Above: Kirra Balmanno during her FKT attempt on the Everest Base Camp Trail.
Fastest Known Times (FKTS) is a term that is increasing in popularity within the trail running community, yet also poorly understood. Most recognize that FKTs are the fastest recorded times on particular trails and other significant running routes, but few understand how these routes gain the distinction of being “FKT certified,” and the criteria routes and FKT-setters must meet to be recorded on the Fastest Known Time website on which all FKTs are ratified.
A recent example of increasing FKT popularity that made national news outlets, including Runners World, Outside Magazine, and The Washington Post, was Tara Dower’s overall Appalachian Trail FKT. The more one knows about FKTs, the better one can understand the significance of this record and the rules that Dower specifically followed to set the record. In short, Dower and anyone who has attempted FKTs on major trails such as the Appalachian Trail doesn’t simply follow the trail and become eligible for record-setting.
The historical place of FKTs in the sport of trail running, as well as an emerging FKT-specific running community of athletes and fans, gives increasing reason for FKTs to be better understood. Similar to any sports discipline, the more one knows about the rules, players, and distinct types of plays, the more one can appreciate the sport and the athleticism of its athletes.
Paul Carr on the Wonderland Trail, a 93-mile trail that encircles Mount Rainier.
For the remainder of this article, I share a few key concepts about FKTs, including facts about the Fastest Known Time organization, how routes qualify as FKTs, how FKTs are verified, and a breakdown of different types of FKTs. Read on and gain an appreciation for the FKT community. You might even find yourself listening to the official FKT podcast, scrolling through the list of top FKT athletes, or following the “Tracking Now” FKT attempts around the world!
PROTIP: If you enjoy listening to podcasts such as the FKT podcast, be sure to check out our favorite episodes from this podcast, as well as find other trail running podcasts in the directory here!
FKT 101
The first fact to understand about FKTs is that everything pertaining to an FKT must be acknowledged by, or stem directly from the Fastest Known Time organization. This is the official organization that coined the term FKT in 2000 and has ratified all FKT records since that time. Founders Buzz Burrell, Jeff Schuler, and Peter Bakwin are all outdoor enthusiasts with impressive collective credentials of a PhD in Physics from Harvard University (Bakwin), records on the John Muir and Colorado Trails (Burrell), and second American Masters in the 40 to 44 age group at the 2023 Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:32:59 (Schuler). The trio’s writing, web design, and data processing skills have built an organization that has continually increased in popularity and professionalism.
In 2022, Fastest Known Time was acquired by Outside Interactive Inc. As of 2024, the current FKT team consists of three individuals: Allison Mercer (Director), Devin Lehman (Senior Product Manager), and Abigail Levene (Marketing Writer). There are also fourteen Regional Editors that verify and edit every FKT worldwide.
Tyler Andrews is one of the top FKT athletes in the world and FKT contributing editor. Photo by Melanie Ng.
In addition to verifying records, the organization prioritizes building community through its podcast, live tracking of notable FKT record attempts, athlete pages (which list athletes with the most FKTs in their name), article blog, and annual FKT awards to recognize achievements of outstanding athletes. The term FKT has become essential ‘trail jargon,’ and most importantly, the movement itself is now a strong part of what it means for many to be trail runners.
PROTIP: Do you want to learn more ‘trail jargon?’ Read “A Trail Runner’s Vocabulary” here!
Not just segments
FKTs are not segments. Most runners who track their runs utilizing GPS devices are familiar with Strava, Garmin, or other app-based running data segments. These specific sections from runs are created by users of these applications who can share routes with others on these platforms. Such segments can also generate competition and encourage runners to challenge themselves against times from others who have run the same routes. But having the fastest time on segments doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have FKTs to your name.
While certain FKTs may be listed on Strava, Garmin, or other data-based app segment lists, not every segment is labeled FKT-worthy. Fastest Known Time has the ultimate say in what routes can qualify as FKTs. The organization states, “Each approved route must be notable and distinct enough that others will be interested in repeating it. Ideally, routes should have beautiful scenery, historical or cultural merits, a history of competition or high level of public popularity, and a logical and aesthetic line on the landscape.”
In other words, the segment going up the hill at your local park will likely not qualify as an FKT unless said hill holds some historical or cultural significance to the broader running community (though it could qualify as a Strava segment).
Anton Krupicka, a legend of the ‘multi-discipline’ FKTs that involve rock climbing/scrambling, during the 202Leadville 100. Photo by Peter Maksimow.
Additional requirements for FKTs are as follows:
- Routes must be 5 miles and have at least 500 feet of elevation gain
- Routes should begin and end at logical points (trailheads, ends of named trails, or distinct geographical features such as summits, bodies of water, cultural sites, or other prominent landmarks)
- Routes can take place on any surface (road or trail) and should primarily involve hiking and running, but multi-sport routes are also considered. This means climbing, swimming, biking, or even driving to between points are considered (see example of the Vermont 4000ers that includes FKTs for both driving between peak trailheads as well as solely human-powered transit between the same trailheads)
- Routes should be accessible to all. Private property is to be avoided unless the property shares access to the public. Any permitting required along routes should be noted in the FKT report
- Race courses may be considered for FKTs and may even be set during a race. Races are only considered “when a race course meets the criteria for FKT routes and has strong community interest outside of the race itself.”
A full list of FKT Guidelines can be found here.
FKT record types
The three main types of FKT records are unsupported, self-supported, and supported.
Unsupported records must have “no external support of any kind.” All gear and nutrition must be carried by the athlete for the entire journey. Water accessed from natural sources is acceptable. Spectating is considered support and prohibited for unsupported attempts except at the start and finish areas. Using public restrooms is acceptable, but relying on these structures for sheltering would be considered support. No gear (bikes, kayaks, poles, food, backpacks, etc.) can be cached along the trail in unsupported attempts.
Self-supported describes efforts that utilize all support along routes, minus support from anything or person that is directly there for the athlete. Caching supplies along the route, purchasing supplies along the way, and staying in motels/campgrounds are all allowed, provided that these resources are publicly accessible. For example, setting up camp in a friend’s backyard would not qualify as self-supported. Similar to unsupported attempts, no spectators are allowed except for at the start and finish areas. Self-supported records must also be completed faster than unsupported records on the same route for them to qualify as records.
Supported refers to athletes who use support from other individuals during their FKT attempts. This can include muling (when crew and pacers carry equipment, food, drink, or anything that provides support short of carrying or dragging the athletes themselves) or having crew and pacers along the route to cheer, bring supplies or run with the athlete. In order to set a supported record FKT, athletes must be faster than the unsupported and self-supported times on that same route.
DJ Fox receiving full support from his crew during an attempt of the Colorado Trail FKT.
In addition to the three main types of FKTs, there are several other distinctions among records.
Additional considerations for examining or attempting to set records:
- FKTs are divided into gender categories of male and female (be sure to check both when looking for an overall fastest time. Eight of the top twenty FKT Athletes are female).
- FKTs may have route variations or options. For example, the Colorado Trail FKT has options for east to west or west to east (Durango to Denver or vice versa), as well as another east-to-west variation along the Collegiate Peaks near the middle section of the route. This means there are four different types of Colorado Trail FKTs, not even considering the unsupported, self-supported, and supported categories. Read our story about a recent Colorado Trail FKT set by DJ Fox)
FKTs may have other considerations, such as options to use human power or vehicles between trailheads. Multi-sport FKTs may also have specific distinctions for where along the route certain sporting disciplines or types of gear may be used.
Why do FKTs matter?
Solo projects/small team efforts such as FKTs have been increasing in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited organized running competitions, athletes worldwide prioritized these more personalized running efforts, breaking FKT records and submitting new FKT routes to satisfy their competitive spirits. In my article “Adventure Style Trail Running is On the Rise” I discuss FKTs in the context of a growing “adventure-focused” trail running movement. In addition to FKTs, this discussion included a focus on more creative trail running projects such as Rickey Gates’ Every Single Street project which involved running every single street in San Francisco to inspire runners around the world to run every street in their own hometowns and better understand the areas in which they live.
While races will always have their place in the trail running community, FKTs and these similar adventure-style projects have redefined what it means for many to trail run. The grassroots style of the FKT movement has garnered support from brands, media, and both recreational and elite athletes alike. The future of FKT is bright—empowered by its accessibility to all runners and encouraging athletes to test themselves on the most meaningful routes in their respective communities or to themselves. The movement is only limited by athletes’ creativity and inspiration about pushing classic routes or developing new routes around the world.
