FKT: Léonie van den Haak - Shikoku Pilgrimage (Japan) - 2019-05-02

Route variation
Standard route
Gender category
Female
Style
Supported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
14d 10h 29m 0s
Report

Leonie previously set the FKT for the 537km long Nakasendo Way.

Started morning of April 18 near Naruto, at the northeastern end of the island, heading counter-clockwise.  Leonie posted frequently to Instagram.

Reports 153km in the first 2 days (4/18-19).

Day 3 (4/20):  "we covered a symbolic 88km today" (241km total) [pilgrims visit 88 temples along the route]

Day 4 (4/21): "Day 4 is done and we are 321km down the road"

Day 5 (4/22):  Passed 400km, reached Susaki.

Day 6 (4/23):  "we are 480km down the road"

Day 7 (4/24):  another 80km to 560km "torrential rain included today"

Day 8 (4/25):  running up the west coast of the island, 640km - like clockwork.

Day 9 (4/26):  720km, near Ehime (now heading back towards the NE)

Day 10 (4/27):  Some off-road sections. "You may have crushed my pace and my legs today, but not my spirit ☺️ Damn you nature, tomorrow my feet are hitting the asphalt again ??‍♀️ 785km down the road"

Day 11 (4/28):  870km

Day 12 (4/29):  "What seems to be quad tendonitis is slowing me down but not yet stopping me. We are 940km down the cold and rainy road"

Day 13 (4/30):  "It’s the last day of the Heisei era in Japan and we’re 1.005km down the road"

Day 14 (5/1):  "It’s the first day of the Reiwa era in Japan and we are 1.075km down the road. Now, before you all start popping the champagne when I hit temple 88: it’s still another marathon back to temple 1 after that to complete the loop (which is 1.140km total) If I make it there I’m pretty sure there will be some champagne involved (and McD, obviously ?) "

Day 15 (5/2):  "14 days 10 hours 29 minutes is the FKT on Shikoku Pilgrimage 1.140km"