362 FKT’s – Hiking Speed Records
Show Notes
In this episode we talk to Tom Bartlett about the unique hiking practice of setting the fastest known times, also known as an FKT, on the WA based Bibbulmun Track, the Alpine based Australian Alps Walking Track, and the New Zealand based Te Araroa Trail. This form of hiking takes things to the extreme, completing these tracks in times that the average hiker wouldn’t even think was possible, so in today’s episode we look at what’s involved in setting an FKT why people attempt it.
Podcast Overview
In this podcast episode we find out all about the practice of setting FKT’s (Fastest Known Times) on our longer distance hiking trails:
- Podcast introduction and general discussion of fun (time index 0:01:33)
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- Before we find out all about ‘Fastest Known Times’ what have you been up to since we last interviewed you in episode 320? (time index 0:02:07)
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- To help us set the scene for this podcast episode what are ‘Fastest Known Times’? (time index 0:03:45)
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- Why does someone want to set an FKT? (time index 0:06:53)
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- How did your motivation change from the first to your subsequent trails? (time index 0:11:14)
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- Once you’ve decided that you are going to go for the FKT on a particular trek provide an overview of the preparation leading up to the start of the attempt. (time index 0:17:41)
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- How do you know that you can repeat the distances that you need to day in, day out? (time index 0:20:26)
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- How does this work when there is more than 1 person?
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- Mental fitness? (time index 0:26:08)
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- How do you manage food for an FKT? (time index 0:29:18)
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- Once you start your attempt do you try to do the same distance each day? Do you start out slow and build up? Or to do plan specific distance based on terrain and your fitness. (time index 0:34:58)
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- What happens when thing go wrong? For example, you are running behind schedule, or there’s an injury. (time index 0:37:02)
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- What does a typical day look like? (time index 0:39:36)
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- Now let’s talk about each of the trails and the successful attempts (time index 0:46:22)
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- Do you still hold the records? (time index 0:01:19)
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- From your personal perspective what are the pros and cons of attempting an FKT? And would you do it again? (time index 0:51:03)
- One final question
- What’s your next great hiking adventure? (time index 0:56:39)
- Final Thoughts (time index 0:57:59)
- Close (time index 1:507:21)
Tom and Maddie from The Adventure Gene (image provided by The Adventure Gene)
Food preperation on the Te Araroa in New Zealand (image provided by The Adventure Gene)
Its not always about the distance the terrain has an impact on how fast you can move like this image form the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand (image provided by The Adventure Gene)
Half way on the Bibbulmun track in Western Australia (image provided by The Adventure Gene)
Tom Bartlett and Paul Cuthbert starting the AAWT in Victoria (image provided by The Adventure Gene)
Keeping it simple on the AAWT (image provided by The Adventure Gene)
Fastest Know Times Website
The Adventure Gene Website and Social Media
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Publishing date
27 October 2026