MY WRITE UP FROM STRAVA:
Holy shit that is a hard course and a proper adventure! Most fun I’ve had on a trail in a long time..
Unsupported FKT by over 90’
I missed the official Navarino Race CR by 35’ (supported)
First off, the stats on paper make this route seem quite easy but it isn’t by any means.
I started out very strong, felt great, although my calves were shot by mile 3.. at mile 3.5 I broke a pole which made the rest of the day much more difficult.
I was a good bit ahead of CR pace by mile 13 and then I got smacked by the bog! There’s about 5+miles of full blown bog slogging, I’m talking walking through mud up to your mid shin and knees and that is no exaggeration! I don’t know if it’s always that way or if during the race itself it’s in better condition but Jesus that was insane!
The views were absolutely out of this world and I stopped for a few pics along the way.. I just couldn’t resist. This is hands down the most scenic run I have ever done.
After making it to the top of the last climb I figured I’d be able to cruise it in and maybe just maybe sneak under CR. HA, absolutely not. The last 3-4miles until the road was an absolute nightmare, again I don’t know if it’s always this way but there was practically no trail/impossible to find because of all of the tree fall, overgrown brush etc. I believe the downhill segment for that is like 45minutes and I just cannot believe that to be possible unless it’s cleaned up, which maybe it was the year that dude ran 6:25, or maybe not? I don’t know. (Edit: it looks like a followed a old GPX file of the route which probably made it much more shitty)
All I know is the navigation was very difficult through there and I got turned around a handful of times and lost a ton of time (the opposite of what I thought I’d do)
The final handful of miles on the road really hurt and I was about ready for it to be over.
I ran with 500ml and filled my other bottles with water from streams along the way. Only 1.5L this entire run.. I fucked up and didn’t refill one last time before exiting the trail and I really paid for that.
As far as fueling I did a pretty good job most of the way. I was putting down 120g of carbs every hour for about 3.5hr and then fell off and was doing between 60-90g the rest of the way.
This was a full value adventure and the weather was absolutely perfect. In a place where it’s raining most days I’m stoked to have been able to rip this in good weather.
It was a very beautiful experience and the suffering was alive.. I’m proud of the effort even though I didn’t hit my initial goal. But that’s how these things go sometimes!
Cheers
Edit: They flag the entire course during the race, duh should’ve known, which makes the route finding non existent because there’s flags literally the entire way lol.