This morning, I finally did something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time: take on the FKT on “La Promenade Verte”.
I decided to run the entire route completely on my own, without any support along the way. Here’s what I carried in my running vest:
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A 1.5 L hydration bladder filled with water
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1 flask with 6D Xtra Drink
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1 flask with Maurten Drink Mix 320
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1 small flask with Maurten Drink Mix 480
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2 regular 6D gels
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2 6D Ultra Gels (one of them with caffeine)
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My phone
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My ID and MOBIB card
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An extra long-sleeved shirt
All in all, this meant carrying 2.7 L of fluids and 350 g of carbohydrates. I also took a 6D Ultra Gel with caffeine (45 g of carbs) about 15 minutes before setting off.
I started at Vogelzang in Anderlecht, which is about 1 km from where I live. I ran there as a warm-up, which also gave me a chance to check if my running vest was sitting comfortably.
I headed towards the Sonian Forest, meaning the toughest section came right at the start, with just under 200 metres of elevation gain in the first 14 km and plenty of off-road running. I didn't want to start too fast, but I immediately noticed my heart rate was quite high, even at what felt like a relatively easy pace.
From the Sonian Forest, the route gradually descended towards Watermael-Boitsfort. This felt really comfortable and enjoyable. Through Auderghem and Woluwe, my legs felt great and I was able to gradually pick up the pace. I briefly felt some discomfort under my right foot, but luckily it disappeared pretty quickly.
The route then started climbing towards Evere, so I just went by feel. Around halfway, I realised I had picked up the pace, but I was still feeling really good.
The descent towards Schaerbeek felt great, too. However, things started getting tough once I passed through Schaerbeek. On the climb past the Royal Palace towards the Japanese Tower, I started feeling my legs for the first time.
But then came another descent, and along King Baudouin Park and Laerbeek Woods, I found my legs again. Once I left the woods, the route started climbing again, and from that point onwards, things got really tough. It just kept going uphill all the way to Scheutbos. I tried not to slow down too much on this section, but I could definitely feel it in my legs. Just before Wilderbos Park, there were also some roadworks, which forced me to turn back and take a small detour.
From Scheutbos to the Ponds of Anderlecht, the route gradually descended. I know this area really well, as I used to live in Anderlecht and ran here quite often. Still, this section really took it out of me.
The final 5 km, starting from the ponds, were brutal. I could feel every single muscle, and even the slightest uphill section caused a lot of pain. With 3 km to go, I called my girlfriend to let her know I was nearly there.
The stretch past Erasmus Hospital was a real test of willpower. I just had to keep pushing all the way back to Vogelzang. So happy to finally be there!
In the end, I didn't quite manage the pace I had secretly been hoping for (4:00/km), but I think I underestimated just how tough this route would be.
Finish time: 4:02:44
A new FKT for both the unsupported and supported categories. Mission accomplished!
Weapon of choice: Asics Megablast