FKT: Jamie Maker - St Swithun's Way (UK) - 2020-08-01

Athletes
Route variation
one way
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Male
Style
Unsupported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
5h 24m 39s
GPS track(s)
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This route is possibly one of the most difficult I've done from a navigation point of view. Very little in the way of signage specific to St Swithun's Way, and crosses with so many other named paths... although there are some stickers dotted around which only really serve to reassure that you're on the correct path. If you do this route, then I'd recommend to plan ahead properly so you know where to go and make sure you can recognise some of the sneaky turnings as you cannot trust that there will be signs to guide you - there won't be.

There's also a lot of road surface on this, so wouldn't describe it as a pure trail run. I ended up choosing road trainers to run this, and glad I did. No way would trail shoes have worked today, especially with the hard-packed dirt because of all the hot weather. 

Hot day, so glad I took a lot of water with me! But did slow me down, so this time will definitely go when someone wants to tackle it :-).

Comments

Great work, Jamie. I know what you mean about navigation. Earlier this year I walked this trail without a map and just using the signs - I went off trail twice and wasn't confident at all once I entered Surrey.