Roman Dial has done things you never imagined. Do you aspire to do a 100 mile trail race? He's never done one - instead he invented races that make 100's look like a 10k in Central Park.

"Three of us decided to see how far one could go completely Unsupported. I ended up hiking 625 miles across Alaska in 25 days. All food and gear with me start to finish. My pack weighed 59 lbs; 45 of which was food."

Most of Roman's trips were "OKTs" - "Only Known Times". But in this very podcast, he coined the term "LKTs". What's an LKT??

"Loneliest Known Time. When you're out there forever, by yourself, and nobody knows about it or cares!"

"Anytime we can put the limelight on Roman, he deserves it. What he did in Alaska for decades is almost entirely overlooked because he did it in Alaska and because his activities predated social media and the blogs." - Andrew Skurka

Purchase Roman's book, "The Adventurer's Son: A Memoir".

“A brave and marvelous book. A page-turner that will rip your heart out.” —Jon Krakauer

Dr. Teddy Bross has finished seven 100 mile races (and 12 of the Nolan's 14 summits :-), and is a physician. Host Hillary Allen asks him for his best advice to manage your long projects in the winter.

"The R2R2R.alt is probably too short a swim to develop hypothermia, but is a perfect scenario for 'cold shock'."

Teddy confirms Rob Krar's theory (previous week's podcast), that rather than taking the time to change in and out of a wetsuit, it was more important to get warm immediately once out of the water by putting on an insulated puffy jacket and getting moving.

"Moving your body by immediately moving is great. But it is depleting glycogen stores, so dehydration and bonking cannot be overlooked."

People die from hypothermia. Listen to Dr. Bross's advice so you're not one of them!

What's it like to run long and hard, as a couple? Is it easier or harder; more fun or a struggle?

Host Hillary Allen speaks with Brittany Peterson and Cody Lind, who as a team set a big FKT on the Superior Hiking Trail last year, bettering the previous Male time by 18 hours and the Female by over 2 days.

"Western States will be interesting - she'd like me to pace her, and I'd like her to pace me!" - Cody

Don't miss what's coming next for this dynamic duo:

"There's a route here in Idaho - I don't want to give away Cody's secret - but it's an FKT waiting to happen." - Brittany

"FKTs are such a fun process, of being creative, then putting it out there to see who goes after it!" - Brittany

Special thanks to Chaski Endurance Collective for sponsoring this episode. Chaski is reinventing online coaching for endurance athletes. Hand picked elite athletes like FKT rockstars Coree Woltering, Devon Yanko, and Mike Wardian, coach runners of all levels to chase their own dreams through human-to-human, science-based training.

Join their ground-breaking community with a FREE month of coaching when you sign up for any of their coaching programs and mention FKT! Go here: http://www.chaski.run/fkt

Rob and Mike not only did a great route in fine style, but their photo went big in the FKT world. (It should be on the cover of Outside Magazine!)

R2R2R.alt runs across the Grand Canyon, with the same distance and elevation profile as the very popular (overpopulated?) Rim to River to Rim to River to Rim route. Big difference: there is no bridge across the river - have to swim!

Join co-host Hillary Allen in hearing more memorable thoughts from Krar and Foote.

Special thanks to Chaski Endurance Collective for sponsoring this episode. Chaski is reinventing online coaching for endurance athletes. Hand picked elite athletes like FKT rockstars Coree Woltering, Devon Yanko, and Mike Wardian, coach runners of all levels to chase their own dreams through human-to-human, science-based training.

Join their ground-breaking community with a FREE month of coaching when you sign up for any of their coaching programs and mention FKT! Go here; chaski.run/fkt

Use this Discount Code!  15% off your first order via their website: FKT

Hydration, electrolytes, cramping ... do you need to know more?  Of course you do!  This podcast delivers excellent information - Andy knows what he is talking about - and our own Allison Mercer tested the products.

We used to be told to drink up to a gallon of water per day - but more people are hospitalized with Hyponatremia than dehydration!  Now we're told to "Drink when thirsty" - is that correct??

No.  

"The body will protect blood sodium at all costs. Even shutting itself down."

The finale! Voters selected the top two FKTs in Europe for Female and Male, from a Nominations List of 23, out of 1,308 FKTs set in Europe in 2020.

Each one is different. Each person tells their story, in their own words.  Listen up!

Are you enjoying the podcast?  Help us keep doing it - please Donate now:

https://www.patreon.com/fastestknowntime

https://fastestknowntime.com/support

There were 1,308 FKTs set in Europe in 2020.  A panel of experts nominated 23 of the best, then they voted.  Here is the #3 Woman and the #3 Man; next week we hear from the Top two’s.

We start with an Introduction to the European FKT with Matt Lefort, a native of France, who’s been living in Andorra for 12 years, and just moved to Norway. He offers good insights that set the stage.

Let’s listen to our first two winners, an English woman living in Germany, and an American living in England!

Like what you hear?  Help us keep doing it - please Donate now:

https://www.patreon.com/fastestknowntime

https://fastestknowntime.com/support

Music: bensound.com

Listen to the amazing stories, directly from the people who did them! Wrapping up the 2020 Fastest Known Time Of the Year Award for North America in this order. Thanks to presenting sponsor, The North Face!

Sabrina Stanley - #2 Female - Nolan's 14

2d 0hr 49m; 100mi; 42,000'

Joe McConaughy - #2 Male - Long Trail

4d 23h 54m; 273mi; 65,370'

Kelly Halpin - #1 Female - Wind River High Route

2d 11h 37m; 97mi; 30,000'

Joey Campanelli - #1 Male - Nolan's 14

1d 17h 33s; 100mi; 42,000'

This is a big podcast! We hear stories from who the voters selected as their most inspirational FKTs. Thanks to presenting sponsor, The North Face!

FKT'ers we talk to today in order:

Adam Kimble - #5 Male - Tahoe Rim Trail

1d 13h 12m 15s; 170mi, 26,913'

Alyssa Godesky - #4 Female (tie) - Adirondack 46 High Peaks

3d 16h 16m; 160mi; 67,412'

Kaytlyn Gerbin - #4 Female (tie) - Wonderland Trail

18h 41m 54s; 93mi; 24,000'

Mikaela Osler - #4 Female (tie) - Colorado Trail

10d 12h 36m; 485mi; 90,000'

David Ayala - #4 Male - Sierra High Route

4d 3h 36m; 195mi; 43,000'

Sarah Hansel - #3 Female - Nolan's 14

2d 9h 43m 34s; 100mi; 42,000'

Eric Gilbertson - #3 Male - Rocky Mountain Slam

60d 9h 20m; 1,030mi; 432,500'

The 2020 FKT of the Year Awards are presented by The North Face. There were 2,784 FKTs set in North America in 2020 - yikes! How do we sort them out, and find the coolest ones? Hillary and Alex are here to help.

"Women set FKTs this year that were the fastest Overall - Hillary"

"There were 10 different FKTs on just the Wonderland Trail this year - Alex"

"Joey's Unsupported time on Nolan's beat the Supported times of some of the best runners anywhere"

"Kelly is not a strong racer, so I don't think people recognize how strong of an athlete she is"

Definitely read the Nominations List on the website, and post your own thoughts.

The next two podcasts on Jan 1 and Jan 8 will announce the North American winners. Then we launch the FKTOY Award in Europe!