Tech on the Trail: The Good, the Bad, and the Data-Obsessed

Technology has crept into every corner of our sport—from GPS watches to real-time tracking to social media validation. In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with Luke McCrae, the creator of Corsa, a site that tracked my Appalachian Trail FKT attempt (with a one-day safety delay).

We dive into the rise of tech in FKTs and outdoor adventures—where it helps, where it hurts, and how far is too far. Does tracking make our experiences richer or just more public? Are we still chasing the same spirit of adventure when our dots move live on a map?

It’s a deep, funny, and thought-provoking conversation about innovation, community, and the balance between authentic adventure and algorithmic obsession.

Chapters

00:00 From Camping to Ultra Running: Luke's Journey

02:29 The Intersection of Technology and Outdoor Adventures

05:13 Corsa: Enhancing the Spectator Experience

08:05 Creating Community Through Technology

10:37 The Future of Ultra Running and Technology

13:21 Strava's Challenges and the Shift in Platforms

20:29 The Power of Sharing Experiences

25:25 Technology and Community in Thru-Hiking

30:43 Personal Transformation Through Hiking

36:07 Comparing Thru-Hiking and Ultra-Running

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