Trip Report: Wirral Circular Trail FKT
http://maps.suunto.com/move/sarahwilliams70/68d42007cd334330d43f979b
A few weeks ago, I completed an FKT on the GR10 in the French Pyrenees, averaging around 30 km per day in the high mountains. I came away from that adventure feeling strong and curious about how my mountain fitness, and carrying a pack, would translate to a flatter, pack-free challenge. While browsing the FKT website, I noticed that no woman had set a time on the Wirral Circular Trail. That felt like a great opportunity—not only to push myself, but also to make sure there’s a women’s record on this local route.
I know the Wirral Way well, having trained there for both the Appalachian Trail (which I thru-hiked in 2017) and the Marathon des Sables (which I ran in 2016). I’d covered all of the sections before—once during a 12-hour endurance challenge with a friend, and at other times in training—but I hadn’t linked the entire loop together on my own, at speed, until now.
I set off from Hoylake at 7:48 a.m. with my Suunto recording . From Red Rocks, I turned left onto the beach, following the Hiiker app for navigation. Early on, the app diverted me onto a closed path, which meant retracing my steps and sticking to the beach section until West Kirby. From there, I picked up the Wirral Way, cruising on the flat, easy path through to Hooton Station.
The section between Hooton and Seacombe Ferry was the trickiest: more road walking, twists and turns, and a few poorly signposted areas where I relied on GPS. There was another closed off section, so I rerouted via the car park. Once I reached Seacombe, though, I knew the terrain well. My left hip flexor was a bit sore, so I focused on maintaining a strong, consistent hiking pace, with occasional jogging where it felt comfortable. After New Brighton, it was a straight shot back to Hoylake.
I carried 2L of water, food, and snacks, with no resupplies or outside assistance.
Along the way, I took photos and videos, and I’ll be sharing a highlights reel on Instagram @toughgirlchallenges.
Stats:
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Start time: 7:48 a.m.
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Elapsed time: 9h 27m 04s
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Distance: 58.78 km
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Steps: 63,882
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Avg. heart rate: 134 bpm
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Calories burned: 2,178
Overall, I’m really pleased with my performance. I expected it to take longer, but I managed to stay consistent and strong throughout.
Most importantly, I hope this inspires other women to take on the Wirral Circular Trail—and to smash my time! I know plenty of women in the ultra and endurance community could absolutely fly on this course.
Huge thanks to the FKT team for all the work you do verifying and maintaining this community.
If you’d like to follow along with my adventures, you can find me at ToughGirlChallenges.com, where I share blogs, stats, and stories from my different challenges.