---
title: "#51 Camino Francés in 9 days, Czechia in 33 days and other FKT records – Matěj Švec"
description: "He ran around the country in 33 days and did the Camino Francés in 9 – Matěj Švec is one of the best Czech fast-hikers and holders of FKT (Fastest Known Time) records. 🏃"
canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/fkt-records-matej-svec"
last_updated: "2026-05-08"
---

# #51 Camino Francés in 9 days, Czechia in 33 days and other FKT records – Matěj Švec

Authors: David Czempka

Date: 2026-05-08

He ran around the country in 33 days and did the Camino Francés in 9 – Matěj Švec is one of the best Czech fast-hikers and holders of FKT (Fastest Known Time) records. 🏃

He ran around the country in 33 days, did the Camino Francés in 9 days, and it took him a week to get from Sněžka to Gerlach – Matěj Švec is one of the best Czech fast-hikers and holders of FKT (Fastest Known Time) records. 🏃 The guest of episode 51 of the Život na treku podcast is an ultrarunner and devotee of record-fast crossings who seeks out the limits of his own abilities and intense emotions on the trail.

For Matěj, running extreme distances and chasing the fastest time (Fastest Known Time, FKT) isn't just about athletic performance – above all, it's about intense self-discovery and finding the beauty of everyday life. On routes like Norway's St. Olav's Way or a run across scorching-hot Cyprus, he reaches a state of absolute calm where his mind wanders between physical pain 💥 and extreme euphoria 🤩. It's a world where it's worth trading comfort for 3,5 kilograms of bare-essential gear.

Matěj also carries his experience from long-distance trails over into fatherhood – hiking with his kids in carrier backpacks, he's discovering that even a pace of 25 kilometers a day can be just as fulfilling as chasing the fastest time. 👦🏻👧🏻

🎧 This conversation isn't just for elite athletes, but for anyone looking for inspiration to step out of their comfort zone – whether with a backpack on their back or in everyday life. If you enjoyed the talk, we'd appreciate a subscribe, a like, or a comment. Don't forget to follow us on your favorite podcast platform, too. 😉

## 🎧 **Listen to the podcast on**

- [YouTube](https://youtu.be/qy-ica9CqmM)
- [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CpISXx4WOqm5eSWm5rUZ2)
- [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/cz/podcast/%C5%BEivot-na-treku/id1612950422)

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy-ica9CqmM)

## In this episode, you'll learn: 🏃

- What FKT (Fastest Known Time) is: The difference between the supported, self-supported, and unsupported categories.
- 🙏 The philosophy of pain: Why happiness bought with suffering is more intense, and what inner dialogues go on in the head of someone running hundreds of kilometers alone.
- 🧈 Food and calories: How Matěj lost 8 kilos in 10 days and why he bought a whole block of butter on his run around Czechia.
- 🎒 Ultralight in practice: How to cut your base weight down to 3,5 kg and why you can leave your power bank at home.
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family trekking: How to manage 25 km a day with two small kids and why mom's comfort matters most on the trail.

## 📖 Chapters

- 00:00 Intro and guest introduction
- 2:30 Challenges he has run
- 7:11 What is FKT
- 13:40 How Matěj got started
- 15:24 On the depth of motivation
- 20:45 Surprises on the Camino Francés
- 25:53 Inner dialogue
- 29:26 What keeps Matěj running
- 32:36 Recovery and sleep
- 35:57 Calories and diet
- 39:47 Foot care
- 41:45 Gear and weight
- 45:47 Where to save weight
- 50:30 Trekking with the family
- 1:01:35 Plans and goodbyes

## This could come in handy

- [DexShell Running Lite Sock 2.0](/p/dexshell-running-lite-sock-2-0.md)
- [Sea To Summit Camp Cutlery Spoon](/p/sea-to-summit-camp-cutlery-spoon.md)
- [Sea To Summit Frontier UL Collapsible Bowl](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-collapsible-bowl.md)
- [Liteway Pokkie Pack](/p/liteway-pokkie-pack.md)
- [Fizan Compact MS](/p/fizan-compact-ms.md)
- [Gramino SagiFlow](/p/gramino-sagiflow-ultralight-bidet.md)
- [TOAKS LIGHT Titanium 450 ml Cup](/p/toaks-light-cup-450-ml.md)
- [Sea To Summit eVac Compression Dry Bag UL](/p/sea-to-summit-evac-compression-dry-bag-ul.md)
- [REAL Turmat Kebab Stew](/p/real-turmat-kebab-stew.md)
- [Sea To Summit Ground Control Tent Peg](/p/sea-to-summit-ground-control-tent-peg.md)
- [Sea To Summit Airlite Towel – Medium](/p/sea-to-summit-airlite-towel-medium.md)
- [TheTentLab DirtSaw Deuce #2 UL Trowel](/p/thetentlab-dirtsaw-deuce-2-ul-trowel.md)
- [Gramino Ultralight Waterproof Backpack Liner](/p/gramino-ultralight-waterproof-backpack-liner.md)

This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/fkt-records-matej-svec).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.