FKT: Hunter Dominick - Dismal Swamp Canal Trail (VA) - 2020-03-22

With the Boston Marathon getting postponed to the fall due to the coronavirus, I decided to keep up my marathon training and target the Sugarloaf Marathon in May, which had not yet been cancelled. I picked the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail to do my weekly long run on (I was scheduled for 4E + 14MP + 2E) because it is closed to traffic and dead flat. I had been doing all my training up in the hills New Hampshire, so I was curious what marathon pace felt like on a flat and straight road. Also, I wanted to target this trail because based on the Strava segment for it, I knew I could take it no problem. I did a four miles out-and-back warmup along the trail and was not feeling fast at all. The stress and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic had definitely taken its toll on me, but I was set on taking this trail. During my warm-up, I could feel that there was a strong northeasterly wind, so I banked some time in the out, holding around a 5:50/mi (my goal MP was sub-5:55). As soon as I turned around, I could feel that strong headwind, especially as the southern part of the trail is wide open with no trees to block the wind. My pace immediately dropped down to around 6:15/mi, and I was struggling badly. I am used to hills but not strong winds. I was constantly checking my watch to see if I were still on pace to beat the previous FKT (per Strava) of 1:39:29, or a 6:04/mi pace. During this back half, I was honestly unsure if I were going to make it; I wanted to collapse, but I had enough buffer time where I could slow down significantly and still make it. That's exactly what I did barely taking the segment by 33 seconds. I was quite disappointed in my performance as I had been consistently going a sub-6/mile pace during all my previous long runs with significant elevation gains, but I was happy to see that I at least beat the time. I don't run with my phone, so I have no pictures to share. I also did not bring any food or water as I never bring anything on my long runs. I did not stop at any of the water fountains along the way either.