What if there was no defined start time? What if I could take back control? So the idea germinated like the first flowers of spring, like it has for so many people during these past couple of years during the pandemic. Why not go for the wonderfully American concept of the fabled FKT? If successful it would mean that I had a world record, at least in my mind, in a sport that I once vividly remember closing the door on back in 2017 after completing the Yorkshire 10 mile (very few miles, too much booze and some cigarettes appear not to set you up for running well).
Living around Bath there is an abundance of trails and muddy spots, usually just a short, but steep rise up one of the surrounding hills. Numerous FKTs can be found within a few miles of the city, the most famous locally being the 102mi Cotswold Way that snakes through the Cotswold hamlets and villages.
Map of the local FKT routes around Bath that can be attempted taken from the FKT website (https://fastestknowntime.com) |
Why the Dan Booth round?
The FKT that I was going to attempt had to be manageable; I wanted something that I could complete by myself - that's the Cotswold Way striked off the list then. Plus given my general lack of experience with any silly long distances (yet!) I knew that I couldn't push my body past what it was capable of, especially with the knowledge that the Bath Half was still to come. This leads to a natural fall onto the Dan Booth round - roughly 24 miles, around 1000m elevation and no definitive route. The challenge, to touch each of the 10 trig points (well now 9 since the removal of the Widcombe trig).
Goals
I am going into this attempt with 4 goals:
A* - sub 3 hr
A - sub 3:15 hr
B - sub 3:23hr (FKT)
C - to get round and enjoy it!
The A* goal is very very ambitious and I will not be setting out with the prospect of going sub 3 hr. However if it's on at the halfway point I will push on for the second half. More realistically, the A goal is the one I will think will be achievable. I have left it with a 8 minute buffer to the current FKT (goal B) as cover for if my legs do fall away in the second half. Ultimately, failing getting the FKT, just getting around the route and enjoying it will be a good outcome (although the joy of the FKT will be the motivational force sweeping me around).
Shoes and nutrition
I will be wearing my Inov-8 X-talon 235's due to it likely being a bit boggy in places along the route. They can do some road work, but I find that after about 2miles of only hard surfaces my feet begin to feel worse for wear. To overcome this I have planned a more 'traditional' route, sticking to trails where possible.
For my nutrition and hydration I am going to be taking:
- 2 x High5 gels (Bananna & Apple)
- 12 x homemade energy peanut butter balls
- 750 ml homemade sports drink
- 2 L water
- Emergency/celebratory snickers
FKT report
Englishcombe |
The 5:45 alarm was surprisingly welcomed, excited for the days running ahead. A quick scrambled egg on pitta bread alongside Moka Pot coffee. The rest of the morning was spent relaxing and those last minute nerves causing me to double and triple check my kit. Had I got my food? Did I actually fill up my water bladder last night? Did I need my headtorch? (of course not, the sunrise was at 6:30).
Start to Englishcombe
So as 8am approached, I was warmed up and ready to go. Route loaded, cap backwards, sunnies on standing at the entry to the field where the Widcombe trig used to be. 3... 2... 1... False Start, got to say hello to the dogs. Right focus; 3, 2, 1 and I was off rolling along at 7:30 min/mi, a little bit faster than planned but the trails were good and the pace felt right. Out of Freefields Woods, turning right to head through Combe Down and old familiar territory.
Southdown Knoll |
Englishcombe to Newton St. Loe
Newton St. Loe |
Next there was a bit more boring road work up to Newton St Loe. I was feeling strong and in control but reminded myself that there was still a long way to go.
Newton St. Loe to Hanging Hill
Penn Hill |
Tagging Kelston Round Hill is always a favourite of mine, the views are some of the best around. Unfortunately, as I was on a mission I did not have time to appreciate them and it was a quick tag, picture, move on scenario.
Kelston Round Hill |
Hanging Hill to Bannedown
In and out of Hanging Hill was smooth and a brisk wind from behind pushed me along. A slightly jumbled swap of my food bags put me off of my rhythm and I wondered whether the challenge might be slipping away slowly. However I still had time in the bag on the record (1:42:30 at Hanging Hill) and I regained my composure. I then decided to push it down to Swainswick, in hindsight a little mistake as it burnt up my quads a bit and they never quite recovered afterwards.
Hanging Hill |
The track up to Bannerdown was the boggiest of the lot, with ankle deep mud for the majority. Not good for my legs or my motivation as I thought the FKT might be slowly slipping away.
Bannerdown to End
Solsbury Hill |
As expected, the hill chewed me up and tried to spit me back out (down the hill). My pace was reduced to 20 min.mi and I was left watching the time ahead rapidly fall, praying that the end would come before the I fell behind the required pace. I made it to the top with plenty of time ahead left! A quick shimmy to the Bathampton Down trig left a sprint (or what I could muster) for home and hopefully gain 20 seconds on my 3hr15 target for a fulfilling and successful run.
Bannderdown |
Bathampton Down |
I had done it, I'd achieved what I had set out to and pretty much nailed my pacing plan, taking the FKT by 8 mins 41 seconds.
Widcombe |