Coming to you every Friday: interviews with FKT-setters and other athletes in the world of Fastest Known Times.
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Joe McConaughy and Coree Woltering independently decided to try for an FKT on the Arizona Trail. Our Social Media Coordinator Allison Mercer heard about this, contacted them, with the result being Joe and Coree decided to start at the same place at the same time ... and see who makes it from the Mexican border to Utah first!
"I think we'll have different FKT strategies ... I'm not sure how much he is going to divulge, and not sure how much I'll divulge ..."
"Super fast" describes Brittany - she ran a 2:33 at the Olympic Trials Marathon for 13th place - but she had never set foot on a trail. Since then she won the Pikes Peak Marathon and last month set the Course Record at Moab Red Hot.
"I had this stigma about trail runners in my head, like they all were burly with beards. And there were wild animals out there."
"But then Covid hit, so no races. And someone said, 'Why not try an FKT'? I had never heard of an FKT."
One of best known ultrarunners ever definitely is still going big and going long ... he now does it across four different sports. Running, climbing, skiing, and cycling - but NO hiking! (listen in).
"I never thought or said, 'I'm not a runner anymore'; the space just opened up to do these other sports I'd always been interested in."
Once known as the "Apostle of Minimalism", Tony might now be considered one of the most thoughtful, experienced, and insightful participants and commentators on endurance sports.
Roman Dial has done things you never imagined. Do you aspire to do a 100 mile trail race? He's never done one - instead he invented races that make 100's look like a 10k in Central Park.
"Three of us decided to see how far one could go completely Unsupported. I ended up hiking 625 miles across Alaska in 25 days. All food and gear with me start to finish. My pack weighed 59 lbs; 45 of which was food."
Most of Roman's trips were "OKTs" - "Only Known Times". But in this very podcast, he coined the term "LKTs". What's an LKT??
Dr Teddy Bross has finished seven 100 mile races (and 12 of the Nolan's 14 summits :-), and is a physician. Host Hillary Allen asks him for his best advice to manage your long projects in the winter.
"The R2R2R.alt is probably too short a swim to develop hypothermia, but is a perfect scenario for 'cold shock'."
What's it like to run long and hard, as a couple? Is it easier or harder; more fun or a struggle?
Host Hillary Allen speaks with Brittany Peterson and Cody Lind, who as a team set a big FKT on the Superior Hiking Trail last year, bettering the previous Male time by 18 hours and the Female by over 2 days.
"Western States will be interesting - she'd like me to pace her, and I'd like her to pace me!" - Cody
Don't miss what's coming next for this dynamic duo:
Rob and Mike not only did a great route in fine style, but their photo went big in the FKT world. (It should be on the cover of Outside Magazine!)
R2R2R.alt runs across the Grand Canyon, with the same distance and elevation profile as the very popular (overpopulated?) Rim to River to Rim to River to Rim route. Big difference: there is no bridge across the river - have to swim!
"When Mike texted saying he wanted to do this route, I said, 'No way.'" - Rob
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Hydration, electrolytes, cramping ... do you need to know more? Of course you do! This podcast delivers excellent information - Andy knows what he is talking about - and our own Allison Mercer tested the products.
We used to be told to drink up to a gallon of water per day - but more people are hospitalized with Hyponatremia than dehydration! Now we're told to "Drink when thirsty" - is that correct??
The finale! Voters selected the top two FKTs in Europe for Female and Male, from a Nominations List of 23, out of 1,308 FKTs set in Europe in 2020.
Each one is different. Each person tells their story, in their own words. Listen up! And read the full article here.
There were 1,308 FKTs set in Europe in 2020. A panel of experts nominated 23 of the best, then they voted. Here is the #3 Woman and the #3 Man; next week we hear from the Top two’s.
We start with an Introduction to the European FKT with Matt Lefort, a native of France, who’s been living in Andorra for 12 years, and just moved to Norway. He offers good insights that set the stage.