We navigated the route purely using the gpx from the previous FKT on our Suunto watches, with no prior knowledge of the route. We started and finished at the White Hart Inn pub, this was stipulated as the start on the route description, however the finish of the route on the GPX was not back at the start, it was roughly 200 metres before. This caused some confusion at the finish as we were aiming to go sub 12 hours, sprinting down the final hill to the finish. We got to the 'finish' on the gpx which was at a T junction, but had decided we thought we should finish back at the White Hart, we turned right for a few metres, thought it was the wrong way so turned back the other way for about 100 metres, and then realised it was in fact back the other way, despite sprinting we unfortunately came back to the sign that we started at just after 12 hours. A truly dramatic finish to the run as we were gunning at full speed after 12 hours of running!
On the timings, I (stu) stopped my watch as we touched the sign again, however there were roughly 30 seconds in the middle of the run (around Stowe on the Wold) where I accidentally paused my watch (nudged it whilst I sat down to tie my laces, but realised as soon as I started walking again). Tom didn't ever pause his watch, however didn't press stop when we touched the sign at the end, only roughly 1 minute after. For this reason we can't verify the exact time that we finished back at the sign, but assume it must be around 12 hours 1 minute. However if we use the finish line that was on the GPX, the finish time would have been more like 11hours 58 (due to the faffing at the end described above!), so depends where the official finish actually sits. If there is any way you are able to tell from the GPX files then that would be great!
The run was beautiful, the day hot (peaked around 22 degrees celsius) which made it sweaty and a harder than anticipated, lots of dipping our hats and heads in streams, really runnable terrain although we chose to walk the longer hills. We resupplied in several places, a quick snack from Chipping Campden, water from a Tesco's at Moreton-In-Marsh, we had a sandwich and a coffee from a cafe at Stow-on-the-Wold (50km) and then a final drink and snack from a cafe at Guiting Power. Both of us carried around 1.5l of water at a time and had snacks from the start, but bought items on the way to supplement.