Patrick Vaughan, trail runner from Steep Adventures in the US, completed his run of the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) from end to end, setting a new record by running 470 km in 6 days and 17 hours.
The LMT is the first long distance trail in Lebanon. It extends from Andqet in the north of Lebanon to Jdeidet Marjaayoun in the south, a470-km path that transects more than 75 towns and villages at an altitude ranging from 670 meters to 2,011 meters above sea level. The trail celebrates the natural beauty and cultural wealth of Lebanon's mountains and promotes responsible tourism that brings economic benefits to the local communities.
Vaughan started his run on June 7, 2017 and finished it on June 13th, few minutes before midnight. The run was organized in cooperation with the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) and the DC-based American Friends of the LMT (AFLMT), with the support of Avedis Kalpaklian, the LMT through-runner and previous record holder.
"What I liked about the trail is the diversity of the terrain. This is fantastic for trail runners. It offers a lot of challenges: rocky to steep downhills and uphill, technical runs, flat... this is what trail runners of different levels and styles look for."
Avedis Kalpaklian and ultra-marathon runner Ali Kedami,and Phyllis Neriah Tsang from Canadajoined Patrick on few sections during his run.
Vaughan is passionate about the mountains and has an unbreakable connection with Lebanon. Running the LMT falls in the wake of his growing fondness for both, and above all the local people. He dedicated his run to raise awareness about the LMT, and the importance of the protection of the mountains, thus tuning to the themeadopted by the LMTAssociation for 2017: "We Walk to Protect Our Mountains". He is also raising funds for the AFLMT and the LMTAin support of their mission to protect the trail and the surrounding heritage, and to implement programs benefiting trail-side communities.
Building on LMT's focus to bring communities together and to advocate fora socially responsible tourism,Vaughan wants to promote a message of hope and unity."By choosing to run the LMT, I hope to bring people together. I wish to celebrate our differences; but also highlight the similarities across people of faith regardless of which religion they practice...even by form of nature worship."
More information about the Lebanon Mountain Trail: www.lebanontrail.org
Instagram: Lebanontrail, www.facebook.com/LebanonMountainTrailAssociation
For more information about the event, please contact Carlos Bou Nafeh, Communication Officer
03-167 353.
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