Ep. 3 SHELTOWEE TRACE Thru-Hike / Quest for the FKT TRILOGY

Episode 3 of my attempt to set the overall Fastest Known Time in under six days on the 341 mile Sheltowee Trace.
This is where it all began for me, by setting my first FKT in 2019 going Self-Supported and the first ever Unsupported FKT in 2021. I just missed setting the overall by 5 hours and I was unable to shake the thought of possibly coming back one day to attempt to set the new overall fastest time.
At that same time, it also occurred to me that if I did come back one more time, I would try to go supported with a crew and complete the trifecta of FKT’s on the Trace, with having held an FKT in each of the three categories. I attempted to accomplish this in 2021 but fell short at 1/3 of the way through due to poor weather. Will my fourth and final attempt be successful?
On this attempt I carried my Garmin Inreach mini and wore a Corus Apex watch for verification. For shoes I wore mostly the Altra Olympus 4.0’s, but also Topo Ultraventure 2's and Topo Pursuit's with Darn Tough socks and Dirty Girl Gators. My trekking poles were Fizan Compact 3 aluminum poles. My running vest was a Salomon ADV Skin 5.
Part 1 can be found here: • Ep.1 SHELTOWEE TRACE T...
Part 2 can be found here: • Ep. 2 SHELTOWEE TRACE ...
Previous FKT's on the Sheltowee Trace:
2019 Self-Supported attempt part 1: • Sheltowee Trace 2019 N...
2021 Unsupported attempt part 1: • Sheltowee Trace Thru-H...
2022 failed Supported attempt: • Sheltowee Trace Suppor...
Full length documentary of 2021 Unsupported attempt: • Sheltowee Trace Thru-H...
0:00-0:41 intro
0:41-6:24 beginning of day one, Resurgence Cave and first 13 miles
6:24-9:40 first two aid stops and a close look at the swollen ankle problem
9:40-13:19 aid stop 3 near Rt. 421 and how to deal with the cankle
13:19-15:34 Little Turtle Inn to S-tree Campground
15:34-19:13 Dango, Raccoon Creek, Horselick Creek
19:13-22:13 we loose a crew member
22:13-25:45 Ready to quit! Rt. 89 dogs, Lamero Bridge and Wildcat Battlefield
25:45-29:52 Start of day 4, crossing I75, and passing the 49er Dinner truck stop

[@laker185]

Love the grit and persistence thru all the adversity. Truly motivating watching you do this. You show how never giving up you will succeed.

[@jasonwish-]

I wanted to throw in the towel so many times....but so glad I didn't. Other than the ankel/shin pain it was nearly all mental. Thanks!

[@laker185]

@jasonwish- I could tell you were hurting. I saw on your face. But your strength and persistence were awesome to see. Never quit. Never give up. Truly rules to live by. Love watching and Congratulations on overcoming all that adversity. And achieving the goal of holding all 3 FKT categories.

[@anthony_privett]

Your toughness and determination are amazing. Most would have thrown in the towel with their ankle looking like that. I can’t wait to see the next video.

[@jasonwish-]

Thanks Anthony! I still don't know what was going on with it because I don't recall ever injuring it, but I'm so glad I didn't throw in the towel!

[@JourneyontheTrail]

Wow man! Seeing how your foot and ankle was and you kept pushing those miles…wow. Looking forward to the next chapter.

[@jasonwish-]

working on the next one right now! Might even have a mid week release for the next one. If it wasn't for the darn ankle/shin, I think I could have finished a day earlier, but we will never know b/c I'm never doing that again, lol! Thanks AJ!

[@talldude5841]

Jason, your toughness, faith, family and friends that support you through this makes this so interesting, Just don't die. LOL Please keep going and be safe.

[@jasonwish-]

At times I felt like dying, lol, but so glad I had such good support to keep me moving down the trail!

[@Maxspeed1998]

Incredible journey Jason, looking forward to the next part.

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you so much! Working on the next one right now!

[@jamesosborne5950]

Your a beast my friend . Toughing it out with all of that swelling.

[@jasonwish-]

It was not fun, and I probably should have stopped, but I knew this was my last opportunity. Thanks James!

[@haroldsams-hs]

Man that had to be so hard! like I've said before, you are tougher than a pine knot lol if you had not had the ankle issue you would have struggled very little. I hiked from the old halfway point on 490 to hawk creek one day which is about 17 miles and it was very difficult for me with a 31 lbs pack, I also carry to much water for the fear of running out lol haven't got that dailed in yet, but its hard for me to wrap my mind around the miles you can put down in a day, the first few miles after the 49er was pretty tough I thought. your support team sure did take good care of you. That was another great video Sir, Thanks for sharing!

[@jasonwish-]

Lol, pine knot! Yes, without the ankle issue I could have been running constantly and most likely finished an entire day sooner...there's a lot of room for improvement for a good runner with a good crew. I know exactly how it feels to hike 17 miles with 31 lbs...not easy at all!! Thanks Harold!

[@DMSAdventures]

So Mister and I were back on the Palmetto Trail yesterday and today. I had planned to do the Awendaw Passage and then actually finish up the rest of the Swamp Fox Passage that we hadn't done yet. It is a total of about 37 miles we needed to do. I planned for us to do 15 miles on day 1, 15 miles on day 2 and 7 on day 3. The most we've ever done in a day is about 11.5 miles through some pretty hilly terrain. So I thought 15 was doable. The first day started off pretty good and had a 2.6 mph moving pace. So that was the first thing that jumped out at me in your video. That 3 mph was very slow for you. Granted Mister has half the leg length that we do. He started wearing down around mile 12. Then Alltrails threw us for a loop and what we were expecting to be a 14.9 mile day turned into a 16.8 mile day. I think those extra 2 miles really played a mental game on us both. I just find it interesting how scale-able the challenges are. We did have new shoes on but our feet were hurting so bad by the end of the day. Whereas you have the experience and the drive to push through the pain, poor Mister did not and I wasn't going to push him (because in all reality,,, I had had my fill as well!) We finished up the next day with a 4 mile hike to a road crossing where we got picked up and called it a trip. We'll probably finish up the last 18 miles of the Swamp Fox Passage next year. Great job working through the pain and just overcoming with willpower! Sorry for the novel but I could just really relate since we just went through at least a similar experience in kind!

[@jasonwish-]

Congrats on making it into my top ten list of longest comment ever recieved, lol!! Love it! Wow, you guys were really pushing...great job! Hey, even on a two night 23 mile backpacking trip in the Cranberry wilderness really wore me out bad since I was still recovering, so 60 mile days are definitely not the norm for me, Mister should be really proud of the miles he accomplished. When those legs of his finally finish stretching out you and I better look out....he will be able to out hike both of us!! I so much want to get back on the Palmetto! I'll be back down there for my annual 120 miles in early February! Thanks guys!

[@stevebednarchik9390]

One tough cookie. Solid effort for a guy retired from FKT’s😂. You would be a great Eco Challenge teammate. You have the drive

[@jasonwish-]

Maybe not fully retired, lol! I have a few shorter ones, 60 mile and 100 mile, that I might still tackle next year. The drive is slowly lessening a little each year 😂. Not familiar with the eco challenge...?

[@crawlinblind7487]

You are inspiring ! In life and in your efforts. Best to you from Darke county, Oh.

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you fellow Ohioan, I appreciate that!

[@SeniorHiker77]

I'm glad you are still young enough to make that effort. At 83, it's almost laughable for me. Lol

[@jasonwish-]

It’s so very impressive to me that you can still get out there and enjoy hiking and backpacking! My dad is only 76 and he can’t do things like that anymore…I sure hope I can do what you’re doing at your age. I was just down in your neck of the woods a few days ago…I was on the Pine Mountain Trail. Was planning to run all 23 miles in about 6 hours but got a late start and decided to just do about 8 miles from Cascade Falls TH to FDR Overlook. Beautiful!

[@rosesmith6208]

tough is a tough is, seems things like this is more about mental toughness then physical prowness, that guy running around at night knowing your trying to sleep, seems like a inconsiderate guy to me. I would of been annoyed being so tired you cant sleep that would stink, I remember years and years ago I used to run, and one night I had to run after work when it is dark as dark can be, I hit a gouge in the ground from a truck and my ankle sprained so bad it took 2 year to heal. that hurt so bad I screamed but no sound came out. yikes!!! glad you made it.

[@jasonwish-]

definitely a lot of mental!! I think the guy was drunk and didn't understand what I was attempting. Bad sprained ankles are the worse! I think they hurt more than a broken ankle! Thanks Rose.

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

Awesome episode!

[@jasonwish-]

Thank you Chris!