TRANS USA Stéphane Mathieu

Yes, these type of "records" are more kind of a challenge between passionates of ultra running than anything else. Doesn't mean anything for the general public ;-).

In any case, I know Stéphane personally, and in no case would he cheat in this desperate attempt to settle a new FKT.

Right, of course these kind of record cannot be ratified (Guinness Book records are bullsh***), they can only be recognized by passionate ultrarunners and that's enough. The FKT concept looks interesting.

Of course cheaters (like RY) must be destroyed without mercy.

San Francisco to NYC is respected. Not taking away from Stephane. But if you cover 2,992 miles as opposed to 3,067 it's not exactly the same. I would be a fan of a set route, like for trail FKT's such as Appalachian trail.

Frank may not have run an ultra, but he did a full transcon before his record setting transcon. And think of the shoes in 1980. Impressive in my mind.

Guinness has a lot of flaws, but it keeps people more honest. Think outside of Stefane to the Runfluencers. If a runner wants a transcon record, they should at a minimum follow the Guinness regulations. Both Jenny and Pete had their records ratified by Guinness.

Day 19 start @5.11 to CHEYENNE and then 500 K on IS80.

ratified by Guinness means ratified by nobody serious. Which credibility has Guinness about running ? (I don't know what is a Runfluencer)

Ratified by Laz would mean much more ;-)

Agree Guinness is not the best, but they are currently the regulators of where the record is held. Until a governing body is found that both current record holders agree on, it is Guinness.

2000 K / 18 days 09h [Pete Kostelnick 17 days 20h].

The Guinness records never meant really anything in running. At one point they had a full on scammer listed in the early 2000. I can't recall his name right now.

And there is no current "regulator" of this record. It's just a fun record to run from coast to coast but it's not a real record in the sense of other athletic records which get precisely measured.

Just a useless record and it's why it is priceless. And making dreams.

You do get that TRANS in this case means "across"??

"Fun" is an interesting word considering the years and years and careful planning that goes into each of these attempts. And the extreme pain that each athlete has to overcome. Yes, it's not measured on a track like a traditional multi day race. But the current record holders followed a set of rules that are the minimum others trying to claim a record (and not a fun run) should abide by. If someone wants to do a "fun" run, nobody's standing in the way. But if claiming a record, those rules should be followed.

But there are no real rules.

Edward Payson Weston was probably the first person who walked across the US in 100 days in 1909. The first races were in 1928 and 29.

Starting in 1957 there were 6 runners until 1970. After that more tried this adventure. Not sure when Guinness book of records made up their rules.

Anyway it's always a different course and it's impossible to 100% proof that you have done it.

If you want a real record sign up for real races on certified courses.

TRANS are known for CROSS dressing. They don’t belong in women’s sports.

As far as I can tell from my notes of Pete's progress, Stephane is now slightly ahead of Pete's record after day 19.
(Pete ended day 19 50 miles east of Fort Collins on 9/30/2016.)

From my notes : 2000 K PK 17d 20h / SM 18d 09h

Both is true actually. Different routes and different ways of measuring distances.

Geographically Stephane seem to be slightly ahead. This also highlights that these Transcon "records" will never be that accurate.