FKT Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Darcy Piceu and Gina Lucrezi on Elevating Women’s Participation in Ultrarunning- #208 Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

The 2023 Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run starts today. While three-time winner Darcy Piceu attempts her 10th loop around the San Juans, what better time than to listen to her and Trail Sisters founder and Hardrock board member Gina Lucrezi talk about the gender issues this sport faces.

Thanks to the work of these two and other rockstars in the sport, this is the second running of this iconic 100-mile event in which the percentage of women’s entrants will be no less than the percentage of women’s lottery applicants.

Hardrock instituted this policy to combat the lottery’s gender bias, which favors veteran runners. Given the low percentage of women participants in those early days, this means the old lottery system favored male applicants.

So sit back and join us as we revisit episode 36 (originally published May 31, 2019) where Darcy and Gina spoke about the challenges and opportunities to make the sport of ultrarunning more inclusive and equitable for women.

Thank you so much, Merrell, for supporting the show and fastestknowntime.com! If you’re looking for a new shoe in which to test yourself on the trails, check out the MTL Skyfire 2, the ultra-lightweight, award-winning trail shoe from our friends at Merrell Test Lab. See what all the buzz is about at www.merrell.com.

Original Show Notes

Darcy Piceu and Gina Lucrezi share thoughts on this important topic.

"We're in a real interesting time right now. If I do nothing else in the sport, it would be to raise awareness."

This is a different conversation for Fastest Known Time, and quite worthwhile.

Trail Sisters has established 5 recommended practices for races:

Equal podium spots
Equal prize money and awards
Women's-specific swag (not just unisex)
Menstrual products at aid stations (events over a Half Marathon)
Opportunity for Women at the front of the Starting Line

Citations from topics discussed in this episode

Jack Kuenzle Dishes on Denali, Take 2- #207 Jul 01, 2023

Show notes

Let's try this again. Buckle up, fan favorite and FKT legend Jack Kuenzle returns to the pod to bring you behind the scenes on his recent Denali FKT. Kuenzle went on a skiing record tear this year, taking down FKTs on the volcanic 14ers Mount Shasta and Mount Rainier in America’s lower 48 before making the trek out to Alaska. And he’s here to dish about it all in his characteristically humorous fashion.

On June 5, 2023, Kuenzle skied up and down 20,310-foot Denali in 10 hours, 14 minutes, and 57 seconds, shaving 90 minutes off of Karl Egloff’s overall record from 2019, and 94 minutes off of Kilian Jornet’s ski record from 2014.

While the progression looks nearly inevitable on paper, Kuenzle dedicated his life this year to giving his best effort on North America’s highest peak. He refused to sleep under 10,000 feet of elevation, sleeping in his truck on frigid mountain passes in California and Colorado all winter and spring. He skied laps in the trees to avoid California’s dangerous snowpack, and put in monster workouts on the Stairmaster in the gym.

Things didn’t get any easier once Kuenzle touched down in Alaska. Tune into this episode of the FKT Podcast to find out what happened to Kuenzle’s partner Zach McCarthy (don’t worry, he’s fine!), and how the most epic portion of the expedition arguably occurred after Kuenzle set the record. (And of course, he gives the blow-by-blow of the actual record, too.)

Read all about Kuenzle’s Denali FKT (as well as his 22 other FKTs) on fastestknowntime.com. After setting the record on Denali, Kuenzle also worked hard to clean up the Denali page on the site, it is worth checking out. Follow along with Kuenzle’s adventures on Instagram. And if you missed our first two interviews with Kuenzle, you’re going to want to go back to episodes 165 and 193.

Aubri Drake on Beast Coast FKTs, Breaking Binaries and Boundaries, and Transferring Thru-Hiking Skills to Ultrarunning -#206 Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

Fresh off their Presidential Picnic FKT, highly accomplished hiker, backpacker, and ultra runner Aubri Drake joins the FKT podcast today. While Aubri, who uses they/them pronouns, says they’re not the fastest athlete, they’re certainly one of the toughest. Aubri has 20 FKTs to their name—none over easy terrain.

Hailing from the east coast, Aubri gravitates towards grueling routes in the Whites and various mountain ranges in New York. As part of their ongoing New Hampshire 48 Grid project, they recently set the non-binary FKT on the Presidential Picnic—in which one completes the Presi Traverse and then bikes back to the start—on a cloudy, snowy day in April.

The Grid requires you to hike all 48 4,000-foot plus peaks in the Whites, every month of the year. Their progress with that project along with completing projects like hiking the Northeast 110 4,000 footers in both winter and summer means Aubri is chock full of problem-solving strategies—many of which they share today.

Tune in to learn about what inspires Aubri to tackle certain routes in certain styles. Aubri, who identifies as queer and non-binary, also shares wisdom about the power of representation and putting yourself out there.

“I try not to let perfect be the enemy of good sometimes,” Aubri says on the podcast. “I've been inspired by Women Who FKT and the projects that they've been putting together to support and encourage women and non-binary people to get out there and go after FKTs just to get something on the board. And that's often what I'm doing. I know I can complete it. It's just a matter of how much time is it going to take me.”

Follow along with Aubri’s adventures on Instagram and their incredible blog Transcending Mountains. And check out their two dozen FKTs on fastestknowntime.com.

If you’re looking for a new shoe in which to test yourself on the trails, check out the MTL Skyfire 2, the ultra-lightweight, award-winning trail shoe from our friends at Merrell Test Lab. Thank you so much, Merrell, for supporting the show and fastestknowntime.com! See what all the buzz is about at www.merrell.com.

Mike Wardian on Running Across Panama, the US, and Beyond - #205 Jun 02, 2023

Show notes

Running legend Mike Wardian joins the FKT Podcast to give the inside scoop on his recent FKT across Panama—and much more. Clocking in at nine hours even, Wardian’s record across Panama doubles as the fastest run across any continent! From getting chased by dogs to running neck-in-neck with buses, Wardian chronicles the glory and the gory of traversing this route highly trafficked…by vehicles.

As evidenced by his Run Across Panama FKT, Wardian does not shy away from a physically, mentally, and logistically grueling challenge. Last summer, he ran across the US in just 62 days. He relives highlights from that trip on the podcast, including his celebratory 5K which he completed in just 18:42 the day after completing the 3,234-mile route. Wardian’s efforts raised over $100,000 for World Vision, a non-profit that helps families gain access to clean drinking water.

An accomplished road and ultra runner who’s won marathons on all seven continents and numerous US championships, Wardian also has 25 FKTs to his name. In this episode, he shares what draws him to FKT culture and certain routes around the world. Wardian’s stories are as epic as his accomplishments; this episode is not to be missed!

Follow along with Wardian’s adventures on Instagram at @mikewardian and on his website www.mikewardian.com. Check out his numerous FKTs at www.fastestknowntime.com. And if you’re looking for a new shoe in which to test yourself on the trails, check out the MTL Skyfire 2, the ultra-lightweight, award-winning trail shoe from our friends at Merrell Test Lab. Thank you so much, Merrell, for supporting the show and fastestknowntime.com! See what all the buzz is about at www.merrell.com.

Doug McKeever: A Living Legend Recounts Four Decades of Trail Running -#204 May 19, 2023

Show notes

Living “wilderness running” legend Doug McKeever joins the podcast this week to reflect on his nearly four decades in the sport. A geology professor and mountain guide in addition to a storied ultrarunner, McKeever’s tackled nearly every iconic 100-mile race in the world and recorded three FKTs in the ‘80s and ‘90s, including a speed record on Washington’s Glacier Peak.

But he’s best known for serving as a groundbreaking persona and immutable fixture in the Washington trail running scene. He co-founded the iconic Chuckanut 50K race in 1993 as a way to share some of his favorite local training trails with friends. And after a decade away from the sport, he made a comeback to racing in 2017 when he realized he had more to give.

Find out what happened when he ran an ultra off of no training, and soak up some of his wisdom and reflections about the sport we all love so much this week on the FKT Podcast. And check out fastestknowntime.com to get McKeever’s “speed record” reports from 30-plus years ago.

And a huge thank you to Merrell Test Lab for supporting the show and the site. Check out the MTL Skyfire 2—Merrell’s newest, lightest, and fastest trail running shoe—over at merrelltestlab.com.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Travis Soares and Nathan Longhurst on Completing the SPS in a Single Year -#203 Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

Washington has the Bulgers. Colorado has the Centennials. California has the Sierra Peaks Section List—and it has a new FKT. Established in 1955, the Sierra Peaks Section List may not have the snazziest name but it may be one of the oldest, largest, and most compelling peak bagging objectives in the lower-48.

Spanning 247 mountains across California and Nevada, the SPS is not for the faint of heart. It requires the motivation needed to speed-hike a long trail combined with deep backcountry and rock climbing skills. No one had completed the SPS in a calendar year, until July 9, 2022, when Nathan Longhurst tagged his last peak on the 139th day. A month later, his friend and adventure partner Travis Soares shaved 21 days off his record.

While Soares technically holds the record now, the two worked together to achieve this monumental feat.

“I do have the fastest time, but this would not have been completed without Nathan and I totally consider it our journey and our effort,” Soares says. “We weren't really racing, like pushing each other down, trying to get to the top of the stuff first. It was just a magnificent journey the two of us embarked on. And I’m grateful to be able to share it with this guy.”

Soares and Longhurst say their styles in the mountains lifted each other up. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t encounter many challenges along the way. Both Soares and Longhurst joined host Heather Anderson on the FKT Podcast to dish out exactly how they succeeded, and all the juicy details of what happened along the way. Tune in to get the story. Get their full trip reports on fastestknowntime.com, and follow along with Longhurst’s and Soares’ adventures on Instagram.

Alyssa Godesky on Setting the NH 4,000 Footers Overall Supported FKT - #202 Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

One hundred and ninety-eight episodes later, Alyssa Godesky returns to discuss her most recent mind-bending beat: setting the overall supported FKT on the New Hampshire 4,000 Footers.

That sneaky northern New England state boasts 48 peaks above 4,000 feet, and speed trips for tagging them all in one push go back to at least the 1970s. With the Adirondack 46 and the Long Trail supported FKTs under her belt, Godesky realized the NH 48 was the last big northern east coast challenge left for her to tackle.

Three days, eight hours, and 56 minutes of driving and running around the Whites later, Godesky met her goal. And she smashed the women’s and men’s records in the process.

Godesky attributes her success to playing to her strengths. And for these big, logistically and geographically complicated projects, you’re strengths have to extend well beyond foot speed.

“I really like maps,” Godesky explains. “I look at a lot of the maps. So when I'm starting to dive into a project like this, I get all the maps that I can and start laying them out and just start to make a lot of options. I have at any time a million different routes for the same peaks going on Gaia [GPS]...I'm kind of just always throwing spaghetti at the wall for lack of like a better way to say it, and just kind of brainstorming different routes, and then I will go out and try different ones when I'm scouting certain things.”

Tune into the episode to get a behind-the-scenes look into the strategizing Godesky and her team put into this attempt. Learn about the differences between Adirondack and White Mountain trail culture, including which set of mountains requires an earlier start to get a parking spot. Hear about the worst thing to go wrong during those four days on the trail. And find out Godesky’s dream event that really inspired her to go after this FKT.

Follow along with Godesky’s exploits on Instagram, and check out her FKT report on fastestknowntime.com.

Thru-Hiking Your Way to FKT Fitness with Cal Swartzentruber -#201 Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

What’s it like to set an FKT on the heels of a six month thru-hike? Cal Swartzentruber joins the FKT Podcast to dish it out.

Fresh off completing the Pacific Crest Trail—Cal’s first of thru-hike of a Triple Crown trail—Cal returned to his local trails of the south last October.

That thru-hiking fitness paid off. Completing the Sheltowee Trace in an unsupported style, Cal broke not only the unsupported record, but also the supported record (by 32 minutes!) on the 319-mile trail.

Climbing between deep hemlock gorges and piney, craggy summits, the Sheltowee Trace is National Recreation Trail spanning the Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee. The name “Sheltowee” refers to Daniel Boone, who was captured by Shawnee Indians while making salt in an area close to the present-day trail. Chief Blackfish, his adopted Shawnee father, renamed him Sheltowee, which means “Big Turtle.”

Cal, who considers himself more of a hiker than a runner, is a testament to the fact that you can succeed at FKTs from all types of backgrounds. He wisely chose both a trail he’s familiar with, having thru-hiked it in 2019, and terrain he’s called him for his whole life.

Tune into Cal’s conversation with host Heather Anderson to learn how Cal channeled his fitness from the PCT into this seven-day FKT. Learn about the challenges of hiking on the east coast during the fall, how Cal contended with an unusual animal obstacle on the trail, and the evolving nature of the Sheltowee Trace and what that could mean for future FKT attempts.

Keep up with Cal on Instagram, and read his full trip report on fastestknowntime.com.

Finlay Wild on the Wild World of UK FKTs -#200 Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

For our 200th (!) episode, we’re jumping across the pond to catch up with Finlay Wild, Scottish resident and recent Paddy Buckley record-setter. A doctor with a passion for painting, Finlay shares his vast insight and skill on all things fell running, UK rounds, and the UK at large.

With nine FKTs to his name, Finlay’s most iconic feats include the Cuillin Ridge Traverse on the Isle of Sky, the Tranter variant of the Ramsay Round, and his most recent feat: setting the unsupported record on the Paddy Buckley, Wale’s premiere round.

After completing the other two rounds in the “Big Three,” Finlay chose to finish with a fast attempt on the Buckely—the longest and perhaps gnarliest of them all. He clocked the 47 summits, 100 plus kilometers, and 28,000 feet of elevation gain in 15 hours, 14 minutes and 45 seconds to record-setting fanfare. While Finlay completed his attempt in an unsupported style, carrying all his nutrition and gear on his back and only collecting water from streams along the way, he also smashed the supported record by over an hour.

Unlike many (if not most) other FKT routes, the Buckley—whose route is a true circle—lets you choose your start point. Tune in to the FKT Podcast to learn why Finlay started at a nondescript bus stop in Llanberis. You’ll also get the inside scoop on just how grassy, rolling, boggy, and pathless much of this round can be, along with some of the storied history behind the iconic route.

Get to know Finlay beyond his running, including how a setback led to him finding a passion for art. And learn how Finlay captures the soul of UK landscapes in his paintings.

Read up on all of Finlay’s FKTs on fastestknowntime.com, and check out his artwork and blog on his website gomountaingoats.com.

Fastest Known Tiger Jeff Garmire Strikes Again -#199 Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

Jeff Garmire dreamed about going after the unsupported John Muir Trail FKT for three years. In fact, he got three permits for the trail just this summer. Each time, self doubt led him to cancel the next day.

But then Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy shaved three hours off of four-year-old record in the beginning of August.

“[Stringbean] setting the record was really the push I needed to go give it a shot,” Garmire says. “[The record] just seemed untouchable since it hadn't been broken since 2018. And Joe breaking it was like, all right, I'll just go out there and give it my best shot. And so [Stringbean breaking the record] just made it feel more attainable even he made the time more difficult to attack.”

Armed with his newfound confidence, Garmire set out from Yosemite Valley three weeks after Stringbean. And three days and 223 miles later he proved himself right—with a whopping 13 minutes to spare.

Both Garmire and Stringbean traveled southbound along the JMT, also called the Nüümü Poyo, or “the People’s trail” in homage to a centuries-old Indigenous trade route through the Sierra. Ending with summiting 14,505 feet tall Mount Whitney, traveling north to south is generally considered the “harder” direction. Yet both Garmire and Stringbean broke not only the southbound record but the overall record as well. They didn’t pick the “harder” as part of their speed strategy.

Tune into the FKT Podcast to find out why, along with the rest of Garmire’s insight into his award-winning outing. Get the full story on all the things that went wrong, including why he only ate about half of his food. And last but not least, get the answer the one question host Heather Anderson–and us all–are dying for him to answer.

Read Garmire’s full JMT report—along with those for his 18 other FKTs—on fastestknowntime.com. And follow along with his adventures on Instagram.

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