Frequently Asked Questions

Szu-ting Yi looking over maps in the Winds

Is there an FKT or Route for ... ?

Please search the website - if an FKT or Route is not listed then we don't know either!

How do I calculate the time for my FKT attempt?

The time includes total time from start to finish of the prescribed route, including all non-moving time ("Elapsed" NOT "Moving" time).

Are road routes considered for FKTs?

Yes; road, trail, and off-trail all are possible.

What makes a route worthy of inclusion?

The route has interest & integrity, be it aesthetic, historical, or otherwise - other people will understand it and be attracted to repeating it.

What about other activities like cycling, skiing, climbing, or swimming?

We love these activities, too, but we're currently focusing our efforts only on running and hiking. More on the FKT Guidelines page.

I don’t want to post my live tracker feed publicly during my attempt. Can I share it privately with the FKT team?

Yes; just say so and send us the tracker link using the contact form or when submitting a new route.

We recommend having someone download the data from SPOT for archival/verification before it's deleted; SPOT only keeps the data on their site for a very limited period of time.

Can I turn my tracker / PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) off overnight?

Yes. Save those batteries!

Is "muling" allowed in Supported attempts?

Yes. Supported basically means "anything goes" as long as you cover the ground under your own power.  You can have as many pacers as you want, and they can carry whatever you want them to, but they can't carry, push or drag YOU.

Except the tracker. It's good form to carry the tracker on your person, rather than having a pacer carry it. Not to mention it’s safer, in case the pacer gets lost or forgets to give you back your tracker. But if you're 100% sure they're going to run by your side the entire time, it's not an issue.

More about support and "style" on the FKT Guidelines page.

Does drinking water from an unnatural source (like a visitor center) still count as unsupported?

Water from public spigots at public campgrounds and similar count as Unsupported; water from any commercial source, even a free tap at a gas station, does not.

Can a two or more people go Unsupported?

Yes; "support" means from an external source; sharing gear and supporting each team member is internal and is not support.

Important to remember is if any team member drops out, that means they paced the remaining team, which means the effort will automatically be classified as Supported.

What about age groups for FKTs?

Currently there are no age groups for FKTs. We have Male, Female, Non-Binary, and Mixed-Gender Teams, plus 3 styles of support, and sometimes Route Variations, so it gets complex quickly.

We feel your pain, but while we may not be as fit as we once were, maturity, experience, and creativity is valuable in finding and accomplishing FKTs.

I got the second fastest time. Should I submit it?

Great job! However, this will not be listed in the FKTs for the Route. The FKT listings on routes show only the progress of the Fastest Known Times. This is different from how Strava’s leaderboards work, for example.

Please do leave a Comment on the Route page regarding your attempt, though. We are very interested to know about and celebrate strong unsuccessful FKT attempts and honorable mentions.  Plus, we may all learn from your "failure"!