I started at John's Brook Lodge at 6:35 am. I started up Big Slide moving well with just my hip belt on. I left my vest at the lodge to pick up on my way back through the valley. Big slide went well and I made good time before beginning the climb up to the Great Range. I went with my hip belt again on Lower Wolf Jaw. I had about two liters of water for the range knowing that I could resupply between Basin and Haystack. I was moving well over the peaks but I was starting to feel my legs fatigue - maybe I didn't taper enough?
For me, the first crux was Saddleback to Marcy - three large sustained climbs one after another. These climbs wore on me and I was having trouble getting food down. I slowed down and forced food down. I was using my poles on nearly every uphill and stowing them away to run the downs. Marcy went well and Skylight is where things started to get difficult for me. I could feel my quads tightening up on the uphills. Downhill I could still move alright.
I descended to Lake Colden trying not to blow my legs up. I stayed smooth and managed to get a bunch of food down on the descent. The climb up to Boundary was the most difficult of the day. My legs were seizing up and I was getting frustrated with how slowly I was moving. Aside from the same part of my quad on both legs, I was feeling good. I was getting discouraged by my pace. I pressed on to the summit and took a few breaks to roll my muscles out with my trekking poles. I moved over Algonquin and ran down to Wright where the quads slowed me again.
The final stretch down to the parking lot was slow but steady. I knew I was ahead of the FKT pace so I wanted to keep something in the tank for Mt. Jo. I ran hard the last mile to the lot and then started gingerly up Mt. Jo to keep my quads from seizing - they held it together for one more climb. At the summit, I knew that I could get 11:30 so I scrambled down and sprinted to the LOJ.
This was wild - this route is amazing - can't wait to watch someone else bring this time down more.