chief — as he makes his seventh and final speed attempt during the summer of 2025.
[Editor’s Note: Click here to watch the film on YouTube.]
It had been one year since Tara Dower set the overall fastest known time (FKT) at 40 days, 18 hours, and 6 minutes in 2024, and Morgan’s seven-year quest for the FKT culminates with chasing her splits down the trail. “To be really good at something, you have to be obsessed,” confesses Morgan in the film. And it’s clear that, speed record or not, Morgan and his mom are really good at this trail.
In the short duration of this piece, multiple themes emerge. There is a deep love for the trail and the journey, and a desire to set a speed record. But what stands out most is the bond between Morgan and his mom, Sharon Mullan — trail name Gun Section. On this seventh attempt together, she confirms this is the final trip for the pair as athlete and crew, but then adds that there may be a chance to return one day as mother and son. For now, this is their last chance to experience their shared bond, forged and renewed summer after summer, in their respective roles. There will be more than one terminus at the end of this run down the Appalachian Trail.
Kristian Morgan before starting his seventh Appalachian Trail FKT. All photos are screenshots from the film “Terminus.”
Morgan looks back on a mother who championed his running since the beginning, 25 years ago. Mullan laughs when she recalls someone making a comment during Morgan’s first attempt on the trail that his first mistake was letting his mother crew him. “And they ate their words,” she says. “I was perfect to crew him.” Mullan easily demonstrates what many will recognize as a difficult-to-overcome hurdle: switching off from being a loved one to becoming a crew member who sometimes has to speak harsh truths.
Sharon Mullan, Kristian Morgan’s mom, feeds him ice cream during a crew stop.
One of the most memorable scenes in the film, and perhaps relatable for any ultrarunner, is when a bystander at a trailhead parking lot asks Mullan, “How many miles is he doing a day?” When Mullan tells him 55, the bystander’s expression is priceless.
No film about the Appalachian Trail is complete without a cameo from Warren Doyle, who has hiked the trail 18 times and is the founder and director of the Appalachian Trail Institute. His role in the film is reminiscent of what Mike Dobies is to 24-hour running — the ultimate data person. Early on, Doyle does the trail math, calculating Morgan’s progress against what remains to be accomplished. The numbers are not falling in Morgan’s favor. Doyle prognosticates, “Not this time … Time and distance don’t change, you have to change,” waxes Doyle.
Kristian Morgan with AT legend Warren Doyle.
In the end, the math wins. It’s a rare and refreshing turn for a trail documentary centered on an elite athlete to linger on failure, and to sit with the heartbreak that comes when a lifetime goal and long-held dream reach their finality. But it doesn’t feel like failure when such a strong mother-son bond will clearly continue to thrive after the trail.
Mullan’s and Morgan’s unique relationship highlights what these trail running efforts are all about. Upon conclusion of the film, we can ask ourselves: Were Morgan’s runs on the Appalachian Trail ever just about the speed record? This film is worth every one of its 20 minutes and may even serve as a subtle, highly effective instrument for motivating you to crew a friend or loved one on their next big adventure.
Kristian Morgan with his mom after calling off his FKT attempt.
Call for Comments
- What makes athlete-crew relationships so special?
- What is it about crewing for each other that strengthens our relationships?
