I've tried this route several times as a workout. Usually didn't make it all 25.4 miles. But this week my section hike on the Buckeye Trail was put on hold from bad thunder storms so I figured my legs were strong and healthy why not try again.
I started at the boating launch at Brookville Lake and ran counter clockwise around the loop. The trails were really muddy from lots of rain. The hills provided over 1900 feet of ascent and nearly as much going down the hills on the other side. I actually had to ford three separate streams with water coming well over mid calf several times. I knew from previous attempts I've got to start slow to avoid overdoing the hills and getting bad calf cramps.
I did it Unsupported since I'm used to carrying water bottles and filtering stream water with my Be Free Katadyn filter that I use while hiking.
I couldn't have asked for better weather. It was cloudy and in the mid-50s. No sun beating down on me this year.
I normally run much faster on the roads but those hills on the trail, dodging mud holes, about 20 downed trees across the path to climb over made for an adventure.
I'll most likely try again when it hasn't rained for a while. For now this was good training for my future attempts at the 50 mile Knobstone trail in Indiana.
I recorded my route with my Suunto 5 GPS watch and the Gaia app on my iphone.