We called this "the Georgia Loop of Love," and it was such a fun day. I went in with a mindset of both chasing the overall record, AND being determined to have a good day out there and finish the loop regardless of outcome. I started just after first light, running the first 10 miles to Wolfpen Gap solo. I was delighted at how many flame azaleas were in full bloom on this section. I also saw (and startled away) I think a black wild hog. Throughout the day I tried to notice little joyful things and actually physically smile at them. There was so much blooming mountain laurel along the whole route and it kept giving my spirits a lift. Starting at Wolfpen (mile 10), I had pacers with me the rest of the way, which was really unique and fun--I wanted to have a bunch of friends share the memory of the day with me.
I picked this weather window carefully, and got lucky it was on a weekend so more friends could come crew. I was pretty concerned about the weather, having run Cruel Jewel this time last year and remembering the impact of the heat and humidity. For the FKT, it was around 50 degrees at the start, and can't have got much warmer than mid to high 60s, mostly overcast, with one bout of rain. It was humid at times, but I'm used to that, and I only felt too warm for one little stretch when the sun was out. Also importantly, it's been dry all week. The trails were in fantastic shape. I've been on the DRT when it's really muddy and it slows you down so much. I was able to move quickly over the whole DRT (and set an FKT on that as well).
Crew stops were at: Wolfpen Gap (mile 10), Mulky Gap (17.8), Hwy 60 crossing (29.5), Hightower Gap (43.8), Cooper Gap (47.2), and Gooch Gap (41.5). I also had two friends hike in to join me at Three Forks (mile 40), though this wasn't really a crew stop. For the first time, I leaned into the "supported" nature of a supported FKT attempt, and pacers carried extra bottles/nutrition for me so I could just carry one or two bottles at a time, and I dropped my pack entirely at Cooper Gap which was refreshing.
It was a pretty smooth day and I was able to manage my lows without too much trouble. The worst things were calf pain in the last 5-7 miles that I told myself to ignore, and of course the overgrowth of poison ivy on many miles of trail, which I also told myself to ignore (I'm allergic and had a bad reaction from Canyons 100k just 4 weeks prior). We did a quick tecnu wipe-down at mile 29, and at the finish a more thorough one. Like I said, I focused as much as possible on positive and joyful things. Huge thanks to my crew who also bought into this strategy!
If I could offer two more thoughts:
1) I'd encourage women to go after overall FKTs if it seems even remotely possible. It's fun and motivating and I've been inspired to do so by other women who came before me.
2) Never doubt the power of routes that are close to home. I was born in North Florida and grew up "escaping the heat" by going camping in this area of the North Georgia Mountains. When I moved back to the South for college, I remember going hiking with my dad on some of these same trails. Some of my first ever mountain runs were on the Duncan Ridge Trail.
Thanks to Pete Schreiner for chasing me around the woods taking these photos.