I ran in a big circle! Here’s how it went:
Day 1: 61 miles, 15,600’ vert
So much vert, and an upset stomach! I fell behind my goal pace in the afternoon and was taking too many little breaks. Stopped to throw up a bunch on the way up cottonwood pass, and I felt much better after that! Ended up getting about 3 hours of sleep, which was less than I’d hoped but got me back on track for the next day.
Day 2: 65.5 miles, 10,400’ vert
My brain kicked into fkt mode, and I felt really solid this day! The climb up to the divide from boss lake was easier than I expected, and the run down Fooses creek was a joy. I started having lung issues in the morning, coughing up phlegm and whatnot. I think I did some damage to my lungs the previous day with all the heavy breathing of cold, dry, thin air. After it got dark I started having sharp tendon pain on the outside of my left knee when running downhill, so I became pretty reliant on my trekking pole to maintain pace on the downhills. Got about 1.5 hours of sleep.
Day 3: 33.5 miles, 8,000’ vert
The final stretch! I had been dreading the climb up to the saddle below Yale, and while it was a struggle and probably the slowest few miles of the fkt, it wasn’t as bad as I was anticipating! The final sections were honestly so enjoyable. Knowing the end was near meant I could push through anything, including sharp knee pain and reduced lung capacity. The last 4.5ish miles were downhill to my car, and I jogged it out to the end with a huge smile on my face! What a time!
I tracked this fkt on Strava and via a friend’s Garmin inreach that I borrowed. Strava stopped tracking properly for some reason on the second night, so the submitted gpx is from the Garmin.
Overall this was the most fun I’ve ever had doing an fkt! I felt strong and was proud of myself for meeting each challenge that came my way. It was amazing seeing all the training I’ve done this summer pay off. I had clear weather the whole time, despite watching thunderstorms move across the landscape around me on the second evening. I saw a huge herd of elk, a mountain goat, and lots of cool birds. 3 beautiful sunrises, and 2 gorgeous sunsets. As I ran through, I got to remember and relive all the fun times I’ve had on this route over the last few years, and it made me so grateful for the life I’ve been able to live. What a joy to get to run through the mountains!
Huge thanks to all the wonderful friends who cheered me on and supported me in the lead-up to this effort. I love you all!
Until next time…