Bells Gap Trail FKT(s)
- One way Uphill 49:45
- Downhill 53:20
- Out and back 1:43:42
Im submitting for all 3 routes. Used my watch for the out and back and used my phone for both one ways. So by using the app for both ones way and having to stop for each one way the times to reset for each one way are lower combined then the overall out and back time that I was using watch for which never stopped, it kept running as I stopped the uphill one way and by time I reset it and started back for the downhill oneway. That way all three were sperate and accurate of that makes sense.
Did this later in the evening then I should have it was still pretty hot out. Temps rose all day long. I worked in the morning came home took a nap then headed to the trail. Later then I would have liked. Wasn’t sure if id have enough light before I got done. Luckily I did. It was close. Maybe 5 minutes after finishing id had to have a light on the trail. The way the mountains curve around the valley it hides the sun quickly and earlier then sunset. If there was leaves on the trees id been running in the dark by the time I made it to the turn around which would have sucked because I didn’t take a light.
Did stash some supplies before started so I could go for the self supported FKTs. When I pulled in there was only 1 other vehicle in the parking lot. But the time I switched shoes and put my waist pack 3 other vehicles pulled in. All walkers/hikers.
I touched the yellow poles to start the FKT attempt. Within a half mile I passed all three groups of people who pulled in while I was getting ready. Having worked today my legs were tired and having attempted another fkt day before really put the strain on my legs. Wasn’t sure how long they would hold out. So gave it a go to see what would happen.
Managed to hang on the 1st half till the turn around. Though its all uphill on the way out my legs felt better going up then down. No wildlife on the attempt. Did see the guy form the other vehicle in lot along the trail id say about 3.5 miles in. He was suing a camp stove cooker thing along the trail by the first little spring that goes over the trail. There was 4 spring going over the trail. I managed to jump wide or long enough however you want to look at it on the way out. The way back not so much, got feet wet twice. Guess that’s because legs were getting stiff and even more tired.
Zoned into a podcast on the way out while running. Banked some time that cost me later on. The grassy section was low. Guess still low from winter thought someone must have cut it before it died for the winter cause it didn’t look like long dead grass just above normal yard length, so it was easy to get through. The trail itself was pretty solid wasn’t slippy or wet or cushiony at all. Was some birds singing a the mine drainage pools.
Made it to the turn around in what I thought was at a decent pace. Didn’t take nay pictures way out. On way back I did which may have been a mistake the couple times I did made legs get stiffer and stiffer. I also thoguth running downhill on the way back was harder then going on. Of course that may have been because I was just getting tired as well. Its about 1,000 fet of gain on way out then 1,000 of loss way back. Depending on device you use it will varya couple hundred. For instance my garmin watch had a total of 961 feet of gain but my phones mapmyrun application had 1,186. I trust my watch over my phone but still there is the variation. They both however did correct milage when added up the totals.
Besides taking a couple pictures on way back not much to speak of. I was jut worried if id make it back before dark because again with way mountain were the trail was way darker then it should have been before actual sunset. It really didn’t feel like I was running downhill. There is no real step incline or decent sections on the trail so it a steadiness the whole time.