FKT in Seoul: When Ultratrail Becomes a Collective Adventure
FKT Dullegil Seoul Trail.
154.5 km, 6111 m of positive elevation gain.
22h06’26’’, April 28–29, 2026, in Seoul, South Korea.
What drives Axelle Nardou, co-founder of WISE, to embark on a 155 km race around Seoul? The desire to set an FKT (Fastest Known Time, a self-supported timed speed record on a recognized route), but above all, the call of an adventure shared with GOODRUNNER, the brand's Korean partner. In this logbook, she recounts how this 22-hour challenge transformed into a powerful lesson in sisterhood.
Here is her story.
The Encounter
It all starts with an encounter.
In 2024, at UTMB, we met Yoonjoo and Mangki. An entrepreneurial couple, parents of one child — a bit like our mirror on the other side of the world. They live in South Korea and founded GOODRUNNER, a running store in Seoul.
They fell in love with WISE and wanted to distribute the brand in their store. Thus began a beautiful story.
During our first visit to Seoul for the launch of WISE at GOODRUNNER, we organized a large community run in the city. It was then that Mangki told me about the Dullegil Seoul Trail, a loop of about 155 kilometers that circles Seoul and is very popular there.
A small seed was planted in my mind.
A year later, we decided to come back to attempt to set an FKT on this route.
Inspiration through Sharing
Back to Seoul
On April 22, 2026, we were on our way to Seoul.
Upon our arrival, Yoonjoo suggested I meet her group of runners, the Goodrunner Sisters. We went for a run all together, before sharing a long moment discussing ultrarunning among women.
Questions naturally arose: how did I get back to running after my pregnancy? How do I balance my family life, sports, and professional life? Am I afraid to run alone at night?
It was a beautiful moment of exchange.
For my part, I especially observed the kindness they showed towards themselves and each other. Their way of helping, encouraging, without comparing or judging.
This greatly inspired me.
The Dullegil Seoul Trail, between Nature and Megalopolis
154.5 kilometers around Seoul
A few days before the start, Mangki took me to scout a small part of the Dullegil Seoul Trail to get me in the mood.
Then it was time to leave.
The GOODRUNNER crew was there to encourage me and give me all their energy. Their support was incredible throughout the adventure.
The Dullegil Seoul Trail forms a kind of belt around Seoul. It is made up of 21 sections, and at the end of each one, you have to stamp a small notebook to certify that you have completed the full loop.
For this attempt, we planned ten aid stations to replenish supplies, retrieve equipment, and change pacers.
Throughout the course, several Korean runners accompanied me on different sections. I was never alone. Each person would run a few kilometers, share a part of the path, then hand over to the next.
The trails are generally not very technical, as they are designed to be accessible to walkers and the elderly. But what makes this route so special is how it traverses all facets of Seoul.
You go from immense buildings to beautiful small forests. You walk alongside Buddhist temples before finding convenience stores, subway stations, and residential neighborhoods. The city and nature constantly intertwine.
In the middle of the night, at 4:30 AM, I passed people exercising on outdoor machines.
Then the day broke.
I saw the sun appear from a bridge, with the water and the city in the background. After an entire night of running, the image was magnificent.
It's this constant blend that makes the Dullegil Seoul Trail truly unique.
We chose to cover this loop as an FKT, but we could have just as easily made it a three-day journey. The route remains constantly close to the city, the subway, and accommodations. It's another way to discover Seoul, far from the usual itineraries.
After 154.5 kilometers, 6,111 meters of positive elevation gain, and 22 hours, 6 minutes, and 26 seconds of effort, the loop was complete.
Sisterhood
But ultimately, it's perhaps not the time I remember most from this adventure.
What I will remember most from this trip is the profound kindness of the people I met there. Their generosity, their support, and the way they made my adventure a collective one.
I also remember my connection with Yoonjoo. I believe we understood each other beyond words: as women, mothers, entrepreneurs, and athletes, each trying to find our own balance.
Yoonjoo and the Goodrunner Sisters ultimately taught me something far beyond running.
They taught me the true meaning of a word: sisterhood.
Axelle Nardou - @axelle.wise
in collaboration with @goodrunner_co