This episode is a wide-ranging conversation with Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy, who is an accomplished runner and backpacker as well as a coach and a guide. He has held the Fastest Known Times for the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Long Trail, and the Arizona Trail and he was the winner of the Cocodona 250 in 2022. He’s also a friend and currently working on a book about fastpacking. We did have some technical difficulties, and there’s a solid delay, but hopefully the conversation is engaging enough to overcome the slight awkwardness. You can find all the info about Joe at his website, thestringbean.co

On the first episode of The Fastpacker, I interview Will Peterson. Will is well-known in the FKT world and New England hiking and running community. Among other things, we discuss his absolutely mind-blowing Unsupported Fastest Known Time on Vermont's Long Trail this past summer, where he averaged over 60 miles per day on one of the most iconic hiking trail, and FKT challenges out there. The dude is a beast. We go on for a long time, and we get in the weeds a bit, but if you're into this stuff as much as I am, the weeds are good.

Will has an incredible podcast himself called From the Backcountry, so be sure to check it out. You can find Will on IG at @_will.peterson.

Enjoy, and I'd love your feedback on this and future episodes.