FKT Podcast

Everyone is disappointed that races were cancelled or postponed. What about the race directors themselves - this is how they make a living - what is their perspective? James Varner, Rainshadow Running: "We're known for our post-race parties as much as the running; it's one big happy family. That's all a big no-no right now with social distancing." Justin Ricks, Mad Moose Events: "When you lose something, you realize what you're missing. When people come back, there will be a lot of positive energy." Justin is a resident of Moab, Utah, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the local closure of this iconic recreation destination: "150-200 business leaders in Moab attended the Grand Council meeting in regard to my events. It’s been an interesting time!" Support your local Race Directors!

Everyone is talking about it so we should as well. But instead of more graphs of "How COVID-19 will spread," we will listen to authentic, personal reports from friends in Europe, the United States, and New Zealand. Each report is very different! We can learn from each other. Note: These conversations were recorded Monday afternoon, March 23, which is important to know as the situation changes every day. Guests: Hillary Allen, France: The epidemic in Europe is 7-10 days more advanced than the US, so her situation is what we might expect to come in the States. Monica Morant, United States: California was the first state to mandate "Shelter in Place", with the Bay Area four days before the state. Outdoor recreation is a way of life here, so what are the rules, and how are people coping? Grant Guise, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand: New Zealand is behind most other countries but has acted decisively. They closed the border and with 2,000km of big blue ocean in any direction and only 4.8M people, they might be able to actually contain the pandemic, rather than "flatten the growth curve" which is all social distancing does. Early on, the Prime Minister mandated anyone arriving must self-isolate for 14 days.

Amanda and Justin were in Kauai to run the Kalalau Trail and thought to check it out. Ill prepared for the humidity, Amanda nonetheless decided to go for the FKT, and succeeded. Justin accompanied her going out (so she is listed as Supported) but then then fell apart from the heat. "We were all wondering, 'where's Justin'? He was two hours late getting back." Three days later he felt better, going an hour faster than Amanda and establishing the Male FKT. Justin always brings attention to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation, which accepts donations, and was named for his former wife. Gabe Grunewald (nee Anderson) was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2009. After that, she became a professional middle-distance runner, with numerous podiums, international appearances, and one national championship, often while having numerous organs removed. She founded the Brave Like Gabe Foundation in 2018 and died in June, 2019, 3 weeks before her 33rd birthday.

Going lightweight saves a ton of energy, but how best to do that? Andrew Skurka was a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and created monster routes, such as the Great Western Loop and Alaska-Yukon Expedition. He now runs a guiding business (when not racing Marathons), with 29 trips this year alone. Alan Dixon is an engineer and adventurer who helped co-found Backpacking Light, and will be a guide on three Andrew Skurka Adventures this year. These two know the drill! Interestingly, they both say how you use the gear is more important than the gear itself. Andrew and Alan also gave advice for the PCT, and the listed the gear that has changed the sport in the last 5 years including: Andrew and Alan listed the gear that has changed the sport in the last 5 years, including: 1. Garmin Mini: https://amzn.to/2Tzwe8o 2. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite Ultralight Mattress: https://amzn.to/2U0yMva

Ryan has been actively racing since 2006 - winning and doing well in 26 Ultra's - then announced for 2020 he will focus exclusively on FKTs: "I like racing, a lot. But this fall I asked myself what I really care to do the most. And that was easy. I love running in the wilderness. Alone in the biggest, best, and most wild mountains." Listen to Ryan recount setting the FKT on Half Dome, while a Freshman in college, before the term had even be coined, and how to get around the new Permit system. And how he always announced his attention to attempt a project in advance, then twice had someone show up to make an attempt with him, then do it faster - and he has no regrets. "People are hungering to be challenging themselves, in wilderness, and on their own terms. This is exactly what FKTs are about." Ryan has a coaching business you should check out: https://trailsandtarmac.com/ Instagram/Twitter/FB: @ryanghelfi

The Stoke Factor goes up a notch with Rea Kolbl and Trever Townsend in the room (or on the trail): “We just like to sign up for things we have no idea how to do, then figure it out!” Rea Kolbl was a competitive gymnast in her native Slovenia, then while earning a Masters Degree in Engineering at Stanford University, realized she could make more money Obstacle Course Racing than indoors teaching Grad students, so she walked out the door and hasn’t looked back. She has never been beaten in an OCR over 30 miles in length, prefers Skyraces to trail races, and really enjoyed Fiji in September for the Eco Challenge hosted by Bear Grylls. Trever Townsend never says, “I can’t do this”, while running and OCR all over the world. “I call it the 'Rudy genetics': I learned if I was going to hang with these guys I’d be dealing with a lot more pain, so I embraced it.” Is OCR for you? Listening to these two, it sounds like a great idea. “I like the challenge of unpredictability. It was snowing, the wind chill was about 6 degrees, and we had to swim in an alpine lake. The ladies cried for two hours." Their biggest project ever is, “Scale Slovenia” this May. Their version of “Lowest to Highest” in Slovenia entails free-diving to the lowest point at a depth of 120’ in the Mediterranean sea, swimming 300 meters to shore, cycling 130 miles, then climbing the highest summit in Slovenia. Scale Slovenia: https://closeencontours.wordpress.com/2020-projects/

The Longs Peak FKT stood for 33 years! The Grand Teton FKT for 29 years ... then Andy broke them both in the span of two weeks! "I'm a mediocre runner and a mediocre climber ... but not many people do both." Andy was Climbing Ranger at the Longs Peak Ranger Station (as was Chris Reveley, the previous FKT holder) so he has extremely valuable thoughts and advice for all of us: "I've backed off more routes than I can remember ... everything has to be perfect." And great stories about style, and what suits you and what doesn't: "I'm not going to solo that technical route; I'm just going to run harder up the trail!"

A resident of Keene, NY, Ryan is one of the guys trading fast times on the Presi and Adirondack Traverses. They get after it, yet it's all one big friendly community. "The previous record-holder came out and helped, making sure I knew the best ways to go." His next project? 500 miles on fat bikes, unsupported, in winter, across Manitoba, on the "worlds longest winter road", the Wapusk Trail (Wapusk is Cree for "Polar Bear"). "Our bikes with gear weigh 100 lbs. Last year we carried a shotgun."

Brett came seemingly out of nowhere in 2009 when he set the coveted FKT on the John Muir Trail, going Unsupported 7 hrs faster than the Supported time. "I think it took Barkley to convince some of the holdouts." He finished Barkley in 2011 and again in 2012, with what is still the fastest time (the course changes so there is never a "course record").  Definitely go to his Athlete page on this website for your bucket list of the most massive hillclimbs: Telescope Peak, Mt Whitney, and the SoCal Triple Crown, which he invented.  And he is a high-end scientist and researcher. This contributed to his success - like other non-runners before him, Brett took a very calculated and methodical approach - he actually practiced filling and drinking from water bottles. "I obsessively focussed on how to minimize time loss ... throughout the course of the JMT, (just using water bottles), an extra 2 minutes each time equals a full hour lost." Listen and learn!

The Te Araroa is amazing: from the northern to southern tip of New Zealand, across the entire island (2 actually) nation! Lucy set the Female FKT, followed by George a mere 4 days later with the Male FKT, completely by coincidence. Lucy's tip for hiking 66 straight days? "Go shove a heap of food in your face, then go again." George met the previous Female FKT holder by chance in a cafe, who told him about Lucy, who was posting good daily reports, so George was able to navigate stream crossings and other potential bottlenecks. Then Lucy had a day when the air was thick with smoke. "I couldn't see well, the horizon was blocked my smoke. I asked a passing mountain biker; he said 'huge bushfires in Australia'. That's when I found out my own country was burning!"