{"podcast":{"title":"Free Outside","slug":"free-outside-6909507","podcast_index_feed_id":6909507,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/eaf7016c/podcast/rss","website_url":"http://freeoutside.com","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/39320563/39320563-1714852015826-072db93862556.jpg","author":"Jeff Garmire","episode_count":230,"summary":"Welcome to \"Free Outside,\" the ultimate podcast for outdoor enthusiasts! Join me, Jeff Garmire, as I blur the lines between trail running, Fastest Known Times (FKTs), thru-hiking, backpacking, and all endurance. With 20 FKTs under my belt, a book, a movie, and plenty of unconventional experiences, I'm here to share my adventures and insights. Expect engaging interviews and fun interactions with guests who excel in various ways. Whether we're discussing the art of slowly running through forests, the thrill of a challenging hike, or simply an appreciator of beauty and comedy, here we are.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-26T00:20:48.390126+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507"},"episode":{"title":"The FKT That Took Bob Stewart 3 Tries to Finish","slug":"the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish","published_at":"2026-06-05T10:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freeoutside/episodes/The-FKT-That-Took-Bob-Stewart-3-Tries-to-Finish-e3k76fq","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/eaf7016c/podcast/play/120870842/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-2%2F425331230-44100-2-158f6f294dc86.mp3","summary":"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…","meta_description":"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 ba…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4025,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/free-outside-6909507/episodes/the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/the-fkt-that-took-bob-stewart-3-tries-to-finish.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}