FKT Podcast

“If you have a strong why, you can do the impossible.” Today’s episode dives deep into the mental side of long distance running as host Heather Anderson talks with Sophie Power about her supported FKT on the Head to Head Route Across Ireland. Sophie shares her highs and lows of running a hundred miles a day for three and a half days on only 2 hours and 17 minutes sleep.  Tune in to hear her philosophy on why mental strength is more important than physical and how her run became something bigger when the Irish running community, school children and residents along the route joined in. Sophie also shares her passion for removing barriers for women in sport and why she founded SheRaces.

Colorado’s LA Freeway isn’t a misnomer. It’s a 34 mile link-up between Longs Peak and Arapahoe Peak along the Continental Divide. Join host Heather Anderson as she chats with Anton Krupicka about his unsupported FKT on this remote, technical, and exposed route. He shares his motivations and training for his 13 hour and 20 minute push that included over 18,000 feet of gain and 24 summits as well as his encounter with SAR in a crux section.

When you think about the Netherlands, you probably call to mind canals, windmills, and shoes. But in the east the nearly 500 kilometer Pieterpad Trail traverses a wide variety of landscapes as it travels from the sea in the north to the hilly terrain of the south. Sometimes referred to as the Dutch Camino, this trail offers a little bit of everything. FKTs are not popular on this route, but that didn’t stop Monica Dekker from rounding up several friends and pushing to finish the whole trail in less than 100 hours. Her 4 day run involved very little sleep, a few hallucinations, and multiple ferry crossings that she had to time just right. Drop into today’s episode where she shares her experiences with host Heather Anderson.

It was a busy season on the Colorado Trail as records were broken in nearly every category beginning with Kyle Curtin’s smashing success in June–bringing the record under 7 days for the first time. Today’s episode brings together record setters Brent Herring, DJ Fox, Jeff Browning, and Kyle Curtin. They discuss their route choices as well as modalities–all were supported except for Brent. Hear about fueling, GI issues, escapades with Colorado weather, and each of their biggest takeaways and memorable moments from each of their records.

For the first time ever, the Appalachian Trail Fastest Known Time has gone under 41 days–taken there by Tara Dower. On today’s episode, Tara and her crew chief Rascal join host and previous AT FKT record holder Heather Anderson to talk trail. Tara opens up about the difficulties of the rainy conditions she had in Maine and New Hampshire including how she handled numerous falls and what it did to her feet. Rascal provides insights into what a day in the life of the crew is like and how she and Tara’s mom Debbie kept things going. They share the importance of the support from hundreds of people along the way, dirt naps, and so much more all while raising funds for Girls on the Run. Donations to Tara’s fundraiser can be made at https://support.girlsontherun.org/fundraiser/5607331 [https://support.girlsontherun.org/fundraiser/5607331] Drop in and be inspired by Tara’s relentless effort–including how she overcame a 100-plus mile deficit–to claim the overall record.