This was a supported effort with pacers and pit crew vehicle with regular checkpoints at the roadside, as close to the primary route as possible, to resupply nutrition and water and not waste any time.
I studied the original record route and realised the FKT holder had made a few wrong turns along the way which allowed me to correct these and stick to the fully way marked North Downs Way route which is beautiful rolling trails through the Kent countryside as these are my local trails and I am very familiar with them - we even have a Facebook group dedicated to trail runners that love to get out on the North Downs way (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2924269157849095)
Trying to replicate the original attempt as much as possible, I started on 18th May 2024 at 7am from Wye Village hall and ran the route clockwise via Chilham, Chartham, Canterbury, Shepherdswell, Dover, Folkestone, Etchinghill, Stowting and back across the beautiful Wye Downs for amazing views to the finish. I extended the route slightly to take in the official Start / Finish line of the North Downs Way at Dover Sea front and was careful to ensure I rejoined the route exactly where I left off.
I broke the route into 3 main sections, a shorter gentle start of 21km to Canterbury with 2 pacers, Emma Carlton and Georgiana Robitu, and then a faster more runnable 34km section from Canterbury to Dover sea front with 1 pacer, the slightly quick Rich Huckstepp before the final tough hilly section of 39km out of Dover to the finish with 2 pacers, Claire Stone and Phil Briley. Was also joined by my 14 year old son for 12km near Folkestone along the cliff top trails which was a lovely moment.
Definitely the toughest run I've completed to date as I had to battle quite warm humid conditions and strong nausea feelings and struggling to eat much for about 25km in the mid to final sections but got through it with the brilliant support of all my team and family and friends supporters that came out to greet me at checkpoints along the way. Simply a beautiful day on the trails.