Grove 5K

Canal run

DIY Trail Marathon

Afternoon Run

Wyoming Range 100

I ran this FKT route in '23, inspired by Wojciech Jonczyk, but mistakenly took the easier south canal trail.  I wanted to correct that error while also beating my previous time. I knew I needed a couple minutes lead as time buffer before returning east bound on the canal trail.

I ran unsupported, carrying all hydration and nutrition from the start:

Gear: Salomon Adv Skin 12 vest
Nutrition and Hydration: 1.5L water in bladder on back.  4 500ml flasks with assortment of Maurten, Hammer Perpetuem, Blank's Drink Mix. 150ml of pickle juice. 250ml of Blank's Hydrogel

Start: 12:15pm with my previous run loaded on my watch to virtually race. 

    Swallow Cliffs to the canal, the first 8.5miles, were uneventful as I warmed up and put 2 minutes in the bank. 
    Ran on the north canal path "Surreal" which is the harder, rockier, more technical route.  W of Saganashkee Slough I thought I accidentally crossed over to the south canal.  Not wanting to waste another effort, I backtracked to make sure I was on the correct trail.  I was, but it cost me 3 minutes to confirm and was now behind. 
    I crossed over 107th St and headed up tiny downhill.  Bushwacking was required because the Forest Preserve downed trees last year and left them blocking the trail, which was also overgrown with thorny vines.  This put me further behind my previous effort. 
    Once finally reconnected with maintained Orange trails I went into cruise control, eventually re-passing my virtual self and proceeded to build up to a 10:00 buffer. Returning to the canal I focused on a smooth safe return.  My time-buffer dwindled but managed to finish in  6 minutes faster than my previous time. 

Finish: My time-buffer dwindled but I finished 6 minutes faster than my previous time. 

Execution was pretty good, running out of water just a couple miles from the finish.  It was a good effort and I may try again in the future, knowing there are spots where I left some time on the table.

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Tim Y

FKT - Palos Trail System - 30 mile route

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Grove 5K

Canal run

DIY Trail Marathon

Afternoon Run

Wyoming Range 100

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