Team Injinji Athlete Mike Wardian’s 50th birthday was a celebration marked by a 2,197-mile trek along the Appalachian Trail (AT). This adventure was a culmination of decades of running, passion, endurance, and careful planning, turning a lifelong dream into reality.
Follow along as Mike shares the story behind his remarkable journey, his connection to the AT, and the motivation that pushed him to tackle this iconic trail.
You’ve been a runner for decades. How did you find your passion for running, and what made you take it to the next level?
I started running in 1995, after I stopped playing Division I lacrosse at Michigan State University. I knew immediately that I enjoyed the process of going for a run. I loved the feeling of coming back after a run, and your body was alive with movement. I basked in the sense of accomplishment that accompanied a run and how I felt like I was doing something hard. Those feelings encouraged me to keep running, but what took me to the next level was my love of competition. I wanted to test myself and see just how far and fast I could run. I met my good friend Vince’s mom, Vicki, and she inspired me to run the Boston Marathon. Vicki was the first person I had met that had run a marathon. I thought if Vince's mom could run a marathon, then I could too. That was the moment that changed my life. It got me started on this journey and led to adventures all over the world.
You celebrated turning 50 by running across the entire Appalachian Trail! What was your motivation for this adventure? Do you have a personal connection to the AT as an East Coaster?
I have wanted to run the AT since I was 16 years old, when I went on a camping trip on the AT with my best friend, Ethan Muerlin. I remember having my mind blown that this trail that we were camping on went from Maine to Georgia, covering 2,197 Miles. I thought someday, I am going to hike the entire thing. I had no idea it would take me 36 years, and by that time I would be a professional runner, but I knew I was going to do it. I have a personal and impassioned connection to the AT, it defines much of the trail running on the Beast Coast...It’s rocky, rooty, no compromise trail running. It is never easy, but it is pure and wild and tough, and I think underrated.
This type of challenge requires a significant amount of planning and preparation. Can you talk about the “behind the scenes” efforts that went into this journey?
This type of challenge is as much a running challenge as it is a logistical challenge. It takes years of planning, communication, coordination, and preparation before something like this can come to be. I started over 5 years ago to get a team in place at work to allow me the ability to do these types of adventures. I needed to negotiate with my family for the opportunity to be gone for this length of time. I also needed to have relationships in place with my sponsors to help with products and support to make it possible. I also wanted to have this run benefit a good cause, so I needed to work with and decide on which charities or charity to support. I chose World Vision USA, as I know how much good they do in the world, and I am passionate about helping as many people as possible.
In addition to the planning, I needed to get my body physically prepared to handle the load, volume, and distances required to cover the trail within my desired time frame. I also needed to ensure I was healthy enough to finish the adventure. The training for something like this is ongoing. It took me over 10 years and many trail events and adventures to feel confident enough to know I had a chance of finishing.
What are the biggest challenges of balancing a full-time job while tackling a long-distance endeavor like this?
The biggest challenges of balancing a full-time job while doing a long-term project are connectivity issues and time constraints. Running upwards of 16-18 hours a day makes it really difficult to be fully productive, especially if you are in remote locations with limited access to the internet. I think our team at Potomac Maritime LLC did an amazing job of fulling our obligations to our clients, and we even had our biggest work successes while I was out on this adventure. I did have to leave the trail for 7 days to help, but that is all part of what it means to be a small business owner. I love my job as an International Ship Broker, and I also love my job as a professional athlete. Most often, things are in alignment but sometimes I need to compromise, and I am 100% ok with that.
Can you share a memorable interaction or experience with someone you met along the trail?
I feel very lucky to have met so many amazing people. I think one of the funniest interactions was with a hiker named Ben. Ben was the only person to pass me in weeks and I was in a funk. In my head, I thought, “I’m going to catch up and chat with him.” Well, Ben is awesome, and we hit it off and we spent the next 18 miles together. I learned all about Ben and he was able to help me on a rough day. What was so cool is that Ben didn't know that I was a professional runner, and he was just excited to have someone that could keep up with him. So, we loved sharing each other's company and Ben came back to hike with me twice more doing big sections.
What was the toughest section of the trail? Can you describe what it was like?
I had a lot of tough sections of trail but after Hurricane Helene, the southernmost section of North Carolina was a mess. I was dealing with hundreds of blown down trees and terrible trail conditions that made for a long, grumpy day on the trails. The trail was narrow, with mountains on the right and death on the left. The bad footing and blown down trees increased the level of difficulty and took a nice trail and turned it into a nightmare.
How did you maintain mental focus and motivation throughout your 2-month journey on the trail?
I think I was able to maintain mental focus by breaking each day into little sections, and only thinking about getting to the next aid station. I tried to never worry about things too far ahead. I also made sure I never lost my why. I knew exactly why I was there and what I needed to focus on every day to help achieve my goal.
Did you encounter any unexpected challenges, or surprising moments along the way?
I had so many unexpected challenges. One week before I was supposed to start running, my crew chief Eric Bellz dropped out, to help his wife with a medical issue. I was scrambling to find someone else, but I am so glad I didn’t give up. I met Sharon Mullan, and she crewed me the entire length of the trail. Sharon is now a great friend, and I feel so lucky we got to meet.
The most surprising moment occurred not that far from the finish when I turned the corner and almost ran smack into a bear. Luckily, the bear was feeding on berries, and I was feeding on peanut butter pretzels, but it was amazingly cool.
Left: Mike and fellow Team Injinji Athlete Tara Dower crossed paths while both running the AT!
What essential gear items did you wear or bring with you? Are there any items or equipment that you didn’t have, but would have been helpful?
I brought a lot of essential gear as I figured, it all boils down to what is working and what you don't like at the moment. One of my favorite luxury items was fresh Injinji Ultra Run socks... They just made me so darn happy.
Mike’s accomplishment is an inspiring reminder that it is never too late to chase your dreams — no matter how big they may be!