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Route: Delaware & Raritan Canal Trail (NJ)

Location
New Jersey, US
Distance
70 mi
Vertical Gain
120 ft
Description

The Delaware & Raritan Canal Trail is also a State Park. dandrcanal.com describes it as follows:

The 70-mile Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park is one of central New Jersey's most popular recreational corridors for canoeing, jogging, hiking, bicycling, fishing and horseback riding. The canal and the park are part of the National Recreation Trail System. This linear park is also a valuable wildlife corridor connecting fields and forests.

GPS Track
Delaware_and_Raritan_Canal_Trail_With_Dimo.gpx1.3 MB

FKTs

This route on the old FKT site
http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/1448/delaware-raritan-canal-trail

Comments

User Picture
Profile picture for user Cole Crosby

Cole Crosby
Mon, 04/06/2020 - 09:11am

I plan on running the Supported FKT for the D&R Canal Towpath on April 11th. I will start from the trail beginning in the parking lot of Milford near Frenchtown and will finish the trail in New Brunswick right above Buccleuch Park. The approximate distance is close to 75 miles. I will get aid every 6-12 miles on the towpath.My goal finish time will be between 9 hours and 9 hours 30 minutes.

 

My intent is to raise money and awareness for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund to help provide funding for supplies and grants for hospitals, their workers and for small businesses most affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic in New Jersey.   Link: https://njprf.org/

 

I have grown up around this trail and run its many sections all throughout my life. I find this time in the world is no better than ever to run this attempt to inspire other runners to use their running and race fitness as a mode for giving back to our communities that might be affected by the pandemic. I also hope to showcase the importance of social distancing and how much of an importance it is when we do exercise and spend time outdoors. I will send a live tracking link once I get it set-up later today.  

 

Our races may be canceled or postponed, but lets take this as an opportunity to use our legs and hearts to do some good for our local communities, the country and the world.

I will have to postpone this attempt to a latter date as NJ today has closed all parks to fight the spread of Coronavirus. Once parks are open again in NJ, then a date will be set for the FKT.

Saturday, May 16th, I will be running the FKT for the D&R canal towpath-now with parks officially open in NJ. I will be starting at the far North-west section of the trail near Frenchtown and then will proceed south to Trenton before making my way up to New Brunswick. This run will be supported by my wife and father providing aid around every 6-10 miles. The intent is to run this as a solid solo-effort. The trail is at its farthest about 28 miles in Frenchtown from my house so this will be done adhering to strict social-distancing guidelines set by the state of NJ- wearing face coverings and making passing on the canal trail only when it is sure and well- safe. 

 

 The towpath is not a technical trail. But what it lacks in elevation and rocky terrain it makes up for it in navigating changes in footing from cobblestone, wooden bridges, and many road-crossings/junctures.  This is a true runners trail as the sandy gravel footing makes for a soft but fast running surface. I hope that by running this trail in its entirety, it inspires other speedsters out there to go for the record and for more people to see this run as a fun challenge for themselves.

Run fast and safe,

 

Cole C.