The History of the speed record begins in 1960, when Cleve McCarty climbed 52 (then only 52 were recognized) fourteeners in 52 days. That record stood for 14 years. Then, in 1974 Quade and Tyle Smith climbed the 54 fourteeners in 33 days (They actually continued in California and Washington and climbed the 68 fourteeners in the continental United States in 48 days). They set the 3,000 foot standard. That standard states that you must ascend at least 3,000 feet en-route to the first fourteener of the climb, but after that traverses are allowed. You must also descend 3,000 feet on the way down.

Their record didn't last for long because in 1976, Steve Boyer climbed them all in 22 days. And five years later in 1981 Dick Walker finally beat the 20-day barrier and climbed them all in 18 days, 15 hours, and 40 minutes. He took over 3 days off the record, and the new record would stand for 9 years.

In 1990, Quade and Tyle Smith were at it again. Taking their detailed knowledge of the fourteeners, they were able to climb 54 fourteeners in only 16 days, 21 hours, and 35 hours. They were careful to adhere to the 3,000 foot rule.

In 1992, runners started getting involved. Ultramarathoner Adrian Crane ran on the trails and knocked the record down to 15 days, 17 hours, and 19 minutes. Adrian was also careful to follow the 3,000 foot rule.

In 1993 Jeff Wagoner summited 55 Colorado fourteeners in 14 days, 3 hours, however he did not follow the 3,000 foot rule.

In 1995 a pair of mountain runners, Rick Trujillo of Ouray, and Ricky Denesik of Telluride, took on the task. Both had very impressive resumes. Trujillo was a five time winner of the Pikes Peak Marathon. The two Ricks ("Rick squared") were careful to observe the 3000 foot rule and finished in 15 days, 9 hours, and 55 minutes. They gained 156,130 feet and traveled over 337 miles.

In August of 1997, Rick squared tried it again, this time with considerable more experience, and careful route planning behind them. Rick Trujillo was forced to drop out of the attempt, but Denesik went on to set a new record of 14 days, 16 minutes. Without the occurrence of an ill-timed storm on his last peak, Denesik would have been the first person to break the 14 day barrier.

That record (14 days, 16 minutes) stood until September 1999, when Andrew Hamilton shaved off 1 hour and 28 minutes. Andrew was not a runner like previous record holders and had to climb about 15 of them in darkness in order to set the record.

The standing record is now 13 Days, 22 hours, 48 minutes