Bri Jaskot on the Get Stoked Girls Podcast
- Rhianna Walzer
- May 1
- 11 min read
Updated: Oct 30
A conversation about FKTs, cultivating a solo unsupported mindset, and finding empowerment through coaching.
Meet Bri Jaskot — a mountain running powerhouse and UESCA-certified endurance coach. With 11 FKTs (Fastest Known Time) to her name, she takes on trails solo and unsupported, carrying everything she needs without crew support. When she’s not on her two feet, she’s on two wheels, whether it’s road, gravel, or mountain. As founder and head coach of High Desert Endurance, Bri shares her passion by helping others grow, push limits, and find joy on the trail.
We caught up with Bri on her home turf in Carson City, Nevada. The interview took place at Prison Hill Recreation Area, a network of trails Bri has officially adopted and helps maintain. Against the backdrop of the Eastern Sierra, we spoke about the discipline of solo, unsupported efforts, the motivation behind ambitious objectives, her approach to coaching, and her advice to get more women psyched on movement outside.
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Athletic Background
Rhi: What role did sports play in your life growing up?
Bri: I started out as a swimmer, really young — starting around age four and continuing through high school. I also ran middle school track and high school cross country. After that, I ran for a couple of years at a junior college before transferring to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where I continued running cross country. Honestly, those years were tough. I had fractured my sacrum right before moving to Hawaiʻi, and that injury affected my running for a long time, probably five or six years. It took the joy out of it for a while. But over time, with a lot of work, I’ve gotten back to a place where I feel strong again, stronger than I was back then, even.
Rhi: What were some of the lessons you learned from dealing with a major injury while also navigating a big move and starting a new chapter in your college running career?
Bri: Looking back, I was really young, just 19, and had just come from living at home during junior college. Moving to Hawaii and dealing with a major injury at the same time was overwhelming. I fell into a pretty deep depression. I wasn’t able to run for a bit, didn’t feel like myself, and felt the pressure around body image back then. I was in this weird place, feeling isolated, even though I had friends and a boyfriend. It was just a dark time for me. Looking back, I wish I could have handled things better, but I also recognize that those years taught me a lot, even if it was tough. It was a really formative period, though it didn’t feel that way at the time.
Rhi: Was there a moment or experience when that joy for running returned? Did it happen when you first hit the trails, or was it a gradual shift?
Bri: After stepping away from university running, I kept running on my own and explored longer distances while finishing school. Joining run clubs in Hawaii, with its strong triathlon community and events like the Honolulu Marathon, helped me build a better relationship with running. I also tried trail running on the steep, muddy, technical Tantalus trails, which was a completely different experience but very intriguing.
After college, I bought a CamelBak, read books by Dean Karnazes and Scott Jurek, and headed out to run the Berkeley Hills without a set plan, just bringing food and water and letting the adventure unfold. That mindset reignited my love for running. Motivation came from personal discovery and the joy of exploring, and while it was a slow process before social media inspiration, it was a journey that built over time and shaped my approach to running.
Rhi: Was there a specific trail or experience that made you realize big endurance challenges were your true calling?
Bri: There wasn’t one defining moment, it was a gradual progression over the years. My husband played a big role. When we met in 2016, he was really into summit objectives and off-trail adventures. At first, my runner mindset hated it — it felt too slow and frustrating. But over time, that changed.
In 2020, with races canceled, we decided to take on The Tahoe Ogul Peaks, a set of 63 mountain peaks around the Lake Tahoe basin. He wanted to complete it in one summer, and I was also training for an FKT around Mount Hood. Those long, off-trail days were great with running blended into the mix. I ended up doing 52 of the 63 peaks that summer, and that experience shifted my mindset. I learned to embrace the slowness and see it as part of the fun. That project, along with my husband's influence, is really what pulled me into the world of big mountain efforts, even as I kept chasing faster trail goals.
Chasing FKTs
Rhi: Do you plan your season around FKTs? How do they fit into your overall approach to goal setting?
Bri: Over the past few years, FKTs have become a bigger part of my season. I usually have a few specific ones in mind, though my list is always longer than I can realistically complete. I’ve become more intentional about which FKTs I pursue, trying to build on each one year after year.
At first, it wasn’t very structured. My first FKT on Mount Whitney came from a coach’s suggestion, and when I achieved it, I wanted to try another. Some I didn’t even plan for, like “Run to the Sun” on Maui, which I did for the experience and later learned it was an official FKT route with no women’s unsupported time yet. Establishing that felt meaningful and inspiring. That is what I love about FKTs. They can be competitive or purely exploratory. My husband and I even use them to find new adventures, like the Lost Coast Trail, which we plan to do just for the experience.
When a woman claims an FKT, she opens the door for more to follow.
Rhi: You mentioned solo and unsupported — what is it about that style that draws you in? What motivates you to take on these efforts completely on your own?
Bri: For me, it’s really about self-reliance. I enjoy the logistics and planning that go into doing a route completely solo — figuring out water sources, fuel, gear, and how to stay safe if something goes wrong. There’s a strong sense of empowerment that comes from handling it all on your own and knowing you’re capable of execution.
Rhi: What are some of the key steps in your preparation process before going after an unsupported effort?
Bri: I do a lot of research for every route I take on, some require more in-depth planning than others. I start by estimating how long the effort might take, then build my nutrition plan around that. I focus on grams of carbohydrates per hour, and adjust based on the intensity. For more runnable efforts, I’ll use gels, liquid carbs, juice, or candy. If it’s more of a hiking effort, I’ll bring solid foods like dried mango or chips. I try to mix things up to avoid palate fatigue — since unlike a race, there are no aid stations out there, you have to plan for a change in taste.
For hydration, I always map out water sources ahead of time. I use CalTopo, which is great because it shows permanent water sources as solid lines and seasonal ones as dotted. That, along with beta from others who’ve done the route. If it’s commonly used as a backpacking trail, that helps me plan where I can refill.
Being prepared is what helps me feel at ease out there. I’m not planning for everything to go right. I’m planning for what to do if something goes wrong.
Rhi: Do you ever feel fear or anxiety before heading out on a big solo effort — or even while you're out there? What does that internal dialogue look like for you, and how do you work through those moments?
Bri: Absolutely. I definitely feel fear and anxiety, especially beforehand. It is usually heightened before I start because of all the unknowns. Once I’m out there, I’m more focused, but nerves still creep in, especially if the terrain is technical, I’m behind schedule, or conditions shift. On efforts like the White Mountain Traverse, I reminded myself to stay controlled because one wrong step can change everything.
Over time it has gotten easier. Confidence builds with experience, and the more I complete these efforts, the more I trust myself. Preparation plays a huge role, from having maps downloaded to knowing my route and planning food and water. That helps put me at ease, though I have also learned not to push the nerves away completely. That adrenaline is part of what helps me perform well. Fear does not go away, it just evolves. What scared me a few years ago does not scare me now, but unfamiliar routes in the dark still push my edge. It is about showing up, pushing through, and growing bit by bit.
Rhi: Let’s talk about your Telescope Peak FKT from Shorty’s Well — such a gnarly, remote route in Death Valley National Park. Can you walk us through what that day was like? What stood out to you, and did that effort hold any special meaning for you? Just take us on a little trip through the experience.
Bri: I attempted the Telescope Peak route last October, just before my birthday. I try to do something special each year around that time, and this route has been on my list since 2020. Getting out there is tough. It's remote and access is challenging. After Hurricane Hillary, West Side Road was closed, so I had to take a long detour.
The route itself is a stunning one, ascending from Badwater Basin to Telescope Peak, the highest point in Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level to over 11,000 feet. Most people do it as an overnighter.
I opted to carry all my water because the nearby Hanaupah Spring is questionable due to contamination risks, including chemicals and a potential algae bloom from high temperatures. I brought 4.5 liters of water and had run out on my way back to Badwater, the heat was intense. I was super dehydrated in the final miles.
One of the coolest aspects of this route is the environment. Normally, you climb up through tree line, but in Death Valley, the trees don't start until higher up, so you're entering tree line and then leaving it again as you ascend. It's such a unique landscape, with bristlecone pines and junipers scattered along the way.
Coaching & Training
Rhi: When did coaching become a part of your journey, and what inspired you to start High Desert Endurance?
Bri: In July 2023, I got certified through the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA), which was my first step into coaching and learning more about training theory, a topic I’ve always loved and explored in my spare time. Before that, I worked at a local running store where I was the product buyer for a few years, but I was ready for a change. Coaching had always been something I was interested in, but I was hesitant to take the leap. Starting a business is a vulnerable move, and I was a little scared. But eventually, I decided to just go for it.
I got certified and reached out to a few people to offer free coaching and ended up coaching 10 people for free from July to December 2023. In January 2024, when I officially launched my coaching business, all of them stayed on as clients. Since then, the business has grown steadily. The hardest part about starting a business is not knowing if it will work, but now, I’m coaching full-time with 30 athletes. Trail season is just beginning, so I’m expecting more people to reach out soon. It's an exciting feeling to see things coming together.
Coaching is all about caring for your athletes, understanding their individual goals, and creating personalized training plans to help them succeed.
Rhi: How did your certification program shape your own approach to training and performance? Were there any key takeaways that you've applied to your own training?
Bri: It’s had a big impact. It’s hard to pinpoint just a couple of things, but one key takeaway is that I’ve always had a coach myself. I think it’s really important to have someone to bounce ideas off of, a completely objective perspective. When you're too close to your own training, it can be hard to view it honestly and without overthinking, especially when doubts creep in. I’ve tried coaching myself over the years, but it’s just not something that works for me. I need that outside perspective to stay on track and avoid second-guessing my training every day, even when I’m confident in the plan I’ve put together.
Rhi: Can you talk about your approach to cross-training? I know you're also a cyclist — road, gravel, and even a bit of mountain biking. How does biking fit into your overall training strategy?
Bri: I started cycling in 2023 after dealing with plantar fasciitis — definitely not fun! Cycling was never something I thought I'd get into, honestly. It was just a way to get around in college because I didn’t have a car. But now, I absolutely love it. I cycle a lot and rely on cross-training to keep my training varied and refreshing. It’s nice to mix things up, so you're not always doing the same thing. In fact, I’m racing this weekend in Lone Pine, doing a 55-mile race!
Cycling has become a core part of my year now, and I’m excited about the potential to take on more bike-related routes in the future, maybe even some mountain bike stuff. To me, it's all about human-powered movement, and adding cycling lets you create even bigger days by combining the bike with time on feet. It’s also helped me become a better runner by mixing up my training. It allows you to add volume without the added impact on your body.
Rhi: Let’s dive into your future goals, if you're open to it. You’ve got a bike race this weekend — what else does 2025 hold for you? And on a bigger scale, what’s on your ultimate bucket list that you're stoked on?
Bri: In terms of my personal goals, one thing I’m really excited about is the Glass Mountain Traverse. I’m drawn to exploring ranges outside the Sierra, especially ones that don’t get as much attention. The Glass Mountains are located between Lee Vining and Mammoth. What draws me to that area is the incredible obsidian, which I absolutely love. Plus, it’s part of the new Mammoth 200 loop that Mammoth Trail Fest is putting on, which I’m stoked about. When Sally McRae ran it last year, she raved about how cool it was, so it’s been on my bucket list for a few years now. I’m thinking it would be a great early-season adventure, maybe around June.
Recently, I’ve also been reconsidering the White Mountain Traverse. It’s literally right across the street from the Sierra. I tried it last year in an attempt to set a female unsupported FKT, but it didn’t go as planned. I still want to do it, but I’ve realized I’m not feeling the same level of motivation for it as I did last year. I don’t want to do it just to check off a box. I want to be really motivated, and right now, I’m just not there. I’ve already done the route, and I know I can do it, but I don’t think it’s my top priority right now. So, for now, I’m putting that on the backburner.
Instead, I’m leaning towards a self-supported attempt on Lowest to Highest. There’s currently no female self-supported FKT for it. The biggest challenge is the water situation, so unsupported is out of the question. The route is similar to the Badwater course, about 135 miles, maybe 140 miles, and it goes all the way to the top of Mount Whitney. It’s an off-trail adventure, and I’ve done sections of it before. My husband and I are actually planning a double crossing of the Inyos in a couple of weeks as part of the route, so it’s exciting to be getting closer to that challenge.
Get Stoked Girls
Rhi: What would be your final words of advice to get girls stoked?
Bri: Fear is always there, but it’s something that evolves over time. Don’t let that fear stop you from pursuing something you're excited or passionate about. Confidence comes through action, so you just have to take that first step and get out there. If you’re facing a big, intimidating goal or route, break it down into smaller, manageable pieces. Look at what each part of that challenge requires and tackle those steps in your training. Then, when the day comes, you’ll have all those pieces in place, and you can put it all together.
Confidence comes from action.
