St Magnus way - unsupported fkt - 09:07:17
Long day out. For the past 2 years, I mostly trained really long and slow stuff. Then when this weekend's backyard ultra got cancelled, I thought it would be a good idea to chase the FKT record for the (relatively short) St Magnus way instead. (Sorry Mike Groves - pal and previous holder )
Started early with Garry who was also gonna run the route at his own pace. We said good luck and good bye at the start and got going. He missed a turn just out of Birsay and ended just doing a long 48 mile run into Kirkwall.
I went on my merry way, blissfully unaware that I was not prepared for the first 3 sections of the route, which is 52km of mostly road. Hammies started pritesting very early on. I tried to power on but had to give eventually.
The last 36km of the route are much more my type of terrain, apart from that dog leg into Orphir, which is road again. Hills, bogs and heather, that's the good stuff. But i was pretty toast by then so it was hard to power on, even though the legs had recovered a bit.
Early into the run, I realised I could chase sub 9h, but had to settle to 09:08, which I'm still really happy with. Before the run, I initially anticipated between 9 and 10h.
Weather conditions: well that was another challenge of basically 45 miles of 30 mph head wind. Luckily the wind turned to push me into Kirkwall for the last leg.
The route is nice. It takes you through the centre of Orkbey mainland, which is one of my less troden parts. So it's good to see lesser known landscapes. But it is far too roady for my liking. (And training.) Logistic wise: I set off with enough food to see me through to the end, with just topping up water at the frequent public toilets dotted along the road. I was let down by the Orkneyinga centre in Orphir which has a toilet but was shut. Luckily I still had enough water to reach the Waukmill bay toilets. There I regrouped, put some Alestorm in the headphones and powered on the last 14km with pirate heavy metal in the lugs.
Good type 2 fun day out all in all. Pleased to have ticked the local adventure off the list. Thanks for reading if you made it that far. :).