John Hardin
Trail race director, three time FKT holder and the founder of HardTracks. On December 10 he finds out how live tracking feels from the other side of the dot. Full story October 27.
John Hardin is a Nashville entrepreneur, race director and endurance athlete. He founded HardTracks, founded HardWin Adventures in 2010 and is Director and Chairperson of RUNNTENN, a nonprofit for free, accessible running and walking. HardWin grew from a six mile event he built with Cody Goodwin into trail races, endurance challenges and race timing, among them the Music City Trail Ultra, Black Toe Run, Caney Fork Ultra, Fiery Gizzard, Savage Gulf and the Natchez Trace Trail Run. He also hosts the free Tardigrade Track Club every Tuesday morning.
Before HardTracks he was a director and partner in several consumer technology companies. HardTracks brings that together with what he learned on race day: where an athlete was last seen, when the crew should expect them, and what the race director needs to see.
On foot he holds three documented supported FKTs. His 2024 Natchez Trace Parkway run, 444 miles in 6 days 23 hr 40 min, is the currently listed men's supported record and cut 3 days 12 hr 4 min off the one before. His Sheltowee Trace and Ozark Highlands times were records when he set them and have since been beaten. On the Appalachian Trail in 2022 he held record pace for more than 700 miles, raising money for Achilles International Nashville, until a quad injury ended the attempt.
| FKT | Year | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Natchez Trace Parkway (TN, AL, MS), 444 mi, supported, current men’s record | 2024 | 6 days 23 hr 40 min |
| Ozark Highlands Trail (AR), original 165 mi route, supported | 2019 | 2 days 9 hr 17 min |
| Sheltowee Trace (KY, TN), about 323 mi, supported | 2018 | 7 days 11 hr 50 min |
| Appalachian Trail record attempt for Achilles International Nashville, 700+ mi on record pace | 2022 | Attempt |
Sources: , achillesnashville.org
