A lot of people talk about the trail healing them, but I feel like, the first time, it humbled me, which I probably needed. It was a completely new way to experience the world and my body.

I'd always had an interest of pushing my limits and was intrigued by endurance.

I would rather watch a sunset than TV.

One of the best feelings I had growing up was being completely exhausted at the end of the day after playing outside all day.

Food is like a torture device because hiking 47 miles a day is hard enough. And then you're trying to get down 6,000 calories a day. Every hour, I needed a snack, every few hours I had to take in a meal and it's just not food, it's fuel. You're not enjoying it - you're seriously shoving it in your mouth and following it with water, juice or Gatorade.

Hiking is great because it's a lifelong sport and you're outdoors, active, so whether you call that a sport or a hobby or a recreation, I think the wording - it's a great way to get exercise, and it can be as challenging as you want to make it.

Our bodies are made to move, and moving down the trail is one of the oldest, natural ways people have used their bodies.