What the hell is a 37 year old FKT ???
I’d only recently become aware of the concept of fastest known times (FKTs). This is essentially a way of tracking the best times run on predominantly ultra distances routes and trails, including those done outside of race or mass participation conditions. It got me wondering if any times had been set for my own favourite long distance trail – the WealdWay. I found the website that administers these claims – https://fastestknowntime.com/fkts , and found that the three recorded times listed there relatively recently – 2020 – for the WealdWay were quite a bit slower than the time I ran it 1986. I’m ashamed to admit that I couldn’t resist submitting my claim to see if I could claim it after all these years !
Although almost everyone uses GPX tracking devices to support and verify their claims nowadays, such things didn’t exist outside of NASA back in the mid 80’s, so I had to dig deep back into my volumes of diaries to see what I’d recorded all those years ago. The value of keeping a running diary was proven again (check out o.t.s.o the diary – post no. 13).
I was able to find the handwritten account that I wrote a day or two after the run, complete with a bunch of photos showing moments from before, during and immediately after the run. I submitted this as evidence and proof in support of the claim, and I’ve just discovered that it has been added as the FKT for the WealdWay. I’ll post that original report and the photos in my next post.
The really good news for any ultra runners reading this is that at 15 hours 23 minutes for 78 miles of undulating Kent and Sussex countryside, the time is eminently beatable, so add it to your “to do” list. If you do, give me a shout and I’d be happy to support your attempt.
All the best – Kim
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