Began 5:34pm at sunset with my Brooks Cascadia 15’s and Osprey Duro loaded with salty snacks and 1L of water. Headed east along perimeter roads and took on 2.5L of ice water + powerade at a Sol convenience store across from the airport. It would be the last store open for the next 11+ hours.
Slowly headed north along Atlantic coast but challenging to find a rhythm with relentless hills and humidity (as a Seattleite, humidity always takes its toll but wow). Crossed several cracked-concrete streets and road repair projects so carefully watched my footing. While heading into northlands, water supply got perilously low. Right as my bladder emptied I looked up and saw deliverance: Barbados Water Authority tower #88! I refilled my bladder with 2.5L and took a quick cooling rinse to lower body temps.
Rehydrated and temporarily cooled off, continued onward. Made a point to stop at each water tower (every 3 to 5 miles in the rural north) to quickly cool off as there were no shops or neighborhood watering holes open over night. Frequent water stops allowed me to cut weight in the ruck because my shoulders were feeling sore from a full load. Sun began rising at 5:30am and temps immediately climbed as I headed south along the Caribbean coast. Began getting fried but mercifully first convenience store was open in Speightstown so I could procure a mango icee and chilled beverage.
Got back into rhythm until 10km left when wheels began coming off for me… Heat, humidity, hills and dehydration slowed my stride. With 2 miles to go, entering Bridgetown, began feeling nauseous, dizzy, and disoriented. Had to take a knee with both hands on the ground to brace. Luckily found another shop and dowsed myself in ice cold water to ward off a looming heat stroke. It wasn’t pretty but walked it in to clock out at 16:26:19.
Cheers to Rick Standley for establishing the route… as he said in his helpful run report, this is a tough course and is best supported by an attentive crew. I’ve run several self-supported FKTs and ultras in the tropics but the Barbados Circumnavigation was one of the toughest.
That said, it’s a great adventure and a truly magical experience. Stay safe and soak it up!