On September 27th, 2023, I participated in Merrell’s Get FKT event. Which meant that there were three men and three women vying for FKTs, and so they set it up where we would stagger start. They drew names from a bowl and I, unfortunately, ended up being last. So I had no control on the time of day in which I began this effort, nor over who ran before me, etc. We also had very specific start and ending places, but would not see or hear from anyone else while on the course, so as to respect the unsupported effort.
I started my watch at 11:55 am at the marked starting area, by a metal handrail at the base of the mountain near the main Gondola. I followed the Thunderhead Trail the entire way to the top and stopped my watch at a designated pole adjacent to the lodge. My watch read 48:41, and it didn’t show milliseconds. I ended up in a tie with Mercedes, whose elapsed time was also 48:41. So I was encouraged to also submit my time here.
Given the circumstances of this event, being that it wasn’t as controlled on my end for an FKT attempt (like choosing my own start time), I acknowledge how the results might be handled a little differently as well. Is it possible to share the FKT with Mercedes? Or will we have to split hairs and find the milliseconds in the data? Haha
Either way, the aspens were yellow and the day was gorgeous albeit very HOT for an intense effort. I was so grateful for the shade among the trees and the subtle wind up higher. I carried a handheld water flask and ate multiple salt tabs. I’m also certainly grateful for Merrell bringing us all out here, too, for such a unique event. I didn’t take any photos during the run, but have one of my watch at the top. For some reason the photo uploader isn’t taking it, but happy to send it if needed another way.
Editor's note: This effort was part of a Merrell event, whereby athletes time-trialed this FKT route. Since the difference in time (i.e. milliseconds) between two of these efforts was within the error of hand-timing, these athletes are considered to have tied. And, since the starting time of the effort was not up to the individual athlete (Merrell had the athletes draw for start times), it is not our position to favor the time of the first athlete who completed the route over that of the second athlete. Both athletes used the same start and end points, and both used designated trails to complete the route, as per the guidelines in the route description.The order of the athletes on the record page does not reflect who as the "true" FKT.