Joe "Stringbean" McConaughy has set a new supported fastest known time on California's John Muir Trail, finishing in 2 days, 16 hours and 15 seconds on 23 September. The effort, started on 20 September, came on his third attempt at the route and is listed on fastestknowntime.com as a supported record via Whitney Portal.
The route measures approximately 211 miles. McConaughy was supported by a crew of eight, named on the FKT listing as Andrew Bentz, Caroline Himbert, Andy Golich, Wyatt Barrett, Noah Dusseau, Talon Hull, Sammy DeLeo and Gus Gibbs. He has been explicit that the credit is shared, describing the result as "as much my FKT as it is their FKT".
By his own account he spent much of the attempt behind the pace set by François D'Haene, the previous record holder, before gaining a decisive advantage at Muir Pass, where he faced difficult snow and weather. He then ran the entire descent over the final 22 miles to secure the time.
McConaughy also pointed to the logistics. A last-minute permit was secured on the day of the start, and a dedicated crew had to be assembled quickly, two factors that would normally count against a record bid of this size.
The result adds to a season in which McConaughy, already a Cocodona 250 podium finisher in May, has remained one of the most visible figures in long-distance trail and route running. It also continues a busy autumn for FKT attempts, after Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz's GR20 record in Corsica.