I started up the Marston Trail at 9:16 this morning hoping to set the women's unsupported FKT, but intending to have a fun time in the mountains. The temperature at the trailhead was about 50 degrees F, with a steady breeze up high. I had packed with me, 2 liters of water, a soft-flask with electrolyte mix, a Katadyn be-free filter soft flask, windbreaker, emergency blanket, headlamp, and lots of Gu.
The trail started out climbing, and it quickly warmed me up. I stuck to my plan on hiking the uphills and running as much of the flats and descents as possible. The footing was good as well, and I had no trouble putting my feet where they needed to go. Once the route deviated from the Marston Trail to the Mt. Coe Trail is where my pace began to slow.
Even before getting to the infamous Coe Slide, the Mt. Coe trail is steep! Steeper than I has anticipated and my running turned into steady power-hiking. This was to my advantage though, and I used the opportunity to eat some of my Gu and drink water before the real climbing began.
Eventually, the trail opened up and I was presented with the slide. Aside from the steepness, finding the blazes and cairns within the wide expanse proved difficult, and I went the wrong way several times. If I could do this over, I would have hiked the route first before attempting the FKT. I had a hard time climbing up and over one of the boulders, and had to go around on a social trail. I wonder if it was the same one Nigel Bates had trouble with in 2021. While this climb was tough, it was also gorgeous. Had it not been for this drought northern Maine is in right now, I bet the ledges would have been loaded with blueberries.
When the trail returned to the woods, it continued its steep climbing, but this was accompanied with continuous vegetation growing into the trail. These shrubs and short firs where wet with rain from the day before, and I got very cold. Despite putting my windbreaker on, I got soaked. The overgrowth in the trail continued until the Mt. Coe trail reunited with Marston.
I enjoyed the views from South Brother and found the trail work along this section, and really the whole route in great shape. Despite my complaining from the overgrowth, there were hardly any blowdowns to jump over. Thanks Trail Crew!
The trail between the South Brother and North Brother spurs was lovely, not rocky or rooty. I felt like I could finally find a rhythm after all the climbing and awkward footing around boulders. That fun ended with the spur out to North Brother. I thought I had blown the effort right then and there as my legs had no umph left in them. Despite eating and drinking more, they hurt and my knees began to ache.
Once done with North Brother, I hauled it on the downhill back to Slide Dam where my car awaited. I ignored the watch completely, just hoping to rip a few quick miles to secure the record. When I arrived back at the trailhead, I saw 3:15 and felt really proud of myself and my legs for taking me on this adventure. I had actually thought in the moment that the previous time was 3:03 and not 3:33, so when I got back to service I was surprised to see that I had achieved both my goals for the day.
Thanks to the previous ladies for giving me such a tough goal to shoot for, thanks to Baxter Park for keeping the trails in such nice shape, and thanks to my partner Nigel Bates for encouraging me to get out there and go for it. Now we both have the record, something I'll cherish forever.