This was my first Fastest Known Time attempt as well as first time running the Marathon and Ultramarathon distance! I chose this route for the personal challenge - double previous longest distance, summer heat, weighted pack, and self-sufficiency.
Left from Geneva by train, starting the route around 9:15am. The temperature started at 22 degrees Celsius. Used my phone to navigate the route, so accidentally ran off course twice in the early kilometers. The first 20km were beautiful trails and the distance clicked off quickly. Temperature rose to 27 degrees Celsius when entering Hofmannsflue, the forested area around kilometers 17-20 which includes the single climb (100m+/-). By kilometer 22, when entering Saint Peter's Island, realized I did not have sufficient fuel for the remainder of the run and completely ran out of water by 26 km. Incredibly grateful when able to refill water at the farthest edge of Saint Peter's Island. By kilometer 35, terrain shifts to mostly asphalt. When reaching Le Landeron (around kilometer 37) temperatures had risen to 32 degrees and I was down to my last packet of electrolytes as well as fuel. Fortunately, I was able to stop in an open gas station shop for food, but struggled being mentally aware enough to eat. After the marathon mark, it took me another 2.5 hours to cover the remaining 12km. Time on feet, heat, and reduced fuel intake had caught up with me.
Wildly look forward to the next woman who takes on the FKT!