This was the first FKT for both of us (Bram Cecat and Pieter Cecat), and for me (Bram) this was my first time running over a marathon in distance (with my first marathon only 33 days before the FKT attempt).
We had two issues we anticipated in advance. On one hand the weather forecast was abysmal and on a training run in our regular gear we nearly froze to death after a few hours of running wet. We planned to mitigate this with backup tshirts for halfway as wel as ski gloves and heat packs (that warm up for several hours after being exposed to outside air). On the other hand we only had about 9 hours of daylight at this date and we didn’t plan to run it much faster than that.
So we decided to leave at 7:30 when daylight was just starting to creep up. We eventually started at around 7:50 because of multiple minor delays and set of in the rain.
We paced conservatively seeing as I myself was tackling a (for me) unknown distance and had planned to run the first stretch (40-ish kilometers) at a fairly consistent pace. At about the 40 km mark we had planned a resupply stop in a local fries and snack shop (which are plenty in Belgium) in Sint Henricus. Arriving at the resupply spot after about five hours of running we were soaked and looking forward to some hot food and cold drinks. By this point we had also missed a turn twice an clocked about two kilometers more than the route directed. We managed to get in and out in less than 15 mins which was for the best as the comfortable inside of the building ate away at our persistence to continue on.
We managed to run the 10 kilometers after this quite easily but then we felt fatigue building. We decided on a 5 km run 500 m walk rythm that we only sustained up until km mark 61. This is where the going got though, aches presented themselves, legs got heavy, energy levels dropped and it continued to be a wet, cold and windy day. We jointly decided to tackle the remaining distance in whatever way we could manage.
These last 14 kilometers seemed so insignificant but took a lot of determination. We kept overestimating the distance we ran, which was a bit demotivating. On the other hand the end started to come in sight (tall buildings near the end of the journey). We tried to keep the pace up, if in the least to finish while there was still some light, but this proved to be nearly impossible.
We discovered a second wind (or third, or fourth, or fifth, it had been a long day) and managed to run non-stop for the last bit until the finish. Even the last 100 m that were offroad and at an incline to the monument went easier than any running had gone in the last hour.
We finished, we smiled, we hugged and kissed our respective girlfriends that were waiting at the end, I drank chocolate milk, it was a good day.
- Bram Cecat
Addendum
We ended up logging 75.19 km on the gps watches. 3.71 km more than the route prescribed. This was partly wrong turns, going to and from the resupply point and weaving/inaccuracies from the gps.
Lastly, I want to thank Pieter, for enabling my running in general, for accompanying me in most challenges I tackle, for staying positive when I am not and last but not least for bringing surprise snacks!