# The FKT That Took Bob Stewart 3 Tries to Finish Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish.md Podcast: [Free Outside](https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507) Published: 2026-06-05T10:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freeoutside/episodes/The-FKT-That-Took-Bob-Stewart-3-Tries-to-Finish-e3k76fq Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/eaf7016c/podcast/play/120870842/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-2%2F425331230-44100-2-158f6f294dc86.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/free-outside-6909507/episodes/the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish Duration seconds: 4025 ## Resource Bob Stewart joins the Free Outside Podcast fresh off finally setting the Benton MacKaye Trail FKT after two previous failed attempts. What started as a backpacking challenge turned into an obsession with Fastest Known Times, leading Bob to records on trails like the Superior Hiking Trail, Pinhoti Trail, Mid State Trail, and now the Benton MacKaye Trail. In this episode we talk about why the Benton MacKaye became his "white whale," sleep deprivation, hallucinations, unsupported FKT strategy, bizarre trail encounters, cold-soaked backpacking meals, and what keeps bringing people back to these massive endurance projects. Bob also shares stories from the trail, including seeing great white sharks in the woods, imaginary hiking partners, and trying to explain a 289-mile FKT to confused campground hosts. Topics: -Benton MacKaye Trail FKT -Failed attempts and coming back stronger -Sleep deprivation and hallucinations -Unsupported FKT strategy -Superior Hiking Trail and Pinhoti Trail -Backpacking vs FKTs -Nutrition and gear -Why obsession can be a superpower Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradvent… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/free-outside-6909507/episodes/the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.