As someone who was born in Torquay, grew up in Brixham, went to secondary school in Galmpton and 6th form in Totnes, had a king prawn thrown at him in Marldon (don’t ask) and played briefly for Dittisham United (once taking the ball down perfectly on the halfway line, clearing the defence and miserably toe poking it wide of the keeper and his goal) the John Musgrave Heritage Trail has a personal draw. I trained like my life depended on it using a mixture of methods (running, boxing with a 72 year old called Sue) and made a terrible vlog. Come the day of the FKT I planned to run from maidencombe to Totnes. I knew the first four splits from Jean’s route were around 6 minutes each and when I realised pace was feeling comfortable it soon dawned I might want to run the whole thing. I had 3 bottles of tailwind and almost enough gels and chews. In cockington I was hit by a tennis ball when I passed a dog walker but I soldiered on. I think I also saw the place Monty python filmed their famous ‘black knight’ scene. I filled up a bottle of water outside the Malsters in Tuckenhay but wasn’t sure if that would ruin solo unsupported. I never drank it and after checking the ‘solo unsupported’ rules on the ferry I poured it away. I hope my effort will be ratified and viewers don’t enjoy my vlog. The trail is stunning, it’s lovely running and has lots of fantastic gates
The John Musgrave Heritage Trail Attempt Charles Baker