With the help of some friends to shuttle me, I started a little after 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 6th with a 24oz handheld & 4 gels. I chose to run south to north from Macks Canyon Campground to Deschutes River Recreation Area, both to complete the unmaintained section first while I was fresh and because it's net downhill. The first 5ish miles were easy to navigate on my own, and I had some fun ducking and maneuvering the barbed fence that the trail criss crossed in sections.
I made it to the maintained section before I knew it, and I was able to start moving quicker on the long gradual downhill, until I took a fall around mile 8 and banged up my right knee. I got up and got my breath back, and was able to start moving again, but it was clear I wasn't going to be able to move as fast anymore. I fell again a few miles later on my other knee & a strong headwind started to pick-up around the same time -- stoping even my cautious shuffle in its tracks during big gusts -- making for a slow final half marathon on an otherwise fast trail.
I finished well under 4 hours, which was my conservative goal since I wasn't familiar with the trail. I was happy to get my first FKT (on my first FKT attempt)...although I feel a little disappointed thinking about what could've been on a less windy day & sans knee contusions.