FKT Podcast

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Paulina Zack: Te Araroa Trail - #278 Feb 13, 2026

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This week we’re heading all the way south to New Zealand's famous Te Araroa Trail where Paulina Zack set a new women’s self-supported time of 54 days 9 hours and 48 minutes—earning her 3rd place in our 2025 FKT of the Year countdown. Drop in and join host Heather Anderson in learning all about Paulina’s experiences with navigation, biting spiders, solitude, and joy on her journey across the island nation while setting her first FKT.

David Hedges: Reclaiming Nolan's 14 FKT -#277 Jan 30, 2026

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Tune in to this week’s episode as we travel to Colorado and one of our Premier Routes. Host Heather Anderson talks with David Hedges about his impressive Nolan’s 14 supported FKT, which placed 5th in our 2025 FKT of the Year rankings. David talks about what set this FKT apart from his previous Nolan's 14 FKT in 2023 as well as whether he’d try again in the future. Drop in and hear about his struggles with hypothermia conditions, ice, snow, and wind while still shaving 4 hours off his previous time.

Lucy Gossage: South West Coast Path -#276 Jan 16, 2026

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In this week’s episode, join host Heather Anderson as she chats with our women’s fifth place FKT of 2025, Lucy Gossage. Lucy set a stout new self-supported time on the U.K.’s 630-mile South West Coast Path by completing it in 11 days and 9 hours. Tune in to hear how she handled the challenging logistics of a route that has over a dozen ferries to catch, nightly hotel reservations to make, and tides to time correctly while tackling 40,000 meters of elevation gain in often rainy and sometimes windy conditions.

2025 FKT of the Year: Tara Dower & Jeff Garmire -#275 Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

This year was a highly competitive year with stout efforts on trails across the world. For the first time, the majority of our top five were on routes outside the United States. For the second year in a row, Tara Dower has claimed our first place title for her Long Trail FKT in Vermont where she set the overall supported time. Our men’s winner is Jeff Garmire for his incredible Appalachian Trail self-supported FKT. Tune in to this week's episode to hear Tara and Jeff discuss their recovery, goals, and the sport with host Heather Anderson.

Xander Keiter and Maia Buckingham: Hundred Mile Wilderness FKTs -#274 Dec 19, 2025

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Today we’re traveling to remote Maine where the classic Hundred Mile Wilderness route stretches from Monson to Abol Bridge. Host Heather Anderson chats with Maia Buckingham and Xander Keiter who each set supported times on this route. Maia’s time was 1d 5hr 33 m and Xander broke the 24 hour barrier coming in at 23 hours 9 min. Tune in to hear how they handled the logistics of crew access on remote logging roads, what led them to return to this particular trail, and the highs and lows of their experience.

Ashlie Itherburn: Pinhoti Trail FKT -#273 Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Extending from Blue Ridge, Georgia, to near Sylacauga, Alabama, the 335-mile Pinhoti Trail is a popular route through the southernmost portion of the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States.

This week’s episode, hosted by Heather Anderson, delves into Ashlie Itherburn’s recent overall supported FKT on the route. Ashlie shares her highs and lows, which were often linked, as she raced storms, dealt with aggressive dogs, and got turned around in the Duggar Wilderness.

Tune in to hear more about her incredible FKT debut completing the trail in 5 days, 6 hours, and 39 minutes.

Michael Brower: Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail -#272 Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

In this week’s episode host Heather Anderson is joined by Michael Brower to talk about his experience setting the overall FKT for Michigan’s 220-mile-long Shore-to-Shore Trail. Michael details his experiences with ticks and sand and how he handled encountering unexpected restrictions around an active military base, as well as a scary cabin in the woods at night. Tune in to learn more about this lesser-known route.

Jeff Colt: Taking on the Northeast's Hardest 50K -#271 Nov 07, 2025

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In this week’s episode we’re traveling to the rugged Mahoosic mountains of southern Maine, home of the hardest mile on the AT. Host Heather Anderson talks with Jeff Colt who recently set the overall unsupported time on the Northeast’s “Hardest 50K” completing the route in 6 hours, 40 minutes, and 53 seconds—taking an hour off of the previous men’s time.

Tune in to hear how his background as an AMC “Hut Kid” and his connection to the history of this route inspired him to take it on.

Brittany Haver and Carrie Henderson: Tonto Trail FKTs -#270 Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

In this week’s episode, host Heather Anderson talks with Brittany Haver and Carrie Henderson, who each set FKTs on Arizona’s rugged Tonto Trail. Carrie established the initial supported female time in 1 day, 9 hours, 20 minutes, while Brittany logged the first female unsupported time in 1 day, 9 hours, and 58 minutes. Tune in to journey along this lesser-done trail in the Grand Canyon and hear about the unique challenges this desert route presents, including why finding water in the notoriously rugged Gems segment is so crucial to success.

Long Trail Roundup with Tara Dower and Tori Constantine -#269 Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

The 272-mile Long Trail is one of our premier routes for good reason. With an impressive history of competitive FKTs, this trail has once again seen stout records fall.

Tune in to join host Heather Anderson as she talks all things LT with Tara Dower, who set the overall and women’s supported time in 3 days, 18 hours, and 30 minutes, and Tori Constantine who took down the women’s unsupported time in 5 days, 19 hours, and 29 minutes.

They share their stories of sleep deprivation and accompanying hallucinations, their hard-earned lessons, as well as what they’d do differently.

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