I've been a distance runner all my life, but only became aware of the concept and term "FKT" very recently. It made me wonder who had run the best time over a long distance path - the Wealdway - which runs close to where I live. I've seen on the FKT site that some people have recorded 19 + hours for the run. At the time that I ran the WealdWay end to end in 1986, solo ultra running was relatively unknown. I was pretty certain no-one had run it in one go before me. I don't think that GPS even existed in 1986, so I have no high tech proof of my run, but I've attached photographs taken immediately before, during and immediately after completing it. I have also copied below, my own account of the run, which I wrote a couple of days after the event. If there's any doubt about authenticity, I can supply the original handwritten account and photographs from my diary. Several of my support team are also still able to authenticate this run if needed. I hope this is acceptable.
Kim Stanley.
Running The Wealdway - Saturday August 23rd 1986
Having discovered the existence of the Wealdway about a year ago, and having enjoyed running the first 31 miles of it from the start at Gravesend back home a few times, the idea occurred to me to attempt running the entire 78 miles distance in one day. I tried to raise some charity money in aid of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Tonbridge Athletic Club, but considered that to be secondary, with the main purpose for doing it being my own pleasure and satisfaction. With my weekly average mileage in the preceding 10 weeks only being 72 mpw, with a few days to go, I suddenly felt very under prepared. An ankle injury 10 days beforehand only added to my concern.
Anyway the day arrived, and began for me at 4.05am. Up quickly for a breakfast of Alpen and tea. Left home at 4.30, arriving at Andrew's at 4.45 and he drove me to the start at the Tollgate hotel. Day was only just breaking and the weather seemed a bit unsettled when at 05.38 I started running. The nerves of anticipation soon faded as I settled into an easy pace and set about enjoying myself. The drone of the early morning traffic on the A2 soon died away behind me as I headed south across country towards my first checkpoint at Sole Street at 3 miles, with a light northerly breeze blowing on my back. At Sole street at 6.04am I was joined by Iain Presnell who accompanied me to Great Buckland (6.30am). Alone again for the next stretch and feeling good and thoroughly enjoying myself through Royal Oak at Wrotham at about 7.25, being rejoined by Iain at Platt and the run through the Mereworth woods down to West Peckham green in glorious early morning sunlight was a delight. Iain left me at West Peckham and I was solo for about 15 miles. Moving steadily on towards, and then along the river Medway, with encouragement from Brian Mitchell, at about 22 miles I encountered an unforeseen problem. Work being done at East lock meant that a footbridge was closed, leaving me the choice of a very long detour, or a "tightrope walking" act across some metal girders to cross the river. I chose the latter option. Having "crossed that bridge", my next surprise came upon reaching Tonbridge. My estimated time of arrival at Tonbridge castle was 10.10am so I was more than a little surprised when I saw the time was only 9.28. This caught my next support - Steve Barrett - completely by surprise, with me having to run off route and make a reverse charge phone call to let him know that I was running early and to notify my back up people to adjust my ETAs as necessary. Pressing on out of Tonbridge I met Chris Mckane and we ran together for a couple of miles. Support man Jon Welbon caught up with me at Fordcombe, and along with another couple of Tunbridge Wells Runners we ran together to Withyham at 39.5 miles. After stopping for about a minute to eat and drink I continued, joined for this stretch by Rex Allen, Dick barnes and another TW Runner - possibly Chris Elvy ? After only about a mile further on I suddenly developed a sharp pain in my right knee. This was to plague me for the rest of the run. With the knee problem, combined with the first onset of general tiredness I had to stop and walk briefly a couple of times during the 5 mile stretch up to the top of Ashdown forest. After drinking and eating some rice pudding I felt better and started moving fluently again. At Camp hill I was met by Mike Temple and friends from the Wealdway steering group, who stopped me to present me with a cheque for £20 toward the I.C.R.F. The next 5 miles was a pretty strong spell, moving through very quiet wooded countryside, and I knew that waiting for me at Hempstead Mill would be the back-up team, complete with sponges, hot and cold drinks, a hot meal of spaghetti and a change of shoes and clothes. I arrived at Hempstead Mill at 2.05pm (51 miles) and allowed myself a half hour rest (retrospectively that hallf hour was a mistake) Setting off again I felt fairly refreshed and not too daunted at the prospect of the remaining 27 miles. I wasn't too many strides into it though before I started to regret having stopped and rested up for so long, as extreme stiffness in my thighs added to the knee discomfort brought me to the realisation that I was now into the really difficult part of the day's efforts.
Things suddenly became very tough on this stretch with my pace dropping drastically and me being unable to do anything about it, taking 90 minutes to cover the next 7 miles. Just before the village of Hellingly at 63 miles the knee problem worsened to such a degree that not only was running impossible, but for a brief spell I couldn't even walk. Struggling to walk over the next mile I seriously thought that the run was coming to a premature end, when I surprised myself by breaking into a slow, painful jog again. Supporters encouraged me through this very bad patch. Through the village of Upper Dicker, where a shopkeeper gave one of the support team a donation for the I.C.R.F, I reached Arlington (68 miles) at 6.37pm. Another rough stretch got me slowly to Wilmington where despite feeling pretty depressed and exhausted I realised I was going to get to the finish - eventually ! As I walked along Jevington high street, with Mrs K encouraging me and darkness falling, I set out on the last leg of the journey. Climbing over the high point of Willingdon hill, the last of the climbing was done in complete darkness. Accompanied for the last mile or so by Jon Welbon and Peter Griffiths, we traced the route by torchlight down to the golf course and finally down through the steep wooded gully to emerge into the glare of the headlights of the VW and Iain's car parked at the YHA hostel which marked the end of the day's work. 78 miles and 15 hours 23 minutes after leaving the start at Gravesend.
***This route is the one described in the WW handbook at the time (now out of print, but I still have my copy). Start point outside the Tollgate hotel Gravesend, finish point outside the YHA youth hostel Eastbourne - 78 miles.