FKT Podcast

On this week’s episode Monica Monroe joins host Heather Anderson  to talk about her unsupported FKT on the 200-plus mile long Ouachita Trail. Monica shares how she went from section hiking the route as a novice hiker in 2021 to setting the first women’s unsupported time in 2026. Despite severe weather, fires, and more, she established a stout time…all because of a local Kansas running group’s ice...

This week Jamieson Hatt joins host Heather Anderson to talk about his experience setting the longest known distance unsupported FKT on Wisconsin’s 1,100-plus-mile Ice Age Trail. Tune in to hear about the unique challenges of an unsupported effort of this length and how he dealt with inclement weather, technology issues, an unexpected zero day, and a problematic injury with only five days left. You...

On today’s show, host Heather Anderson is chatting with high altitude FKTer Erin Ton about her recent FKT ascents of multiple South American mountains, including the highest mountain in the Americas, Aconcagua. Tune in to learn more about how she trains, what motivates her, and why and how she takes these on.

The 600-mile-plus Bibbulmun Track is one of Australia’s classic long-distance hiking routes. Traversing beaches and forests in the southwestern part of the country, it’s laden with challenges. This week’s guest, Cam Bostock, completed the Bibbulmun unsupported in just 14 days, 7 hours, and 49 minutes. Tune in to hear him tell host Heather Anderson all about his experiences with sleep deprivation,...

Today we’re traveling to the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. Host Heather Anderson is joined by Jana Palocna who recently set the unsupported FKT for the 41K Pico de las Nieves route. Jana shares the details of her last-minute decision to run from sea to summit on the south side of the island while on vacation despite having an undiagnosed broken shoulder.

This week we’re going off the beaten path in the White Mountains National Forest where Eli Burakian created a burly 77 mile-long route that has 27,000 feet of climbing and tops 10 of the 4,000 footers. He joins host Heather Anderson to talk about rocks, route finding, and his belief that FKTs are for everyone. He also shares tips for those interested in exploring this route and how night hiking wi...

On today’s episode, host Heather Anderson is joined by Lotti Brinks, who recently set the overall FKT for a Utah classic: the Zion Crossing. This 37-mile version of the now-closed Zion Traverse travels through highly varied terrain from sandy trail to creekbeds and muddy plateaus. Lotti shares her experiences with early season conditions, lucky weather windows, and how her supported effort became...

On today’s episode we’re traveling to the jungle of Papua New Guinea where Justin Jennings, Huw Rogers, Si Lewis, Darren Roberts, and Jamie Porter traversed the 200-kilometer Kokoda Track out-and back in a supported style with the local guides of TruWarrior. Host Heather Anderson is joined by two members of the team: Huw and Justin. They share the logistics of planning the unheard of feat of compl...

On today’s episode, host Heather Anderson is joined by nonprofit entrepreneur Greg Nance. Greg shares his methodology and experiences pioneering FKTs around the world, including Cuba, Grenada, and Colombia. He also describes what it was like to become the first person to run to the summit of Mount Rainier from the Puget Sound. Greg shares his love of nature and why he feels so connected to the FKT...

Today we travel to one of the most iconic mountains in Europe with our 2025 third place FKT of the year athlete, William Boffelli who completed the round trip from Chamonix to the summit with skis in a blisteringly fast 4 hours and 43 minutes. Tune in as William shares his training, gear, and route choices with host Heather Anderson.

This week we’re heading all the way south to New Zealand's famous Te Araroa Trail where Paulina Zack set a new women’s self-supported time of 54 days 9 hours and 48 minutes—earning her 3rd place in our 2025 FKT of the Year countdown. Drop in and join host Heather Anderson in learning all about Paulina’s experiences with navigation, biting spiders, solitude, and joy on her journey across the island...

Tune in to this week’s episode as we travel to Colorado and one of our Premier Routes. Host Heather Anderson talks with David Hedges about his impressive Nolan’s 14 supported FKT, which placed 5th in our 2025 FKT of the Year rankings. David talks about what set this FKT apart from his previous Nolan's 14 FKT in 2023 as well as whether he’d try again in the future. Drop in and hear about his strugg...

In this week’s episode, join host Heather Anderson as she chats with our women’s fifth place FKT of 2025, Lucy Gossage. Lucy set a stout new self-supported time on the U.K.’s 630-mile South West Coast Path by completing it in 11 days and 9 hours. Tune in to hear how she handled the challenging logistics of a route that has over a dozen ferries to catch, nightly hotel reservations to make, and tide...

This year was a highly competitive year with stout efforts on trails across the world. For the first time, the majority of our top five were on routes outside the United States. For the second year in a row, Tara Dower has claimed our first place title for her Long Trail FKT in Vermont where she set the overall supported time. Our men’s winner is Jeff Garmire for his incredible Appalachian Trail s...

Today we’re traveling to remote Maine where the classic Hundred Mile Wilderness route stretches from Monson to Abol Bridge. Host Heather Anderson chats with Maia Buckingham and Xander Keiter who each set supported times on this route. Maia’s time was 1d 5hr 33 m and Xander broke the 24 hour barrier coming in at 23 hours 9 min. Tune in to hear how they handled the logistics of crew access on remote...

Extending from Blue Ridge, Georgia, to near Sylacauga, Alabama, the 335-mile Pinhoti Trail is a popular route through the southernmost portion of the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States. This week’s episode, hosted by Heather Anderson, delves into Ashlie Itherburn’s recent overall supported FKT on the route. Ashlie shares her highs and lows, which were often linked, as she race...

In this week’s episode host Heather Anderson is joined by Michael Brower to talk about his experience setting the overall FKT for Michigan’s 220-mile-long Shore-to-Shore Trail. Michael details his experiences with ticks and sand and how he handled encountering unexpected restrictions around an active military base, as well as a scary cabin in the woods at night. Tune in to learn more about this le...

In this week’s episode we’re traveling to the rugged Mahoosic mountains of southern Maine, home of the hardest mile on the AT. Host Heather Anderson talks with Jeff Colt who recently set the overall unsupported time on the Northeast’s “Hardest 50K” completing the route in 6 hours, 40 minutes, and 53 seconds—taking an hour off of the previous men’s time.  Tune in to hear how his background as an AM...

In this week’s episode, host Heather Anderson talks with Brittany Haver and Carrie Henderson, who each set FKTs on Arizona’s rugged Tonto Trail. Carrie established the initial supported female time in 1 day, 9 hours, 20 minutes, while Brittany logged the first female unsupported time in 1 day, 9 hours, and 58 minutes. Tune in to journey along this lesser-done trail in the Grand Canyon and hear abo...

The 272-mile Long Trail is one of our premier routes for good reason. With an impressive history of competitive FKTs, this trail has once again seen stout records fall. Tune in to join host Heather Anderson as she talks all things LT with Tara Dower, who set the overall and women’s supported time in 3 days, 18 hours, and 30 minutes, and Tori Constantine who took down the women’s unsupported time i...

This week we head to the well-trodden premier route across Arizona. Host Heather Anderson is joined by Sadie Curry who set the women’s self-supported northbound time on the iconic Arizona Trail by covering the 800 mile distance in 17 days, 12 hours, and 27 minutes, taking 7 hours off of the previous time. Tune in to hear how she accomplished her first FKT despite being sick, dealing with UV rash,...

This week we’re headed to the rugged Adirondacks of New York where Scott Benerofe recently set the unsupported FKT for tagging all 46 4,000-foot peaks in one go. Tune in to hear how he pulled together his experiences with trail running, thru-hiking, and peakbagging to push deeper into the realm of endurance adventure. He shares the highs and lows of the effort from the effects of wildfire smoke, t...

2025 was a stunningly busy year on the Appalachian Trail. There were many high profile FKT efforts and several DNFs in the final days. Three long-held records did fall, however. Sarah Baker set the women’s self-supported northbound time in 74:04:42. Lyla Harrod set the women’s southbound time in 52:18:37. And Jeff Garmire took down the men’s self-supported record in a time of 45:08:37. Tune in to...

Stretching from Washington to California along the Pacific Ocean, the 400+ mile long Oregon Coast Trail is a mix of road, beach, and forested trail that challenges travelers with tides, estuaries, and frequent bad weather. Join host Heather Anderson this week as she chats with Katie Gunvalson who recently smashed the women’s overall record with her self-supported time of 7 days, 19 hours, and 41 m...

On today’s episode we’re traveling to the High Sierra of California where Caroline Himbert recently set the women’s unsupported northbound record on the premier John Muir Trail. Her first long, unsupported effort was a way for her to go back to her roots as a long distance hiker. Along the way she dealt with excruciating foot pain, a knee injury, and the effects of sleep deprivation. Tune in to he...