Trail Running Are FKTs a bad thing?

Shawn said:

I have noticed a lot of people are going for FKTs lately.

For those that don't know what that is, an FKT means Fastest Known Time and it's basically the fastest hike or trail run on a trail or route. People compete for it and try to be the top FKT. Usually there is an overall FKT, male and female, supported and unsupported.

There is a website for it, too:

Home

The best routes: what are they, who did them, and how fast?

fastestknowntime.com

So, here's my question though. I read the comments on FKT news posts and see a lot of people complaining about it. They say FKTs turn hiking and trail running into a competition and make others feel like they're not good enough to do the route,

How do you feel about FKTs in general? I'm interested in seeing a discussion about this topic!

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krJoest said:

I think it's awesome, I like to read about them! I've never seen anything negative about the FKT website.

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Danl said:

Sometimes I'm hiking on a trail and am passed by runners. Sometimes I'm the runner. If the FKT attempt means being a jerk or cutting through sensitive areas, then I have a problem with it. But I'm happy to see runners on a trail. I can imagine it being a probable on a crowded trail but I'm almost never on crowded trails

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Driftwoody said:

Unless it causes damage or negatively impacts others using the trail, to each his own I say.

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