FKT Podcast

We are counting down the podium from the US Mountain Running Championships!  Last week: Joe Demoor, #3.  This week: Max King, #2.  (Stay tuned for next week!) Max runs everything ... does he have the widest range of any runner ever?  He was the World Mountain Running Champion, which is a steep hammerfest of only 12km, then 3 years later became the World 100km Champion, running on a flat paved circuit.  He's done a 1:03 Half Marathon, the Western States 100, won the Warrior Dash Championships (an obstacle course), and next year wants to run the 3000 meter Steeplechase on the track. "I'm uncoachable. I train for tempo, strength, endurance and speed, year round." Max is now 41 years old, and can still compete in the open class. Does he have some expert advice for the rest of us?  Yes! "I'm always stretching and rolling.  I lift weights in the winter, olympic style. It's important to keep everything in balance." Max's run camps are a level above just running with a group of people: "Our over-arching goal is to create capable trail runners and stewards with a lifelong love of nature." Listen and learn!

When asked if he wanted to be a guest on the podcast, Joe wrote back, "I realize this will be a bit about talking about myself, which I have to admit is one of my least favorite activities." Right on! Joe is the kind of person we especially like talking with. Called the "quiet crusher" by some friends, Joe is a classic mountain person: he works hard, runs hard, and doesn't need to talk about it. He has no shoe sponsor, and says with a laugh, "The company's basically tell me I either need more Followers on social media, or to win UTMB." Is living in a Colorado mountain town a dream come true, or just a dream? "In order to make this lifestyle work, you have to be really committed; really want it." "There's still a lot of heart in these ski towns; people out grinding every day, doing it for the right reasons." Mentioned in this podcast: Our podcast with Seth DeMoor here Protect Our Winters organization ("Your passion for the outdoors can help save it")

Welcome back to a classic episode of the Fastest Known Podcast. That’s right, this week we are re-airing our August 15th, 2020 interview with Kelly Halpin who had just completed the Wind River High Route, solo and unsupported. The route is about 97 miles with 30,000 feet of vertical gain. Her standard point to point route FKT still stands over a year later. A new men’s FKT was set this summer by David Aalya in ​​1d 13h 41m 0s, beating Gabe Joyes by about 9 hours. David’s first FKT on the route was back in 2019. We interviewed him on episode #118 during our FKT of the Year 2020 show if you want to learn more about him. ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES We receive 50 FKT submissions per day but this one immediately caught my eye: the Wind River High Route is big, wild, and rough, and a woman just did it alone, faster than anyone except one male. Women have always been athletic equals of men, but we don't often see them alone on the high routes. Turns out Kelly Halpin does a lot of the big routes. WHO IS SHE? "I grew up in the mountains, my favorite way to challenge myself is to do firsts, in the mountains, usually Unsupported." The WRHR traverses the length of the Wind River Range, perfectly bookended by the northern and southern most 13,000' summits in the range. What did she think? "It comes close to being technical, but never is - it's an incredibly beautiful, challenging, high alpine route ... it's one of the most beautiful places in the world." Kelly was over a day faster than the previous women's team - listen to her description as she makes it sound normal, matter-of-fact: "I really like to go light and fast. I'm pretty good with sleep deprivation. I brought no emergency gear, no sleeping, tarp or stove, just to move as fast I can." "And I gotta admit ... I stopped and went skinny-dipping; otherwise I would be a little faster. But it was refreshing."

This is a 42 day thru-hike with almost 300,000 feet of elevation gain, summiting all 58 Colorado 14ers ... entirely self-supported, solo, never getting into a car ... how did he do that?! "For the 3 months leading up, I did more pre-planning on this than my work." "I didn't publicize this in advance. You have to Walk the Walk before you Talk the Talk". "Some people are like, "Why isn't there more on the Internet?"  I'm not changing the world with what I do, so I like to stay private." "People can get addicted to getting "Likes".  If there wasn't any Likes, how would you feel about it?  What would you be doing if no one was watching?" Pawel is a wealth of insight and information. All students of multi-day efforts should listen to this.  "My Base Weight (all clothes and gear) was 8.5 lbs. Which included a helmet." But did not include a stove - he used the 'cold soak' method.   And he finished with a degree of liver and kidney malfunction; his doctor told him "No alcohol" for a few weeks. "It would be super hard to travel long and fast and eat healthy.  Going through towns, I would eat a comical amount of food.  I would eat 3 breakfasts at one sitting."  Gear Lists Pawel personally builds out custom camper vans with the same ethic as his thru-hiking: lightweight and efficient.  This is his company's van Instagram and this is the website. His hiking gear list is very accurate and helpful (his entire 'kitchen' setup totalled 2.2 ounces).

Bethany wrote to us: "One year ago, Katlin Rhodes and I came together and became the first women to complete the 46 unsupported thru-hike. That summer was my first with Strava and a GPS watch. She and I have learned a lot in one year and have combined for 23 FKTS, going after some big and small. From the thru-hike, I began ambassador work with SheJumps, a national non-profit that promotes more women and girls to get outside. I think we'd make a cool podcast." AGREED! Join Bethany as she speaks confidently on the importance of mental health, how until 2 years ago she lived "off-the grid" and didn't even have a cell phone, and her work as a wilderness therapy instructor: "Katie found me on the FKT website. We did the Adirondack 46 Unsupported. We've learned a lot since then ... FKTs have become the perfect niche!" "It's important to keep public lands open to the public. This has saved people." (Note: Katie was also scheduled as a guest, but experienced technical difficulties). This podcast releases on September 17, the one year anniversary of their A46 thru-hike. Success stories like this are wonderful to hear. And what's next? "I've done 19 FKTs; I'd like to get to 50 by 2023!" "The A46 FKT can go lower ..."

Scott is the best US Male Ultra Runner ever.  That may change, but for now, no one can match 7 consecutive wins at the WS100 plus wins at other marquee events. He set the S-N FKT on the fabled Appalachian Trail in 2015, with a desperate effort at the end, eclipsing Jennifer Pharr Davis' time by 3hrs 13mins.  The next year Scott's friend Karl Meltzer lowered it by 9hrs 29mins, then "the Belgian Dentist" Karel Sabbe demolished the overall AT FKT by doing it 41days 7hrs 39mins.   Scott and his wife Jenny co-authored, "North: Finding My Way On The Appalachian Trail" and were the 3rd ever guests on the Fastest Known Podcast.  Karel was actually our 2nd guest ever (take a look and listen - three years ago and these episodes are worth it). Time to catch up! On August 4, Scott went back for another go.  This time with plenty of preparation and knowledge, unlike the first time when he and Jenny "On-sighted it".  How did that go? "I started to feel my left quad on the 4th day. I shifted weight to the right, then that tightened up badly. I tried to slow down and walk it off, but that is not possible on the northern section of the AT." Very disappointing.  Listen as Scott describes his specific training for this effort, as well as nutrition specifics.  He feels that starting in the north, where the terrain is more difficult than in Georgia may have been a factor. "You don't get warm by sticking your head in a furnace." It's still too early to think about this, but we have to ask .... will he go back? "I still have so much to learn, and I still have more to give.” "You had to go and wake the dragon". - Jenny to Scott

This year, hundreds of square miles in the western US has been on fire, resulting in terrible air quality which often has exceeded EPA guidelines.  Dr Kevin Shilling is a long time ultrarunner, was 10th at the HR100 this year, and is a pulmonary physician based in Salt Lake City.  So we ask him an important question: When does air pollution get so bad it's better not to exercise? "That depends on how badly you want to go for a run." He really did say that!  Kevin provides intelligent, balanced, nuanced, and personal answers.  Four factors are: How healthy are you, are you experiencing any problems, how does it feel? What is your level of effort? An easy hour is different than a hard workout. When was the last time you ran?  If yesterday, maybe take a day off and wait for better conditions; if you've already taken 3 days off, well ... What is the AQI?  Over 100 might be unhealthy for some people while over 150 can still be tolerated by most; an AQI over 200? "I wouldn't do it." Check the Air Quality Index where you live right now.  If you live in some parts of the west, checking the AQI may become as common as checking the weather report.

It's a great time to re-air our 2020 interview with Courtney Dauwalter who - only 1 week ago - won her second consecutive Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc title, setting a new women's course record in the process. On top of all that she was the 7th finisher overall. During 2020 when UTMB was canceled, Courtney turned her attention to setting an FKT on the Colorado Trail, going from Durango to Denver. In this interview she discusses why the attempt was eventually stopped and much more. This is our most popular episode of all time and for good reason! ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES Courtney once ran 279 miles ... and received a "DNF"!  Huh?  How did that happen?   "They ring a bell when it's time to start, and if you don't go right then, you're out.  That's it." "It takes two to tango, two to keep the game going, to see what's possible." From choices of candy, to Bronchitis on the Colorado Trail, and the amazing world of Big's Backyard Ultra, Courtney offers wonderful, simple, and helpful insights. "Running is so cool … it’s such a cool way to explore, and to spend time with people, and with ourselves.” "Running is a choice ...to live our lives however we want, to make choice to do or not do things.  I'm choosing every day to run and explore these long distances because I love it.  To keep this perspective every day is helpful, and I feel very lucky for that."

"Mediocre"?  I don't think so! Zack has done 7 ultra races and won all of them.  And he's from Kentucky, proud of it, and why maybe you haven't heard of him. "I like the east. It's green. I'd like to try some things out west, but I'm happy here." Zack graduated in 2017 with a double degree, went to work ... and quit 3 days later. "Running is what I love.  Yes, I took a pay cut, but this is what I want to do." Find out why. This episode is sponsored by Speedland Speedland is a brand new shoe company, founded by two longtime designers from Puma, Nike, and Under Armour. Their debut shoe is the SL:PDX, likened more to a piece of equipment than to a shoe. It is trail footwear made from the most premium components available today. Listen to this trail-runner-wish-list: 1. It’s the first shoe ever to feature BOA’s Li2 Fit System, dual dials with multi-directional incremental dialing for a perfect fit. 2. The midsole uses a new formulation of Pebax foam for ultimate energy return. 3. Then there’s a Carbitex carbon-fiber plate with asymmetrical flex – stiff in one direction, flexible in the other. 4. Finishing it off, the SL:PDX uses a Michelin wrap outsole with a customizable lug pattern that can be adjusted for any terrain. When we say it’s all there, it’s all there. Plus, Speedland gives back 10% of all profits to outdoor organizations chosen by their athletes, and once the shoe reaches the end of its lifecycle, you can send it back where it will be disassembled and recycled. Check out the Speedland SL:PDX over at runspeedland.com and follow them on Instagram at @runspeedland. Drop them a note if you have any questions.

Riding and Running on trails is more connected than you know!  The Western States 100 originally was a horse race, not a running race.  And this year Susie Kramer did both, with one of the fastest combined times ever.  With a broken toe, after her horse stepped on it. "I guess some scar tissue had formed, so the pain wasn't too bad." Yeah, endurance horse riders are tough. Ride and Tie is a very tactical and exciting race, always on trails at least 20 miles long, with two runners alternating riding one horse ... got that?  Courtney will explain it! "My 14 year old daughter said, 'Dad, if you will learn to ride a horse, I will start running and we can be a team.' When your daughter says that, there is only one answer!" This is NOT like riding a bicycle - these are dynamic teamwork events with a human and horse, both of whom have minds of their own.  As Courtney describes Coda: "He can't stand to be behind another horse. It's like, 'You decide how fast you want to go; trot, canter, gallop, doesn't matter, because I'm going to pass you." "It's like he trained the other horses - they would move to the side when we came up, whether their rider reigned them over or not." Courtney goes first in this Episode, describing the strategic intricacies of Ride and Tie, and we note many of the top ultra runners of the era who also were Ride and Tie competitors. Susie is next, who describes why she thinks riding the Tevis Cup is harder than the running the WS100. This episode is sponsored by Speedland Speedland is a brand new shoe company, founded by two longtime designers from Puma, Nike, and Under Armour. Their debut shoe is the SL:PDX, likened more to a piece of equipment than to a shoe. It is trail footwear made from the most premium components available today. Listen to this trail-runner-wish-list: It’s the first shoe ever to feature BOA’s Li2 Fit System, dual dials with multi-directional incremental dialing for a perfect fit. The midsole uses a new formulation of Pebax foam for ultimate energy return. Then there’s a Carbitex carbon-fiber plate with asymmetrical flex – stiff in one direction, flexible in the other. Finishing it off, the SL:PDX uses a Michelin wrap outsole with a customizable lug pattern that can be adjusted for any terrain. When we say it’s all there, it’s all there. Plus, Speedland gives back 10% of all profits to outdoor organizations chosen by their athletes, and once the shoe reaches the end of its lifecycle, you can send it back where it will be disassembled and recycled. Check out the Speedland SL:PDX over at runspeedland.com and follow them on Instagram at @runspeedland. Drop them a note if you have any questions.