If I can do this, trust me,
anybody can.
I'm having a moment.
2020 was the year of the Fastest Known Time. With races around the world
canceled due to the pandemic,
many runners took to the trails to claim the speediest record on a chosen route.
So what do you think of when you picture a runner who holds an FKT? Hey,
I'm Mary from The Running Channel and I'm what you might call an average runner.
But by the end of today, I'm planning on holding an FKT.
The route I've chosen is a 16 mile run along the Flitch Way,
which is a trail of historical significance in the area.
It begins ironically at Start Hill and follows an old railway line to
end at Braintree station. But before I embark on this ambitious run,
would you like to join one of the fastest growing,
running communities in the world? Then hit subscribe and tap that bell icon,
so you get more videos like this every week.
So we're here just going up to the start,
which interestingly is called Start Hill. Uh,
here she is.
And now I need to find if I'm going that way or that way.
It's kind of important. Okay.
So I found the start now and we're going to make a move.
I'm just going to start my watch
and off we go.
So today is kind of a special day,
not just because I'm doing this,
but also because it's my birthday.
I am 45 years young today.
And I have for the past few years
done a bit of a birthday tradition.
So whether that's going on a
trail run with my girlfriends last year,
I went out and saw some
alpacas and bluebells with my partner,
run a half marathon.
And this year I thought,
why not get an FKT?
So we've still got like 15 and a bit miles to go.
I thought, I'd tell you a little bit about me
because I've not always been a runner I've only been running for about 10
years. Uh, and,
I started really because I wanted to try to lose weight
and, uh, it was great for that,
but it ended up being so much more
in 2014,
I ran my first marathon
and ended up running three that year.
And then after those three marathons,
I thought what's next? Well,
it happened that a very good friend of mine lives
in France, in the Alps. And she said,
come out, do this, do this 18 kilometre,
run up the side of a mountain. So I said,
I said, sure, I'll do it. And
that was tough. And we're going uphill now. But that was,
that was so hard, but I did it. I did it.
And I think
what I wanted to do with this video really was to say,
just because you're a back of the pack runner doesn't mean you
can't do great things. And
I really want to encourage more people who run at a
slower pace like me to get out there and
find your own adventure because it's there.
And it's so much fun. Oh, that was tough.
And I thought this route was supposed to be flat,
but I definitely just run up a hill.
This route that I'm doing the Flitch Way.
Um, used to be an old railway line and
they converted it, I think, in the 1970s.
But more than that,
the thing that interested me the most about this area,
something called the Flitch Trials, which
goes back to like the 11th century, I think,
and what it is.
So if a married couple can prove that they've lived
in harmony for a year and a day,
they win a Flitch bacon,
which is, half a pig.
And they still do it to this day, uh,
every four years in Donmow,
which will come up to in a bit. But I just,
I love how a little village has these
traditions and it makes running here
even more interesting,
to you think about
all the people that have been here over the centuries.
It's really interesting.
Just having a snack, Cherry Bakewell.
Guys, honestly, stop, stop, and look,
it's not a race if you miss this,
can you see all of that purple? Oh my goodness.
I don't have any real expectations for today
other than just doing it. Uh, I think
having race goals is it's good and it's really important for runners,
but I think lockdown taught us
that sometimes it's good to look elsewhere and
set your own challenge. Um,
so like last year I, uh,
I did the great virtual run across Tenessee.
Um, and really it was then,
that I kind of noticed, the FKT for the first time.
and was fascinated because I love trails.
Mountains, have the utmost respect for
fell runners, but I could never do it because I'm terrified of Heights.
Um, yeah,
and then when I looked into it a little bit more and I
have runners coming my way. Hello again,
thanks.
When I looked into it a little more and realised, hey man,
you don't have to be a fast runner. You just have to be first.
So with today
I may not be the fastest one who's ever done it,
but I'm the first.
and now I have to navigate, excuse me. So, yeah,
like I said before,
I really want to encourage more average runners to find
adventures like this. And you know, if you like adventure,
please like this video, please I'd be so grateful.
Um,
today was something that's really close
to my heart and I'm grateful that The Running Channel said,
yeah, take a GoPro, shoot it. And
it's a good memory and
hopefully a good example that you guys can do
pretty cool stuff too. So yeah,
like the video and leave me a comment below if you're
if you've got an adventure planned for this summer or
if you've been inspired and you're going to look something up,
let us know. Hands up if you're **** at navigating! Woohoo!
we get there eventually
I love fun things like this, except
I'm terrified I'm gonna trip up.
Hopefully we'll be okay today.
I took a wrong turn and I think I want to be on that side
and I'm on this side. And I've got that.
So, need to get up and go over?
That was a bit scary.
I really thought I got lost there for a minute and maybe I
had, I don't know, but I'm,
definitely back on the right trail now. Um,
about 9.2 miles. So
about 10, just over 10k to go and
starting to hurt a little bit now. Six to go.
I think we're coming up to Little Dunmow now,
which I was really intrigued to read recently,
but apparently Maid Marian of Robin hood fame
is buried at Little Dunmow church.
I thought it was a bit further North up in Sherwood Forest, but hey.
this way or that way,
I'm going to go this way,
Apple crumble yummy.
I've just passed half marathon now, so,
just over parkrun to go
will it hold my weight?
14.3, two miles to go.
Time to dig deep.
I'm having a moment.
Where it's just occurred to me that I'm gonna do this,
feeling a bit teary.
The thing is, I think it's
hard to explain,
especially when you've come from someone who's never run before
to running marathons and ultras
to do something like this. I don't want
poo poo anybody else's accomplishments, but it means so much.
I'll be proud about this for so many years.
Even if like a Strava Crown,
it only lasts for five minutes.
So, this just kind of shows you the route that I've taken.
Obviously getting a little bit lost there. Nevermind.
Up past there.
And somewhere here I
am here. I think somebody is having a laugh.
I've just run 16 miles. I don't want to go up another hill.
I've got 0.3 miles to go.
Everything hurts. At this point,
I'm just desperate to see the finish. I just want to see it.
And that's all I can see at the moment.
So for all I know that could be going on for another five miles and my
directions are all skewwhiff.
Okay, I think we're getting there.
I think I can, I think I can see platforms.
Oh my God,
I cannot believe I did this.
You guys, honestly, if I can do this,
trust me, anybody can
And, I'm stopping my watch. Woohoo, done.
So it's official. I've got the email from, uh,
FKT and it's been published, um, which is just amazing.
It's such a wonderful feeling. Um,
but what's even more amazing is I shared a social post about my FKT
and I happened to tag John Kelly in the post.
And if you don't know who John Kelly is, just look up John Kelly,
The Grand Round, this guy is, uh, an amazing ultra runner.
And he commented on my post to say, congratulations, uh, which made my day,
it was icing on the cake.
In addition to getting an FKT to get a message from such a phenomenal
athlete. Um, it really it's special. Um,
so yeah, what I want,
what I've always wanted to do with this is to encourage average runners to have
a go and, uh, so take, take the Flitch Way off me,
run it faster than me, or take on your own adventure.
You don't have to be fast to do it. You just have to be first. Um,
and if you've liked this video, please, please like it. Please comment below.
Um, and yeah,
let us know what adventures you've got planned or if you've got some other ideas
for what average runners can take on, let us know in the comments below,
and we'll see you next time on The Running Channel.