Fastest Known Podcast

Listen to me horribly mispronounce Bart's name, his kind correction, and then Bart explain the situation in Belgium:

"Starting today, we have entered the 'Exit Strategy' in Belgium - groups of 20 can go for a run - but no competitions until at least 7/31."

Western Europe has a VERY organized trail running scene - routes not only have their own webpages, but are all are clearly marked and identified.  Bart explains the difference between "GR" routes, and the new "Extra Trail" designation.

One of the best mountain runners in the world started as a Jiu Jitsu champion in Brazil.  Visiting New Zealand in 2006, she got involved with Kiwi adventure multi-sports, then ran a Half-Marathon in the mountains - in the exact same time as her previous best, set on a flat paved course.

"My family were fighters. Then I discovered mountains."

There was something wrong with our statistics: during April, there were 31 FKTs ... just from Connecticut! What's up with that? Turns out 7 were from ONE person?  Did Sarah Connor call the Terminator for help?

"There are a lot of people out there doing more impressive things right now; I'm just doing a lot of smallish ones. It's been fun!"

This is inspirational: you can be 100m runner and long jumper in high school, work at Starbucks in the morning, and set an FKT in the afternoon.  After your nap.  During a pandemic. 

Marshall has been there, and been doing that for decades. His output, especially for the hugely long routes, is prodigious (think running across the US).  

"What I was doing was kicking back and having fun.  Showing people you can do more".

Karl was a mountain bike racer and working as a mountain guide on Kilimanjaro when his friends, noticing he was very fit, suggested he go for Kilian Jornet's FKT.  He asked,

"Who is that?  What is an FKT?"

Karl went up and back very fast - while wearing a bike jersey - and a new career was launched. That winter he prepared for Aconcagua, and heard Kilian was going also, who then set a new FKT.  When Karl heard the time, he thought,

Tyler ran the Olympic Trials Marathon, then went to Nepal to hike and relax. Then the global pandemic broke out. So he decided he might as well try the FKT for the Everest Base Camp run.

"I was over there, all races were being cancelled back home, so decided I might as well do something."

The fast road guy who had never run longer than 6 hours decides to run up to 17,598' and back.

Amanda and Justin were in Kauai to run the Kalalau Trail and thought to check it out. Ill prepared for the humidity, Amanda nonetheless decided to go for the FKT, and succeeded. Justin accompanied her going out (so she is listed as Supported) but then then fell apart from the heat.

"We were all wondering, 'where's Justin'? He was two hours late getting back."

Three days later he felt better, going an hour faster than Amanda and establishing the Male FKT.

Ryan has been actively racing since 2006 - winning and doing well in 26 Ultra's - then announced for 2020 he will focus exclusively on FKTs:

"I like racing, a lot. But this fall I asked myself what I really care to do the most. And that was easy. I love running in the wilderness. Alone in the biggest, best, and most wild mountains."

The Stoke Factor goes up a notch with Rea Kolbl and Trever Townsend in the room (or on the trail):

“We just like to sign up for things we have no idea how to do, then figure it out!”

Rea Kolbl was a competitive gymnast in her native Slovenia, then while earning a Masters Degree in Engineering at Stanford University, realized she could make more money Obstacle Course Racing than indoors teaching Grad students, so she walked out the door and hasn’t looked back. 

The Longs Peak FKT stood for 33 years!  The Grand Teton FKT for 29 years ... then Andy broke them both in the span of two weeks!

"I'm a mediocre runner and a mediocre climber ... but not many people do both."

Andy was Climbing Ranger at the Longs Peak Ranger Station (as was Chris Reveley, the previous FKT holder) so he has extremely valuable thoughts and advice for all of us:

"I've backed off more routes than I can remember ... everything has to be perfect."