FKT Podcast

Part two of our special Fastest Known Time of the Year Awards concludes, with the #2 and #1 winners, female and male. All four winners are interviewed for this episode, describing how they did the super-cool FKTs that won them the awards. Who are they? "I planned on running TNF then with no race to run, went after this iconic FKT instead." - "It was so fast, was it like a time trial?" - "It was a long time trial!" "I really surprised myself when I finished, because that wasn’t the plan. I planned to take more rest but I didn’t feel the need when I was out there, I was just moving, then at the end it was 'wow', I was 7 hours ahead of schedule." "I’m super excited, I have goosebumps, I feel this is the Oscars of FKTs, or maybe the Critics' Choice Awards." "Most of my strength comes from enthusiasm."

The Fastest Known Time of the Year Awards are back for the 3rd year! This special Episode features amazing descriptions of the #5, #4, and #3 FKTs of the Year. Adding to the fun is Hillary Allen as co-host, and an appearance by Joe Grant, who beautifully articulates what is meaningful about this sport. "When you stop racing and you start dreaming, that's when the magic happens. And for me, that's what trail running and racing is all about." -- Hillary Allen "My experience was raw, and profound to me. I was happy with the learning that occurred on the route, I was happy with the effort, I was happy with learning the route ... (It wasn't the "number") … Yeah, so the number, there's something to it, but It's not the defining aspect of what makes this notable to me." -- Joe Grant

What was the preeminent FKT in 2018? What inspired you the most? What are your predictions for 2019? Anton Krupicka, Clare Gallagher, and Peter Bakwin answer these questions and more! "Nick Elson on Half Dome and Joe Grants' Nolans - it's style versus pure performance." "When the TNF50 was cancelled, the ladies really threw down - watching Ida, Sandi, and then Taylor in less than a week was really cool." "Karel was super-rad - he cut the time by 10%, and didn't look like he was totally worked."

Sunny Stroeer's impressive resume includes FKTs on the 22,838ft Aconcagua and its circumnavigation, the Annapurna Circuit, and the Pfiffner Traverse. She left a high-paying job as a management consultant -- but kept her hard-charging attitude -- to spend her days bagging many of the world's tallest summits, climbing big walls, and setting records running in the mountains. "I went by myself solo and unsupported and I got a lot of very strange reactions: 'But, where is your guide? Who are you with? Where is your husband?' ... And that just didn't sit right with me." She talks about closing the gender gap in unsupported outdoor pursuits, her preference for slow/strategic risk, upgrading from her Astrovan home, and her huge list of projects on the near horizon. Listen-in, and then learn more (and hire Sunny as a mountain guide) at http://www.sunnystroeer.com.

Peter Bakwin is the only person to do the Double Hardrock, the first person to go under 4 days on the John Muir Trail, plus many other races and FKTs, and is one of the co-founders of this website and podcast. Following up with our “3100: Run and Become” interview, Peter describes his experience of self-transcendence while running, and discusses when ultra-running may become unhealthy. “My own experience is that when you bump up against your perceived limits you either stop or you transcend (usually after a complete melt-down). The latter is clearly a spiritual experience, as anyone who has encountered it will know. All of a sudden energy comes from... not you.”

What if running could lead to enlightenment? This ambitious question is the heart of the documentary 3100: Run and Become. Based around the Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, the world’s longest certified footrace, this is an uplifting, intimate portrait of endurance runners who push themselves to the edge of physical and mental collapse, as they endeavor to challenge the boundaries of impossibility. The Director, Sanjay Rawal, is a lifelong runner himself, and he describes a very interesting backstory behind this film which also explores the "Marathon Monks" of Mt Hiei in Japan, and Shaun Martin, a Navaho runner and race director. "Running is a form of prayer. Running is a teacher. Running is a celebration of life."

Jim Walmsley is one of the best ultrarunners in the world, who a few days ago (12/10/2018), with Tim Freriks and Eric Senseman, set a new FKT on the dramatic and adventurous "R2R2R.alt" in the Grand Canyon. "It's really aesthetic, because the Bass is the only trail other than the Kaibab that goes completely from one Rim to the other, with the only catch being, there is no bridge across the River..." Jim describes their preparation, the size and scope of the Grand Canyon, a scouting trip (“we just stood and looked at the River for 30 minutes”), and finally, what it's like to swim across the Colorado River: "I just took off and swam across … my idea was I wanted to set the tone … we're here to do it, we're not here to chicken out."

In 2014 Justin Simoni, the “Long Ranger”, bicycled to all 58 of Colorado’s 14,000’ summits, climbed them, then biked to the next in 34+ days. In 2017 he upped the standard and in 60 straight days did the “Highest Hundred” (summits in CO) in the same self-powered, self-supported style. And his background is an artist, not an athlete. “I look back and wonder, 'Did I really do these things?'" Listen to Justin’s thoughtful discussion on “When is it too much?”, and how to determine “Where to draw the line?”. “Something is always going to go wrong. So just anticipate that as being part of the challenge. This just isn’t a physical challenge. Who’s going to stop you? Just your mind.” And lastly, what’s the difference between an FKT, an “OKT”, and Justin’s speciality, the “WTF”?

Our first-ever live recording! The Trail Running Film Festival was on a nationwide tour when it stopped in Boulder (check to see if it's playing near you), and we recorded questions and comments directly from the audience. Q:  There are 3 styles of FKTs: Supported, Self-Supported, and Unsupported … which one is better? Q: What’s the funnest thing the two of you have done together? Q: What do you guys think about Kilian, and his claim on Everest? Listen to these questions answered on this podcast, along with strategic advice from Peter on setting a new FKT: “If you can’t be fast, be first”.

Nobody can do the big thru-hikes like Heather Anderson - she once held the Self-Supported Overall (not Female) FKT’s for the PCT, AT, and Arizona Trail - simultaneously.  On November 8 she became the 5th person and 1st woman to do the Calendar Triple Crown - the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trails in the same year - and the first Female to do the Triple Triple Crown - all three big trails, three times. "My mom still remembers the day, 15 years ago, when I ran down the stairs yelling, 'I’m going to do this!'" On March 1, 2018, her first book, "Thirst, 2600 miles to home" will be published, and is available for download now. Her TED Talk from 2015 is very good. Heather articulates how she approached this hike differently: "My goal was basically to do these trails exactly how I wanted to do them at any given point in time.  It was good, it was refreshing ... I wanted this to unfold; an area of growth for me.  You can't ever go wrong on a long journey; you're always going to come out the other side, with new insights."