Chasing 100 FKTs

Jason Hardrath didn’t grow up chasing FKTs. He grew up being left behind—an ADHD kid with too much energy and not enough structure. The kind of kid who couldn’t sit still, got in trouble, got overlooked. But he kept moving. That instinct turned into a habit. The habit turned into a life.

This isn’t a story about records. It’s about obsession and identity. About a car crash that nearly ended his running. About learning how to parent himself before he became a teacher. About the kid who once tried to break six minutes in the mile—and then never stopped proving.

For his 100th Fastest Known Time, Hardrath chose the Bulgers: the 100 highest peaks in Washington. The logistics alone would break most people. The effort? Brutal. But what’s more compelling than the finish is how honest he is about the process. He calls the whole thing silly—but then goes on to show just how much meaning you can find in the things you once laughed off.

During the 50-day Bulgers push, Jason made a subtle but telling change: he gave up alcohol in favor of non-alcoholic brews. “As a craft-beer lover, that change was easier than expected,” he says. Small decisions like that—quiet, internal, disciplined—are often what hold big efforts together.