Afternoon Trail Run

Evening Trail Run

Lunch Ride

Evening Run

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​ ​)

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 up 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 protesting 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 push 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. 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.) Logistics 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 as always to Caron for allowing me to do these silly challenges. 
Thanks Paul @ summit ultra for the superb coaching.
And thank you for reading if you made it that far. :). 

Top Sports

Tam H

St Magnus way unsupported FKT - elapsed time 09:08:17

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Afternoon Trail Run

Evening Trail Run

Afternoon Trail Run

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Evening Run

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