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Will Peterson joins the show to talk about the fastest known time he set this past weekend on Vermont’s Long Trail, the oldest continuous footpath in the United States and the setting for many notable performances over the years from top athletes in the ultrarunning scene like Nikki Kimball, Joe McConaughy, Jennifer Pharr Davis, and John Kelly.

We talk about all aspects of Will’s effort including mental and physical preparation, multi-day strategy, highlights from his race report, the skillset to accomplish something of this stature, whether he plans to stay in this type of arena in the future, and some fun topics generated by listeners and viewers (like whether he’d do the full Appalachian Trail).

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Initial Feelings
06:40 The Long Trail and Other Routes
10:38 Background and Skillset
15:17 Motivation and Competition
19:14 The Evolving FKT Scene
24:17 Creating a Competitive Narrative and Mental Strategies
27:04 Training and Preparation
36:22 Planning and Adaptability in FKT Attempts
55:46 The Future of FKTs: Amateurs and Professionals
01:01:41 Data-Driven Goals for Optimal Performance
01:09:18 Instigating Participation in the Multi-Day Scene
01:11:06 Future in Multi-Day FKTs
01:17:21 The Debate on Expanded FKT Leaderboards
01:19:32 The Appalachian Trail and Future Challenges
01:23:38 Reflections on FKT of the Year Snub
01:26:06 The Unique Challenges of the 100 Mile Wilderness
01:31:24 Regulating External Communication on Unsupported Efforts
01:41:11 Gratitude for the Crew

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Additional Links:

Follow Will on Instagram, Strava, From The Backcountry Podcast
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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Will Peterson | Inside The Fastest Known Time On Vermont’s Long Trail

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Will Peterson | Inside The Fastest Known Time On Vermont’s Long Trail