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Tara Dower is a professional ultra runner and thru-hiker who is making her fourth appearance on the podcast (see episodes #50 , #71, and #75). In August, Tara and her crew set the overall Fastest Known Time on the Long Trail, taking down my time and becoming the second person to run the Long Trail in under 4 days. We talk all about her record and more during this episode. Find Tara on Instagram @tara.dower. Find her podcast DNF Diaries wherever you get your podcasts! ​Infinit Nutrition: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order​ Burgeon Outdoor: Check out Burgeon's quality and locally made hiking apparel in Lincoln NH or at burgeonoutdoor.com, and let them know we sent you!! Janji: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at janji.com for 10% off your entire order and let them know we sent you at checkout!

Cara Baskin is an ultramarathon runner and co-president of the Upper Valley Run Club. In September she set the record for the fastest female completion of the White Mountains 100, coming in at a time of 34 hours 12 minutes and beating the previous female FKT by over 4.5 hours. We talk all about Cara's amazing run in today's episode! ​Infinit Nutrition: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order​ Burgeon Outdoor: Check out Burgeon's incredible and locally made hiking apparel in Lincoln NH or at burgeonoutdoor.com, and let them know we sent you!!​ Janji: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at janji.com for 10% off your entire order and let them know we sent you at checkout!

In this episode Will and Xander are back to break down all of the best FKTs set in the Northeast in 2025. They talk most inspiring efforts, best DNFs, "Xander's Under Duress" list, and much more. Thanks to all of you for making FTB part of your year in 2025, see you in 2026! SPONSORS! ​Infinit Nutrition: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order​ Burgeon Outdoor: Check out Burgeon's incredible and locally made hiking apparel in Lincoln NH or at burgeonoutdoor.com, and let them know we sent you!!​ Janji: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at janji.com for 10% off your entire order and let them know we sent you at checkout!

Jeff Colt is a professional ultra-runner with On who has some incredibly big efforts to his name including a top 10 finish at Western States, the Hut Traverse FKT, and much more. Most recently, Jeff went out and set the FKT on the Mahoosuc Traverse, a Northeast premiere route that is steeped in trail running history. He took around 40 minutes off the already incredible record set by Hillary Gerardi. In this episode we discuss Jeff's Mahoosuc Traverse and much more! SPONSORS! ​Infinit Nutrition: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order​ Burgeon Outdoor: Check out Burgeon's incredible and locally made hiking apparel in Lincoln NH or at burgeonoutdoor.com, and let them know we sent you!!​ Janji: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at janji.com for 10% off your entire order and let them know we sent you at checkout!

The Mount Ascutney Vertical Backyard Ultra is a last person standing style race in which participants climb 1209 feet of vertical every hour (with 2.25 miles) until there is only one person left standing. 24 hours is equal to the elevation of Mount Everest, but this race went far beyond that. In this episode, we talk with finisher Conor Brown and assister Bill Tidd who ran over 200 miles and over 100,000 feet of vertical in 90 and 89 hours. We are joined by race directors Eli Burakian and Justin Chapman of Northeast Trail Adventures to break down the race. SPONSORS! ​Infinit Nutrition: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order​ Burgeon Outdoor: Check out Burgeon's incredible and locally made hiking apparel in Lincoln NH or at burgeonoutdoor.com, and let them know we sent you!!​ Janji: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at janji.com for 10% off your entire order and let them know we sent you at checkout!

Bubba's Backyard Ultra is a last person standing style race held each year in Center Conway, NH by Run The Whites. In this race participants must finish a 3.5 mile loop once per hour, and the last runner standing wins. This year saw more competition than ever before with 7 people going over 42 hours. In this episode Will interviews Lukas Janulaitis and Aaron Copeland, the 1st and 2nd place runners. Enjoy! SPONSORS! ​Infinit Nutrition: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order​ Burgeon Outdoor: Check out Burgeon's incredible and locally made hiking apparel in Lincoln NH or at burgeonoutdoor.com, and let them know we sent you!!​ Janji: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at janji.com for 10% off your entire order and let them know we sent you at checkout!

Bubba's Backyard Ultra is a last person standing style race held each year in Center Conway, NH by Run The Whites. In this race participants must finish a 3.5 mile loop once per hour, and the last runner standing wins. This year saw more competition than ever before with 7 people going over 42 hours. In this episode Will interviews Katie Melsky and Erica Notini, the 3rd and 4th place runners and the top women in the race. Enjoy! SPONSORS! ​Infinit Nutrition: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order​Burgeon Outdoor: Check out Burgeon's incredible and locally made hiking apparel in Lincoln NH or at burgeonoutdoor.com, and let them know we sent you!!​Janji: Use code FROMTHEBACKCOUNTRY at janji.com for 10% off your entire order and let them know we sent you at checkout!

Finn Melanson is an accomplished ultramarathon runner and host of the Singletrack podcast and media company. In September, Finn went out to the woods of northern Maine and set a new unsupported FKT on the Hundred Mile Wilderness in 28 hours 43 minutes. Finn, Xander, and I talk all about his effort in this episode and more! Find Finn on Strava and on social media platforms by looking up Singletrack. Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us and hyperlitemountaingear.com for 15% off your entire orderpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromthebackcountry/

A few weeks ago, I (Will) went over to Italy with my amazing friends and crew to run Tor des Géants. The race didn't go the way I wanted, ultimately ending with a DNF due to pneumonia. In this episode I break down the final stages of training, the race itself, and answer your questions. Thanks to all of you for following along.

Amber Constant is an endurance athlete based out of the White Mountains. She has put down multiple insane efforts this year including a 10-pack of Liberty and Flume in a single effort and the overall FKT for the New Hampshire section of Appalachian Trail. Most recently she became the first known person to complete a "yo-yo" of the White Mountains 100 in a single push. In this episode we talk about all three of these efforts and more! Find Amber on Strava and on Instagram @constant0413 Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us and hyperlitemountaingear.com for 15% off your entire orderpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromthebackcountry/

Scott Benerofe is a backpacker and ultra-runner based out of Vermont. Scott has some pretty insane efforts to his name, including a winter Appalachian Trail thru-hike (see episode #20) and a single push link-up of the Pemi Loop, Presi Traverse, and Mahoosuc Traverse (see episode #74). In early August, Scott went out and took over 14 hours off of the unsupported FKT for the Adirondack 46 High Peaks. It is a gnarly challenge that pushed Scott 190+ miles with 70,000 feet of vertical. It is also the #10 ranked Northeast Region Notable Routes for FKTs. Xander and Will talk with Scott all about his effort in this episode. Find Scott on Strava. Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us and hyperlitemountaingear.com for 15% off your entire orderpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromthebackcountry/

John Kelly is a prolific ultrarunner known for three finishes at the Barkley Marathons, winning the Winter Spine Race, FKTs on the Pennine Way, Long Trail, and Wainwrights 214, and more. Most recently John was ahead of record pace 1900 miles into an Appalachian Trail FKT attempt when his attempt ended in the Whites due to injury. Both special guest host (and White Mountains Legend) Bill Tidd and I (Will) were with him that weekend when it all went down. In this episode we talk about John's AT effort, the upcoming Tor des Géants that all three of us are running, and the Barkley Marathons. Find them both on Strava and find John on Instagram @randomforestrunner. Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order. Podcast Instagram: @fromthebackcountry

Tori "Chewy" Constantine is a thru-hiker from the Upper Valley who has extensive backpacking experience including thru-hikes of the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail. Most recently Tori set a new women's unsupported record on the Long Trail, a premier FKT route that is 272 miles long with almost 70,000 feet of vertical spanning the entire state of Vermont. She took 16 hours off of the previous record, coming in at 5 days, 19 hours, 29 minutes. Find Tori on Strava and on Instagram @tconstantine3 Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order. Podcast Instagram: @fromthebackcountry

Jack Kuenzle is a prolific mountain athlete and coach for Evoke Endurance. He has collected FKTs like Jeep drivers collect those weird dashboard thingies, including FKTs on Mont Blanc, Denali, the Bob Graham Round, the Presidential Traverse, Hut Traverse, Great Range Traverse, Devils Path, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, Mt. Shasta, and more. Jack is becoming my ultra-running coach in the lead-up to me running Tor des Geants in September, and this is the second of our coaching conversations in the lead-up. Go listen to episode #98 for our first conversation, and look out for #3 in early September. Link to Jack's "Advice on Nutrition" document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oUl7v8faXhCIEbx3NMMRBDioC51WgoHoebM3KkvuBbM/edit?tab=t.0 Find Evoke Endurance at https://evokeendurance.com/ and @evokeendurance on Instagram. Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order. Podcast Instagram: @fromthebackcountry

Maia Buckingham and Xander Keiter are no strangers to the Northeast FKT scenes. They have both proven their metal time and again on gnarly routes and epic efforts in New England. Recently, both went out with the goal of setting new FKTs on the Hundred Mile Wilderness, and both succeeded in taking significant time off the records. We talk all about their efforts in this episode! Find them both on Strava and on Instagram @xkeiter2 and @moost.r Use code fromthebackcountry at infinitnutrition.us for 15% off your entire order. Podcast Instagram: @fromthebackcountry