FKT: Lucy Eyers, Sean Francos - Tunbridge Wells Circular (United Kingdom) - 2024-09-14

Support/gear:

• My fiancé, Sean, who briefly held the men’s FKT, so was only doing it to keep me company really <3
• Only what we carried: 2l of water in a CamelBak (alternated carrying based on thirst), since I ran out of gels after this marathon cycle, and someone (Sean) wouldn’t share, some old naked bars and cereal bars of various flavours just to mix it up (would not recommend the oaty ones - very mealy). In hindsight we should have had more water as was patched by the end!
• Wore t-shirt, leggings (stinging nettles), running belt, longish socks (stinging nettles) and my Nike trail running shoes which are v well worn in.

Goals:

• A-goal: beat the mixed FKT time (just over 6 hours)
• B-goal: finish it - first ever ultra marathon and be cool to run it all 
• C-goal: have a nice day out :)

Report:

• We’d done almost all of it in separate sections whilst I trained for the Marathon Pour Tous (last month). I’d love to do it solo but have never gone over a marathon distance, let alone on a trail, so thought I’d try this with Sean to get the hang of things.
• Shouldn’t have gone to CrossFit every day in the lead up including 30kg thrusters on Friday!
• Thought today would be good as it was sunny and warmish and weather had been OK during September so hoped for minimal mud due to rain…
• Started in Southborough, touching the lamppost!
• Listened to 5h40m of Throne of Glass Audiobook which was a great distraction.
• It’s good we did some recces as we remembered bits where we’d erred previously. Was helpful that we both had the route on our Garmin - mine from FKT website and Sean’s from when he did it before. The trail markers were better than I’d remembered.
• The sights were nice including the viaduct, churches, apple trees, but the best bit is the big green open space where you can run downhill and it reminds me of the Sound of Music.
• Sean had to explain to me (again) how not to get electrocuted at the cow fence.
• There was a point about 3 hours in where I really struggled - 2 very uphill sections in a row with tough terrain and I threatened to pack it in a few times.  My hammies were not happy bunnies and I felt some side bum pain that was not enjoyable. Focused on the audiobook and every time we reached a point where we’d entered/exited the circular on previous trips, I had a little snacky snack (usually half a bar).
• When we got to 32k (what Sean needed for his long run), we started to chunk it into ‘new territory’ achievements for me - 4h30 of running, 5h of running, 5h30 of running, first trail marathon etc… which was another nice distraction
• My navigation was also a bit useless by the end as I wasn’t wearing glasses and reading the signs was straining my eyes.
• Sean made me go some roundabout route at the end which apparently was ‘the right way’ (the signs agreed but the GPS did not) and after waiting what felt like ages to cross St John’s road I touched the lamppost at exactly 5h40 (didn’t hit the button quick enough!)
• The IPA at the Crown and Anchor (plus a glass of iced water) went down extremely well.

Lessons learned:

• Taper before 
• More hill practice 
• More navigation practice
• Don’t underestimate the power of a Sean 

Over and out