Geert van Nispen sets two FKTs on the Portuguese Way

The 620 km from Lisbon to Santiago in 8 days, 14 hours and 1 minute — the first record of self-sufficiency for the entire route — and, within that same effort, a new record between Porto and Santiago.

Editorial: From Travesía Pirenaica we share the latest project by Geert van Nispen, a regular contributor to the magazine and one of the European leaders in self-sufficiency and long-distance travel. This text is based on the press release provided by Van Nispen himself, which has been verified against the records published in Fastest Known Time.

While half of Europe slows down in August, Van Nispen chose the opposite.

He didn't set out to break a record. He went out to see if his body could handle it.

At the beginning of August, after months of injury and with a knee that was still not fully recovered, Geert van Nispen set off for Lisbon without any specific training or plan. Ahead, the 620 kilometers of the Central Portuguese Way to Santiago de Compostela. Behind, a winter and a spring of uncertainty.

No preparation. No closed plan. First I had to regain confidence.

«Above all, I wanted to know if my body could handle the kilometers again. After months during which an injury to my knee had limited my life and my ability to move, this was not a race against the clock. It was a test. Can I do it again?»

The response came sooner than expected. Day after day the kilometers accumulated. The pace returned. The doubt gave way to confidence. And at some point along the way the idea emerged that this could be more than just a personal challenge.

Lisbon – Santiago: 8 days, 14 hours, 1 minute

On August 15th Van Nispen arrived in Santiago de Compostela after 8 days, 14 hours, 1 minute and 0 seconds on the road, in the style of self-sufficiency (self-supported): everything necessary is at your back, without external assistance.

With this, he becomes the first person with an homologated FKT for self-sufficiency on the entire Lisbon–Santiago route. Until now, the Fastest Known Time record only included marks in the style of supported, With external assistance, so in its category—the one it usually competes in—there was no previous reference. Its time creates it.

«That’s what makes this FKT special for me. Not only did I set a time: I created the starting point for anyone who wants to try this route faster.»

And along the way, a second record

On August 13, upon entering Oporto, the crossing changed in size. In the Oporto–Santiago section, there already existed an homologated FKT in self-sufficiency: 3 days, 5 hours, 6 minutes and 32 seconds, by Harry Madgwick Lawton (2021).

Van Nispen reduced it by more than fourteen hours: 2 days, 14 hours, 7 minutes and 12 seconds, Without breaking the continuity of his journey from Lisbon.

«The plan was very simple: see what my body could do. But when I saw that it was getting better and better, the excitement set in. And then, of course, you want to know what else is possible.»

Heat, blisters and a dry fall

The Portuguese summer was nothing special. High temperatures, long stretches without any shade, heavy kilometers. Itches. And a nasty fall.

He went stumbling over the cobblestones. In addition to the scratches, the right hip took the entire impact. For a few seconds he saw everything black and thought that the hip was not going to let him continue.

He continued.

The heat also left some unusual scenes. In the agricultural areas of the route, the irrigation sprinklers became an unexpected luxury.

«Normally you don't choose to walk under a sprinkler. But at some moments it was simply wonderful. You're adding up kilometers under a scorching sun and trying to keep your body as cool as possible.»

From injury to confidence

For Van Nispen, the two records are above all a confirmation: he can trust his body again.

Earlier this year he had to abandon his attempt on the Camino Francés after the first day. The following months were of recovery, of doubts and of relearning to move without having to listen to the knee the whole time.

«I went out to test the body. Along the way came the dance with the clock. But the best part is that I didn't end up with just two records: I regained my confidence.»

The route records

This is how the standings looks in Fastest Known Time, by categories:

Lisbon – Santiago de Compostela (620 km)

• Self-sufficiency (male): Geert van Nispen — 8 d 14 h 1 min (2026). First record of the category.
• With assistance (male): Igor Rybalchenko — 8 d 7 h 27 min (2023).
• With assistance (female): Lydia Oldham — 5 d 17 h 8 min (2025).

Oporto – Santiago de Compostela (227 km)

• Self-sufficiency: Geert van Nispen — 2 d 14 h 7 min (2026). Absolute record for the route.
• Previous: Harry Madgwick Lawton — 3 d 5 h 6 min (2021); David Altabev — 6 d 22 h 36 min (2019).

Official cards: Lisbon – Santiago - Oporto – Santiago

Who is Geert van Nispen

Geert van Nispen (50 years old) is a Dutch ultra-runner, adventurer and blogger. He lives largely from his backpack and focuses on long-distance treks, ultra-running and Fastest Known Times. In 2025 he completed a journey of more than 3,800 kilometers through seven countries and among other things signed the FKT in self-sufficiency on the Camino del Norte. In 2026 he has focused his season on ultra-running, the Camino Francés and the Camino Portugués.