As a time trial to see where my fitness was at, I set out to retake the FKT on the Heart Attack Loop this past week. It was a good effort in which I ran 5.5 minutes faster than 4 years ago and was able to reset the FKT--on the correct course I will note. This was only the second time I've been here (the first being my 2021 FKT) and you do have to follow the GPX track carefully as the trail signage is lacking and the trail is not always the most obvious path. This year I missed the same two turns as Gordon at mile 3.6 (that cost me 1'10" to double back to where I got off the trail) and then at mile 8.4 that cost me another 1'00". Between getting slightly lost at those two intersections and another 35" rest stop, I otherwise would have been safely under 2:20:00. As it was, though, I ran much closer to the existing FKT that I would have liked. The loop was definitely harder and the trail much more rocky and rutted than I remember and by the top of Heart Attack Canyon, I thought I had lost the FKT, but I was able to make up ~6 minutes in the last 5 miles to beat the time by only 5 seconds.
My run was unsupported and I carried 3 x 500 mL flasks bottles in my vest along with 780 calories.
My Garmin Fenix 7S Pro recorded 12.70 miles with 3167 ft of elevation gain (Strava says 3001 ft) at an average elevation of ~8600 ft.
Allow me to make a few comments on the prior FKT holder's attempt. First, I always thought it was strange that when Gordon realized he was off course, that he didn't turn around and go back to the point where he left the course--instead deciding to take the shortest way back to the course before continuing forward instead of back to where he departed the course. He acknowledged this for the second violation in his report but it appears he was unaware of the first violation coming down Alamo Peak Trail where it splits with the doubletrack road--which I can understand as it's not obvious and if my watch hadn't vibrated to tell me I was off course, I might not have stopped and turned around either. Second, I found it even stranger that he submitted his run to fastestknowntime.com--and that it was approved by the editor--even though a different route. Although he did go ~1/3 - 1/2 mile farther, it was on a relatively flat and smooth forest road that follows the contour around the mountain, whereas the much more technical, single-track on the correct route goes straight up and over. Gordon's route on the road was ~400 ft less of elevation gain than the correct route. So while it was longer, it was also flatter--and the road runs much faster than the cookie and babyhead covered trail. This make it impossible to compare the times. So, in light of the recent Michelino Sunseri FKT controversy/charges for cutting switchbacks on Grand Teton and the Ferdinand Airault disqualification at the 2025 Black Canyon 100k for inadvertently missing a turn and not going back (like Gordon), I think the editors at fastestknowntime.com should carefully consider what to do in such cases, put it in the guidelines, and enforce the policy. Finally, I do want to acknowledge that I have fully confidence that Gordon (and many other people) can beat my current time, but I believe he should do so on the same route. If he does get off-course again--which is easy to do--he should retrace his steps back to the where the deviation occurred--as I did.