Coming to you every Friday: interviews with FKT-setters and other athletes in the world of Fastest Known Times.
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Going lightweight saves a ton of energy, but how best to do that?
"People pack for their fears"
Andrew Skurka was a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and created monster routes, such as the Great Western Loop and Alaska-Yukon Expedition. He now runs a guiding business (when not racing Marathons), with 29 trips this year alone.
Alan Dixon is an engineer and adventurer who helped co-found Backpacking Light, and will be a guide on three Andrew Skurka Adventures this year.
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."
A resident of Keene, NY, Ryan is one of the guys trading fast times on the Presi and Adirondack Traverses. They get after it, yet it's all one big friendly community.
"The previous record-holder came out and helped, making sure I knew the best ways to go."
His next project? 500 miles on fat bikes, unsupported, in winter, across Manitoba, on the "worlds longest winter road", the Wapusk Trail (Wapusk is Cree for "Polar Bear").
"Our bikes with gear weigh 100 lbs. Last year we carried a shotgun."
Brett came seemingly out of nowhere in 2009 when he set the coveted FKT on the John Muir Trail, going Unsupported 7 hrs faster than the Supported time.
"I think it took Barkley to convince some of the holdouts."
The Te Araroa is amazing: from the northern to southern tip of New Zealand, across the entire island (2 actually) nation! Lucy set the Female FKT, followed by George a mere 4 days later with the Male FKT, completely by coincidence. Lucy's tip for hiking 66 straight days?
"Go shove a heap of food in your face, then go again."
The four FKT principals discuss what specific gear really helped us all move faster, easier, and safer in the mountains and trails. Our thoughts might surprise you, and hopefully they will also help you.
"This product straddles being the best and being the worst!"
We also discuss what did not work, and really interesting, what is coming next?
“20 years from now, when movies are made to have taken place in the 2010’s, they will show everyone walking around staring at their phones!”
We talk with the #2 and #1 Fastest Known Time of the Year winners! They tell their own stories, which are amazing listening.
"I consider myself a relatively normal person without any particularly special skills. I simply had an idea and dedicated myself to training to make it happen."
(Find out what this person did - her definition of "normal" is very "relative"!)
From very long trails in the desert to the highest mountain on the continent, the stories are great:
The #5, #4, and #3 FKTOY for ladies and gents. And EVERY one of these Athletes is on air - 8 people total! Extremely interesting and inspirational - listen to these people in their own words.
"I have been chasing what makes me feel alive, what I see is possible, and what scares me...this FKT passion is about the experience, it is about the creativity, it’s about living in a way that’s “worth it” for my own values."