On June 30 at 11:34 p.m., Kyle Curtin arrived in his hometown of Durango, Colo., with a brand new quickest recognized time (FKT) for the Colorado Path (CT) underneath his belt. He had simply accomplished the east-to-west, Collegiate West route in 6 days, 15 hours, and eight minutes — it’s the quickest time ever set on any route on the CT.
Curtin wasn’t simply out to set a document with this goal, both. He was out to drum up assist for a trigger he cares about.
“A part of why I’m operating the CT is to lift cash for Massive Metropolis Mountaineers — a company that helps to spur love of the outside in children who wouldn’t usually have the chance,” he wrote in an Instagram submit from June 21.
Curtin departed from Denver on June 24 at 8:14 a.m. The endurance athlete and U.S. Military veteran set a tempo of 69 miles per day, smashing the earlier quickest document for that route by effectively over 2 days. He’s the primary particular person to finish any CT route in underneath per week.
Alongside the way in which, he ran with companions, pacers, and different endurance athletes like Tara Dower, who beforehand held the ladies’s supported FKT for the CT in 2023. When he arrived on the terminus of the CT in Durango, it was darkish out, and he was met by a bunch of cheering associates and supporters carrying glow sticks and headlamps, ringing cowbells and honking horns as Curtin splashed by means of puddles to the end line.
“What a welcome residence!” he wrote within the submit saying his profitable end.
Editor’s observe: This accomplishment remains to be listed as “Full – New FKT pending verification“ on Fastestknowntime.com. As soon as verification is full, we’ll replace this text with any modifications or further particulars.
Kyle Curtin: The Quickest Particular person on the Colorado Path — Ever
Curtin has been on an endurance bender during the last yr. In response to his profile on UltraSignUp, he took first on the Tushars Mountain Runs 70K in July 2023, took second within the Excessive 5 100 in August 2023, took first on the Zion Ultramarathon in April 2024, and second on the Hellbender 100 in Might. He has sponsorships with Altra Operating, Tailwind Diet, and Superganix.
However embarking on an FKT try of this nature on the CT is a wholly totally different problem than operating an endurance race — one thing Curtin caught on to shortly.
“Coaching for the FKT effort is one thing I’m good at, I like doing, and know how you can do effectively,” he wrote. “However the logistics are an entire totally different beast. It makes me consider the Common Bradly quote ‘Amateurs discuss technique, professionals discuss logistics.’ A number of vehicles, folks and equipment, all on totally different and variable timelines and alongside a 500 mile path. Oh, and a few fires that add in path closures and re-routes.”
The trouble was huge, however Curtin had a number of assist from associates, household, and others behind the trigger he was out to lift cash for. Massive Metropolis Mountaineers is a nonprofit that has been round since 1989. It gives nature experiences for youths who would possibly in any other case by no means have a chance to entry the outside.
Elevating Cash With an FKT: Massive Metropolis Mountaineers
On the fundraising web page for his FKT try, Curtin explains how he turned obsessive about operating trails just like the CT and spending time outdoors.
“In 2015, I used to be on the finish of a six-year enlistment within the US Military, and greater than something I needed a complete way of life change. The forms and all-encompassing nature of the soldier’s life had worn me down,” Curtin wrote. “So after I heard my dad was going to hike the Appalachian Path, I needed in on this journey!”
Via his time on the AT, he not solely found that he had a knack for endurance path climbing and operating but additionally that point in nature was indispensably invaluable to him.
“Funding for Massive Metropolis Mountaineers will assist present an identical alternative for youth who don’t usually have entry,” Curtin wrote.
As of this writing, his CT FKT marketing campaign is $3,568 in need of his purpose of elevating $10,000. You possibly can nonetheless donate on his marketing campaign web page, and no closing date is listed.
For updates on different FKTs in progress, test the Monitoring Web page on Fastestknowntime.com.
