Buzz Responds to that Grand Teton FKT Attempt

In an article for UltraRunning Magazine Buzz Burrell, original founder of the Fastest Known Time website and phenomena writes in response to Michelino Sunseri’s FKT attempt on the Grand Teton:

Why is this an important discussion? Because we care. At a time when media seems to report nothing but numbers—times and distance—it turns out that athletes themselves really care about style and ethics.

I agree the caring angle is a really important one and one I wasn’t sure I was able to fully articulate when I spoke with Alex Rienzie on Singletrack.

Buzz continues:

If you’re in a national park, whether the rule is no dogs or stay on the trail, you must do just that. And if you’re in a race or going for an FKT and the trail itself is the course, cutting a switchback means you haven’t done the full course, which is grounds for disqualification.

This addresses the disqualification, which in and of itself would probably less of an argument. Although I would then probably take the old records down too and not just flag it, because these trails were probably off limits back then too?

The rub for me is still the fine the NPS is proposing. To me this feels heavy-handed and takes the entire conversation from one about style and ethics to rules and punishment.

Emily Davis public information officer is quoted in the UR article with a comment she provided to National Parks Traveler:

“It was a very public violation of NPS regulations, shared in such a public way by this influencer and sponsored athlete in association with his effort to achieve the fastest known time goal.”

How unprecedented is this fine? Do we know of similar actions by the NPS?

Buzz finishes of his article:

It’s good to have open discussions on these issues because active participants should not only be aware of the legal standards, but should also be co-developing the ethical standards that provide a foundation for the rules created.

I know that discussions around the legalities might be pointless, and one could and maybe even should shrug their shoulders and stick with the “the rules are the rules” argument here, but I grew up challenging the status quo, and while that won’t help Sunseri get his FKT approved it certainly makes me wonder about the NPS and its processes.