Fastest Known Podcast

In this episode of the FKT Podcast, host Heather Anderson sits down with trail runner Suzanne "Sunny" Stroeer to dive into her remarkable achievement of setting the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim alt route. Sunny shares her journey, detailing the physical and mental challenges she faced along the way, and the strategies she employed to conquer one of America's most iconic trails which included swimming across the Colorado River.

This week we’re traveling to the thin air and high alpine peaks of Colorado for a very special episode of the FKT Podcast. Last summer, not one, not two, but four FKTs went down on the Colorado Trail within weeks of each other.

This week we’re thrilled to be joined by our two FKT athletes of 2023: Jenny Hoffman and Karel Sabbe. From not one but three Pacific Crest Trail records, to new FKTs on classics like Nolan’s 14 and the Paddy Buckley Round, to new mountaineering benchmarks on Denali and Mont Blanc, 2023 was one for the history books.

Ah Iceland, that magical polar island covered in glaciers, hot springs, lava fields, and…mosquitos. Christof Teuscher learned that the hard way this August when he traversed the island north to south on foot, without any aid, covering the 375-mile route in eight days, 11 hours, and four minutes.

The Pacific Crest Trail was on fire this year, and not in the usual way. Records fell left and right on this iconic 2,592.6-mile long trail. And etching her name on the illustrious FKT holder list is Jessica Pekari, who set the women’s south-bound supported record in 63 days, seven hours, and 31 minutes.

Jenny Hoffman has dreamed about crossing the United States since she was a child. The goal loomed over her life as she earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Harvard University in 1999, a Ph.D.

For some FKTs, the beauty lies in the solitary nature of human and landscape. Other FKTs derive meaning from the collective effort needed for safe and successful passage.

On August 26, Karel Sabbe reached the U.S.-Canadian border, officially smashing the supported record on the Pacific Crest Trail.

In 2019, Nick Fowler started touring national parks. He tricked himself into going on a 32-mile hike—his longest by far—when he wanted to touch a glacier with his hand in Glacier National Park.

America’s oldest long trail has been a hotbed for FKT action this summer, and record setters John Kelly and Will Peterson are here to dish all about it. On July 3, 2023, John Kelly established a new supported mark on the trail that traces the 249-mile length of Vermont. Just 24 days later, Will “Sisyphus” Peterson smashed the unsupported FKT.