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Jennifer Pharr Davis        

Long-Distance Hiker & Author; Overall Record Holder on the Appalachian Trail & The First Woman to Set That Mark

Jennifer Pharr Davis knows what it takes to keep going. As a hiker, she has covered more than 14,000 miles, exploring trails on six continents and in all fifty states. Davis has hiked the Appalachian Trail three times. In 2011, she set the fastest known time (FKT) on the A.T., completing the 2,190-mile footpath in 46 days- an average of 47 miles a day- and besting marks established over decades by elite male ultra runners.

As a mother of two, Davis has yet to slow down. She backpacked 700 miles across the Pyrenees and Iceland during the second and third trimesters of her first pregnancy, hiked 1,100 miles across North Carolina while nursing her newborn son, and took her daughter on trails in all 50 states before she turned two.

Off-trail, Davis is a nationally recognized speaker, award-winning author, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, founder and owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Company, and has served as a member of the President's Council for Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. As an author, Davis has written fiction and non-fiction. She's written trail guides for her home state of North Carolina, "how to" for families, children, and teens, and articles for leading publications like the New York Times, Outside magazine, and Blue Ridge Outdoors.

Davis lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband Brew, their children Charlotte and Gus, and a pair of pet goats named Coffee and Cream.

Speech Topics

Record Setting Support: Moving Forward Together

A team is more than the sum of its parts, and the most productive ones are able to anticipate change, communicate clearly, and hold each other accountable with minimal tension. In this presentation, Jennifer talks about avoiding dysfunction, maximizing support, and transforming your group into the highest performing team possible, all things she successfully accomplished when she hiked 47 miles a day for a month and a half straight to blow up the record books, beat the boys, and set a new fastest known time on the legendary Appalachian Trail.

The Trailblazer: Hard-earned Lessons from the Appalachian Trail and Beyond

Trailblazers forge new paths for other people to follow. Likewise, an effective leader will guide the organization by creating alignment, fostering communication, and embracing discomfort. Discover your strengths and hone your strategies to be a Trailblazer.

Bend Don't Break: Self-Care in Extreme Environments

How do you deliver your best when your best never feels like enough? The journey of optimizing performance without sacrificing wellbeing demands organization, communication, and adaptability - plus humor, forgiveness and good friends. Gain insight to better embrace discomfort and succeed personally and professionally.

I Belong: Exceeding Everyone's Expectations- Including Your Own

The barriers to success are both internal and environmental. These obstacles are overcome by honing your strengths, identifying your team, and taking healthy risks. Find out how to overcome internal limitations and external perceptions to exceed everyone's expectations

The Next Step: Navigating A New Adventure

Transitions can be both exciting and uncomfortable. A willingness to take healthy risks, stay adaptable, and remain resilient can help you find your path in any new environment. Discover the tools necessary to take ownership of your next adventure.

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