After training all winter to run ultras, I felt pretty cheated to have that opportunity taken away this year. After relocating to the Philipsburg area this summer, my friend threw out the suggestion “Well why don’t you go for the FKT on the AFT?”
I liked that idea a lot, I just never took action until Eric Kosek set his amazing FKT on the Mid State Trail two weeks ago. I'm sure I wasn't the only one inspired by that.
So I did! I thought this would be a slam dunk, judging the trail by its elevation profile, but it wasn’t. Some VERY technical spots on the trail, with continuous rolling hills that aren’t steep enough to hike, so you’re naturally inclined to run them (don’t do that).
My longest run prior to this was 27mi, so I was pretty nervous about bonking out early on this thing. From miles 37-42, I hiked almost entirely. My quads were entirely too tight to run much farther than 0.1mi downhill at best.
The AFT needs some work... I went the extra distance thanks to same-colored blazing on side trails and complete LACK OF blazing at an intersection that didn’t resume until a half mile later.
Definitely the hardest thing I’ve done, it was incredibly hard work, but so worth it in the end!
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right”
-Henry Ford