Joe Gray is a RACER. The guy is a multi-time mountain running champion representing the United States at classic skyraces, VK's and other shorter distance, technical events. So what's an FKT have to do with it?

Endurance is the ultimate human commonality. JPD set out on an investigative journey to find the traits uniting her fellow previous Appalachian Trail record setters -- only to circle back to this simple conclusion -- in her new book The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience.

While you've been living your life and enjoying the onset of summer over the past 3+ weeks, ultrarunner Harvey Lewis has been wailing away on the Appalachian Trail, chasing Joe "Stringbean" McConaughy's remarkable FKT (45d12h15m) from last year.

Fun video of the origins and directions of the FKT movement by Wild Confluence, Directed by Colin Arisman.