It is December 29th, 2025 and there was a storm warning sent out this morning to New Brunswick expecting high winds and freezing rain. I saw this as a sign to test myself before the year ended. Without hesitation, I decided to set out to attempt the fastest known time (unsupported) on the St. Andrew’s Wharf-to-Wharf Beach Run route. I woke up nice and early to get to St. Andrews before the roads got too bad and at 11:19am I set out for the attempt finishing with a total elapsed time of 1 hour 40 minutes and 3 seconds making my plan a success.
This route is very coastal and definitely one of a kind. Primarily running on the beach and having harsh freezing rain and winds blow me back was definitely a challenge, especially in the winter. The most unique part of this route is that you need to time it perfectly to cross the breakwater to Ministers Island at low tide as at any other time of the day it is fully covered by the ocean. On the Island I took several hard slams in a bouldering section covered in seaweed. There was also a water crossing near Ministers Island lookout which was waist deep with a strong current that pulled me into the ocean to my shoulders even with poles.
This was an experience to say the least and it felt great to have a pint at St. Andrew’s Brewing to celebrate this endeavour. I am proud to have gotten this FKT in New Brunswick’s harshest conditions and for this route to be my 3rd claimed FKT as a trail runner.
Special thanks to Kurt Gumushel for taking the pre and post FKT pictures and St. Andrew’s Brewing for the free pint!