Technology has crept into every corner of our sport—from GPS watches to real-time tracking to social media validation. In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with Luke McCrae, the creator of Corsa, a site that tracked my Appalachian Trail FKT attempt (with a one-day safety delay). We dive into the rise of tech in FKTs and outdoor adventures—where it helps, where it hurts, and how far is too far. Does tracking make our experiences richer or just more public? Are we still chasing the same spirit of adventure when our dots move live on a map? It’s a deep, funny, and thought-provoking conversation about innovation, community, and the balance between authentic adventure and algorithmic obsession. Chapters 00:00 From Camping to Ultra Running: Luke's Journey 02:29 The Intersection of Technology and Outdoor Adventures 05:13 Corsa: Enhancing the Spectator Experience 08:05 Creating Community Through Technology 10:37 The Future of Ultra Running and Technology 13:21 Strava's Challenges and the Shift in Platforms 20:29 The Power of Sharing Experiences 25:25 Technology and Community in Thru-Hiking 30:43 Personal Transformation Through Hiking 36:07 Comparing Thru-Hiking and Ultra-Running Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at
[email protected] Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside
