Fastest Known Time Updates Guidelines

Via their email newsletter:

Over time, Fastest Known Time record keepers become aware of opportunities to refine and clarify the language defining FKTs. Since Outside’s acquisition of FKT in 2022, regional editors have reviewed the existing guidelines and agreed on modest changes including the use of public outlets, less specific restrictions on rock climbing within routes, and more.  

Key elements that jumped out on me:

• Must be at least 5 miles long or with at least 500 feet of climbing.
• Can be on any surface – road, trail, or off-trail.
• It’s great that people are out doing fun local routes. However, Fastest Known Times is a “bucket-list” of the best routes in the world!

Especially the last point is probably the one many folks have been asking for the most. With the greater visibility lots of routes were submitted that felt too regional, too personal and too arbitrary at times… or seen from a business perspective: too hard to monetize.

You can see the side by side comparisons on what has changed in this document.