FKT Attempts We're Tracking

Day 8 (7/14):  START:   Nolichucky River (Erwin, TN)     4 am FINISH: Rt. 19E  (Roan Mt, TN)   11:53 pm 50.9 miles     19:53        2.6 mph 393.7 total miles   49.2 mpd average Another nice day of weather, especially for the exposed heights of the Roan Highlands. Skin splints (more on the right leg than the left)

Day 7 (7/13):  START: Log Cabin Drive   4 am FINISH: Nolichucky River (Erwin, TN)   midnight 53.2 miles       20:00     2.7 mph Total miles in seven days: 342.8        48.9 mpd average After a few hours of sleep, a groggy Mercury sets off in the darkness slapping herself a few times to stay awake. 

Day 6 (7/12): START: Davenport Gap   GSNP    2:55am FINISH: Log Cabin Drive    11:15pm 52 miles   20:50     2.5 mph Total miles: 289.6     48.3 mpd Better day than yesterday. Shin splints continue to improve slowly; but it still is Mercury’s ‘mind over matter’ every minute/hour/day. Continued good weather helps. Beautiful views atop Snowbird and Max Patch.

Day 5 (7/11):  START: Newfound Gap  GSNP   2:20am FINISH: Davenport Gap  GSNP  5:30pm 30.8 miles*    15:10    2.0 mph Total miles: 237.6 miles   47.5 mpd *does not include the 7 extra miles ‘second guessing’ ( and 2-3 hours lost) while walking back and fourth due to lack of blazing. This unfortunate occurance, along with Mercury’s slower pace, has put Karel Sabbe's overall AT FKT out of reach.

Day 4 (7/10):  START:  GSNP southern boundary   4:04am FINISH: Newfound Gap   8:35pm 39.6 miles    16:30    2.4 mph Total miles in four days: 206.8 miles     54.2mpd -3.0 miles with Karel Only one small storm which was sat out in a shelter. Mercury was stalled for 20 minutes by a momma bear eating grass along the trail

Day 3 (7/09):  START:   Burningtown Gap     2:22am FINISH: GSNP boundary   6:30pm Miles for day:   43.1 miles     Time elapsed: 16:08     2.7mph Total miles for first three days: 167.2 miles  55.7 mpd average Only second nobo to reach Fontana Dam in three days from Springer Sam Swisher-McClure (19 y.o. record attemptor in 1998 was the only other) + 9.2 miles on Karel

Day 2 (7/08): START: Dicks Creek Gap   2:28am FINISH: Burningtown Gap   8:35pm 54.8 miles  in 18:07       3.0 mph 2-day total miles – 124 miles    62 mpd Longest two-day start of any northbound record attempt + 18.3 miles on Karel      +7.9 miles on Jennifer Support crew: Jupiter & David Horton   Approx 128.8 miles total (49.4 for the day)

Day 1 (7/07):  START: Springer Mt. at midnight FINISH: Dicks Creek Gap (US 76) at 9:14pm 69.2 miles in 21 hours 14 minutes 3.26 mph +16.6 miles on Karel Sabbe (overall record; supported) +13.2 miles on Jennifer Pharr Davis (women’s record; supported) Wet trail; not too humid; longest first day ever for an AT endurance record attempt (nobo);

Day 0:  "I will be starting from Springer heading NOBO on July 7th. I will be posting regular trail updates on my website mercuryontheat.com. I will also address Covid-19 in my announcement as well as on my website. Thank you!"

Alex stopped because of injury.

7/18:  Started 5:28am at Waterton https://www.instagram.com/p/CCyBVE8B16Y/

Day 1, Today’s miles: 65.8, Elevation gain: 10,313. Saw a couple who warned of bear near - mile 10. Got in my first “hey bear!” of the trip. The day went pretty smooth except for around lunchtime it got pretty hot in my stomach was upset. But once I got to some water and cool down my body temperature I was able to eat again. I got to the previous FKT’s Threshold of 55 miles per day at 7:23 PM, One hour ahead of my own schedule. The first day of this trip was meant to be one of the toughest due to the heat and my pack being the heaviest it would be on this trip; a good confidence booster. I arrived at my campsite around 10 PM. The stars were out so I decided to cowboy camp; I slept sound for 7 hrs.

Day 2, Today’s miles: 53.4, Total Miles: 9,350’. I woke up at 5 AM and quickly realized one of my bottles had been chewed through by some critter, rendering it unusable. I may be able to ship a new one ahead to a resupply point but I will have to make do regardless. I spent the first few hours in the morning struggling to time my water stops correctly with my one nutrition bottle. After a bit, I realized I could still use the critter bottle to hold the nutritional drink, but just lock it, then dump it in my other bottle when it was time to use it. I felt great all morning and was right on schedule up until about mid day. Around then, as I look through my nutrition I realized I hadn’t eaten as much as I thought. Soon after I started the bonk, got real sleepy, took a 10 minute nap and kept going. After I cross the highway to Breckenridge, I started to bonk really hard – which was unfortunate because I had a huge climb ahead of me. It took me far longer to get over the pass then I had planned and I totally screwed up my water and nutrition, barely ate, barely drink. At the top my legs quit working. I’ve never experienced so much pain in my legs before. However, the only thing I could do is get down, so I pushed on. I had a resupply box and a hotel room booked in Copper, so I hobbled over to check in. After doing so, I couldn’t even make it out of the checkin building – I had to lay down, feeling dizzy, nauseous, and my legs literally did not work. It was like when you see those marathon runners who are just totally trashed by the end, falling down in the least graceful way possible. It took me 30 minutes To muster up the energy to walk the .3 miles to my hotel room. I made it, but barely.

Announcement:  Starting July 18th, 2020 I will be attempting to beat the current self-supported FKT on the Colorado Trail (East to West, Collegiate East) held by Andre Michaud. I will be tracking my trip with a SPOT device and a GPS watch which I will be uploading to Strava. I will be doing it "thru-hiker style" as Scott Williamson laid out in his 2008 FKT - no support crew, using mail drops, and picking up food and supplies in towns along the way. No rides in vehicles – unless injured or ill and needing medical attention.

www.facebook.com/allllwright

www.instagram.com/allllwright

www.strava.com/athletes/allllwright

www.allllwright.com

Another FKT attempt on the Pennine Way! Damian Hall is arguably one of the UK's top male ultra runners (5th at UTMB in 2018) and set off to break John Kelly's new. He is running south rather than north.

Here is an article: https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/news/a33376237/damian-hall-attempts-to-break-fkt-for-pennine-way/ 

7/22:  Started ~6:00

Splits vs. targets about every 6 hours:

Gibshiel Rd, Wed 12:27, target 13:20, gap +0:53

B6318-Greenhead, Wed 18:06, target 20:00, gap +1:54

Dufton, Thu 02:01, target 05:15, gap +3:14

Middleton, Thu 07:00, target 10:50, gap +3:50

Thwaite, Thu 13:10, target 16:29, gap +3:19

Malham, Fri 00:07, target 02:24, gap +2:17, about 71 miles to go!

Colne-Haworth Rd, Fri 06:17, target 08:39, gap +2:22

Standedge, Fri 12:30, target 15:29, gap +2:59, gaining ground again!

Snake Pass Fri 17:45, target 20:04, gap +2:19, just ~8 miles to go!

Edale at 19:35 Friday.  New FKT by 3h10m = 2d13h35m!

Well hell, I guess it's time for a big adventure. I've been mulling this one over for a few years. Here goes. Next Thursday (7/23) begins an attempt to complete all the trails in the Smoky Mountains (aka, Great Smoky Mountains National Park 900 Miler Club) in the Fastest Known Time (FKT). The current FKT is a smokin' 43 days laid down by Benny Braden. In accordance with the rules of the FKT organization (and because we have a friendship), I've discussed this with Benny, and he has been most gracious and very supportive of this attempt. A public announcement is also required...i.e., this FB post. No idea whether I can maintain the roughly 30+miles a day on some of the country's most rugged and hilly trails. So, I guess this will be an experiment of sorts for this aging body of mine. And, I know, July and August heat, really Jeff...what the hell are you thinking. I will definitely need massive luck, help from the local running/hiking community and much encouragement from family and friends. I will post regular updates. Also, daily status of the carnage can be found at https://www.strava.com/athletes/woody_jeff 

The Strava link will be the main method of recording my daily runs.  While I have a Garmin InReach Mini,  I have found that it isn't a reliable tool for recording routes in the heavy tree cover of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Therefore I will be using my more reliable Suunto 9 Baro, and recording GPS results on both the Suunto website and Strava, and I will provide periodic updates on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jeff.woody.98.  I will also be taking timestamped photos of trailhead signs for my records. 

Day 1: 27.65 miles / 7244'  "Twentymile, Twentymile Loop, Wolf Ridge, Gregory Bald (to Doe Knob), Long Hungry Ridge, AT to Fontana Dam. Not the best start to this challenge. Went slow but still had cramps in the last 4 miles that brought things to a crawl. Hoping for better day tomorrow. No time to whine about it."

Day 2: 35.27 miles / 6112'  "A much better day! Lakeshore, Hazel Creek, Bone Valley, Cold Spring Gap, High Rock, Welch Ridge, Bear Creek, Forney Creek, Whiteoak Branch, Tunnel Bypass. No animals. Two people. Over 30 horseflies that met a timely death thanks to the ninja Slap."

Day 3: 25.17 miles / 4659'. "27 Mile day (GPS always struggles and shortens route on Lakeshore). Best day yet thanks to smart pacing. Getting into a rhythm it seems and listening to the body. Today covered the Lakeshore Trail from Hazel Creek boat landing, Ollies Cove, Forney Creek (our and back to Bear Creek), Goldmine Trail. No animals, 8 people, 8 dead horseflies."

East to West, Collegiate West, self supported. 

7/24:  Started 5:07

7/25:  Crossed Kenosha Pass at 17:23

7/27:  Gold Hill at 5:44

7/28:  Hwy 24 at 7:22

7/29:  Twin Lakes Dam at 10:31

7/30:  CR209 at 14:37

8/01:  Middle Fork South Arkansas River at 6:00

8/02:  Sargents Mesa ~ 7:00

8/03:  San Luis Pass ~ 16:30

8/05:  Carson Saddle at 7:28, overnight at Molas Lake.  ~74 miles to go!

8/07:  Finished ~19:05! ~ 14d14h5m  Appears to be an overall female self supported FKT for the CT !

I'd like to publicly announce that I will be attempting a supported FKT on the Colorado Trail from Durango to Denver starting 07/27/2020. 

I will be taking the Collegiate East route.

Announcing it makes it feel pretty real.

7/27:  Started 5:00.

7/28:  Little Molas Lake at 10:00, Stony Pass at 18:34

7/29:  Carson Saddle at 6:37, Spring Creek Pass at 12:49 (~127 miles), 18:30 at San Luis Pass, 23:37 at Eddiesville TH

Officially announcing that I will be attempting to establish the Supported FKT of the PACIFIC CREST TRAIL THROUGH OREGON (OR) beginning Monday, July 27th, at 0600.

What: Supported FKT attempt, Northbound

Where: Pacific Crest Trail – Entire Oregon Section. California to Washington.

When: Beginning Monday, July 27, 0600

https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/lindsey-ulrich-pacific-crest-trail-through-or-or-2020-08-05

Going after the Directissima (Bill Tidd's FKT).

Started 7/29 at 7:20am, Beaver Brook TH.

I'm going to attempt the female self supported FKT on the CT starting this Thursday July 30. I'm going to post updates on my insta (@mikaelaosler).

Note:  Mikaela's tracker link is private.

7/30:  Start 7:44.  Camped a bit short of N Fork Lost Creek

7/31:  Short camp break near Middle Fork Swan River

8/01:  Overnight near US 24 (Tennessee Pass)

8/02:  Overnight at Twin Lakes

8/03: Slept briefly near the east ridge of Mt Yale and then reached the Avalanche TH around 1:00am on 8/4.

8/04:  Overnight at US 50.

8/05:  Camped on top of the Divide a few miles short of Hwy 114.

8/07:  Crossed Spring Creek Pass ~8:40.  Camped at Stony Pass, 94 miles to go.

8/08:  Sleep break just shy of Hermosa Peak.

8/09:  At mid-day she has only about 20 (mostly downhill) miles to go!  Done at 20:22! ~ 10d12h36m 

Mikaela just set the overall female self supported FKT by 4 days !!! ???

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDuiWn4syyx/

Start Date: July 31, 2020 5:00am

Location Placer High School Track

Tracker:  In Reach Mini

Link: https://share.garmin.com/WS200

Style: Supported

Social Media: Instagram danimal88888

I will be attempting the first ever WS 200  (Summer June, July, Aug.)

The route will follow the (modern day) route of the WS 100  Auburn-Squaw-Auburn.  I was entered in the 2020 race and after it was cancelled along with the Tor des Geants (Italy) in September I channeled energy into attempting my first 200 mile distance.  Weather is currently forecast at 98 degrees F. Any day in June, July, or Aug. can have days in the high 90s and 100s while other moths are much cooler hence the “Summer” sub category.

#WS200

7/31:  12:50 at Foresthill, 19:40 near Last Chance

8/01:  Looks like Dan got a little sleep break up on Mosquito Ridge.  Reached Squaw Valley ~11:15, so the first 100 in ~30h15m.

8/02:  Stopped at Duncan Canyon on the return, ~ 125 miles

On Saturday, August 1st, I'll be attempting to run the Oregon stretch of the PCT, starting at the California border and trying to get to Washington fast enough to set an FKT. I'll be doing this supported style, with my five month old puppy serving as my dutiful crew captain, along with a bit of human help, as well.

I will be tracking the run through my garmin inreach: https://share.garmin.com/Emily (and Coros watch), and will share updates over instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilysweats/ as cell service and trail brain allows.
 

I'm going after Jenn Shelton's supported female record on the Wonderland Trail. I will head out of Carter Falls Trailhead 8/1/2020 at 5AM PST going clockwise.I posted it on the message board and invited people to follow along or come say hi. I'll give a report as soon as I can afterwards.

5:00 start at Cougar Rock CG

”I didn't get it. I came in at 24:28 about 2.5 hours short of Jenn Shelton's incredible time. I still had a great day with my friends and family out there. It was fun to have a goal to go after even if it didn't work out! “

 I am going to make an attempt on the WA section of the PCT, starting at the border and heading south. I am aiming to go faster than Christof Teuscher's formidable time. I will be self-supported on this trip. I anticipate hiking to the Canadian border on August 1, and starting my attempt early on the morning of August 2. I will post updates on my instagram account when I have service: https://www.instagram.com/redridinghoodella/
Inreach tracker: share.garmin.com/redridinghoodella

I started at 2:11am on August 2nd
Made it to Mile 188 at 3pm August 5 (stevens pass).

"I DNFd at White Pass (Mile 358) on the morning of August 9th with ankle injury. What a ride and excited for someone else to come and smash this route!"
 

Starting Sunday, August 2nd Northern Terminus of Long Trail, VT

8/02:  Unfortunately no InReach data at the start (6am?).  Jay Peak at 9:08.  Prospect Rock at 22:18.

8/03:  Kept moving through the night.  VT108 (Smugglers Notch) at 9:14.  Crossed I-89 at 18:14.

8/04:  VT17 at 6:45.  VT125 at 20:16.

8/05:  US-4 at 11:08.  104 miles to go!

8/06:  VT-30 at 11:36.  54 miles to go.  Needs to finish before about 8:37am tomorrow for the FKT (though we are not certain of her exact start time).  Stratton summit at 18:04 (40.7 miles to go).

8/07:  VT-9 at 13:43.  Only 14 miles short of the border, but she ran out of time for the FKT!

8//05:  Started about 15:27

8/06:  VT-118 ~7:46  May have quit?

I will attempt to improve on Joe Grant's (le bon coureur franco-americain) SUPPORTED FKT of E-W Colorado Trail (8d20h09m), Collegiate west variant. In keeping with social distancing, I will have a one-man support team, my oldest friend, David Greedy. 

I'm planning to start early morning August 5th at Waterton Canyon. 

I'm excited by another opportunity and humbled by the many attempts in the last few years.

My inreach will be transmitting my location from start to finish every day, assuming no issues with battery life, etc. I will likely have a backup Garmin if necessary. I will turn off at night. 

8/05:  Start 4:14 at Waterton Canyon, sleep break near Rock Creek.

8/07:  Having trouble with tracker, but still moving well.  6:35pm: at mi 160 approaching Twin Lakes.

Wednesday evening Augst 5th, 2020 (9pm local Swiss time), I will start an FKT attempt on a classic Alpine hiking route in Switzerland, the Via Alpina.

The route crosses the Swiss Alps from East to West. Starting in Vaduz, it goes over 14 Alpine passes, before finishing in Montreux.

The route is 390km long and has 23600m of elevation gain. A full description of the route is available here: https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-01.html

To my knowledge, there is no registered FKT for this route, but Diego Pazos of Switzerland has announced he will try to do it in under 100hours later this year.

The aim is to finish the route in <100hours.

West to East, Collegiate West

8/05:  Started ~14:00

8/06: 

Crossed Hwy 550 (Molas Pass) at 6:54.  ~17h for the first 74 miles. 

Stony Pass (94 miles) at 13:15.

Carson Saddle at 19:00.  106 miles done.  The next part is high & wild. Just like the last part!

Instagram:  The San Juan Mountains never disappoint! 😍⛰ Court powered through the first 127 miles and 26,500’ of climbing in 34.5 hours, making it to Spring Creek Pass at 12:30am. After some dinner (gnocchi!), sleep (45 minutes), and coffee (all the cups), she’s back on trail headed for Eddiesville. Keep cruising Court!!

8/07:  Hwy 114 (182 miles) at 18:25

8/08:  Marshall Pass (217.6 miles) at 8:30, took ~4hr break.  Hwy 50 at 15:50 (232 miles in ~73.5hr)

8/09:  Courtney powered through the night.  CR306 at 8:12, took ~90min break.  Winfield at 18:10, Hope Pass at 20:33.

8/10:  Courtney had been wheezing badly, and after some tests at the Leadville ER, learned that she had developed acute bronchitis!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDtU_Z1A0fx/:

This definitely wasn't in the plan. 😣 Court was wheezing pretty badly in the RV this morning, so we made the call to take her to the ER in Leadville. Her pulse ox was 70 so the doctors here ran a full range of tests for HAPE, blood clots, and other severe conditions. Thankfully those were all ruled out and they determined she has acute bronchitis. It could have been allergy induced, or from all the dust/dry heat, plus an impaired immune system from her run. She's on oxygen until her levels come back up, but she should be perfectly healthy in a few days. We’re crushed it had to end this way, but ever grateful she’s on the mend.

I will be attempting the Unsupported FKT on the Colorado Trail starting on Thursday, August 6th. I will be going East to West and taking the Collegiate East Route trying to best the time of 9 days and 12 hours.

I'll be posting on social media as well as on the Colorado Trail FKT page in the coming days.

8/06:  Start 5:00.  Camped somewhere in the Lost Creek Wilderness.

8/07:  Camped near Jefferson.

8/09:  Gold Hill ~9:24.  Overnight near Camp Hale.

8/10:  Bailed at Leadville.

8/06:  Started 5:00, ran to just short of Okehampton.

8/07:  To Cleeve Village, 178 miles total.

8/08:  To Ludlow, 259 miles total.

8/09:  To Winwick, 340 miles.

8/10:  Lake District, 423 miles.  Averaging 84 miles / day !

8/11:  A little north of Moffat.  496 miles.

8/12:  Perth, 585 miles.

I'll be making a 3rd attempt at the Eagle's 33 challenge on Sat, Aug 8
The planned start is at 3am PST. Tracking: https://maps.findmespot.com/s/9FY0 
Style: self-supported. The challenge consists in summiting all 33 peaks over 9,000ft in Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness in a single push. 
More details at https://www.christofteuscher.com/aagaa/news-3rd-eagles-33-peak-bagging-fkt-attempt

Done!  ~ 4d14h (pending verification)
 

The goal is to summit the tallest 50 peaks in Montana using the international standard of ~100m of prominence for unique peak criteria.   I'll be starting Wednesday, August 12th at ~0800. I'll be starting in the south where Mt. Rearguard is the first peak, and finishing in the north at Pyramid Peak before I take Chicken Creek drainage to Mystic Lake Trailhead.  I've set 4 caches containing 100,000 calories along the way.  It took me 85 miles by foot and 15,000 elevation gain to set them last week.  Total distance will be ~200 miles and elevation gain is going to be between 100,000-150,000 feet.  I'll be lucky if I get 5 miles on trail.  I will do this solo and self-supported, and I expect the route to take 2-4 weeks depending on weather, rock condition, and fatigue.  This route will require significant scrambling through class 5 - notable peaks are: Granite Peak (tallest in Montana), the West Granite traverse, 12540, Mt. Rearguard (boulder towers), the Villard Spires, and countless gullys and ridge lines!

You can see a photo of the intended route and the planning process on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_wild_ned/

I will be attempting a North to South WA state PCT Unsupported female record, with the intentions to take the overall record.  The start date is August 19 from the Northern Terminus (leaving Harts Pass for the border on August 17th).  I chose this FKT style this year as vs the supported thru hike because of Covid and both the PCTA and Guinness urging me to stay in-state and not go outside of completely unsupported events.  Out of respect for the trail towns and my community, I altered my original plans to this FKT attempt.  Additionally, the WA PCT Unsupported seems like an excellent challenge uniquely fitting my athletic qualifications.  Silver lining!

I will not resupply beyond native water sources, will not forage, will not receive any aid or "trail magic", and I will carry all my trash to the end.  I will be witnessed leaving the border by some friends including 15 time World Record holder Erden Eruc.  They will post some on social with my send off.  My husband and 4 kiddos will update my social under The Phoenix Running on both IG and Facebook.