FKTs - Jenny's Personal recap and Gear

Throughout Spring I found myself in a spot that likely many of you also experienced. There was a bit of confusion and uncertainty, but overall I still felt driven to do something to test and use all the winter training I had done.

I have always been goal oriented so with races being cancelled and with the onset of a worldwide pandemic my mind felt more overloaded than usual (again, probably sounds familiar). I held onto my same training routine because it was safe to do so where I live, but also because it was a component of life I could control. When people asked what I was training for the answer seemed simple, to run. I run because it is a part of my life I am grateful for, because I want to continue finding my potential however that ends up being ‘proven’ or challenged, and because I feel better when I do what I love.

All that aside, I also knew I wanted something to work towards. After the Summer of 2019 and winning the Squamish 50/50 I was excited for opportunities and goals I wanted to reach for in 2020. I have only ran 2 races since Squamish which seems insane. These included the Giver’ Take 30K in Cultus BC (overall win) and the Run Ridge Run in Port Moody, BC, where I set a new women’s course record. I was feeling good about 2020, while knowing I had my work cut out for me. I also started to feel like a bit of a ‘one trick pony’ wondering…Will people think that Squamish was my big moment? Will people wonder if I still run or not know that I have hopes for so much more? I could do an entirely separate post on self talk, imposter syndrome, and running for myself (also read as: realizing people don’t really care - and thats a good thing!). Aaaanyways…

Of course there was disappointment with cancellations and the general state of the world, but honestly, I’ve stayed pretty realistic and grateful that my training and health has remained strong. My mind is always an idea machine for better or worse so I shifted my goals a few times landing on FKTs that would challenge me, hopefully be of interest to others, and encourage people to get out and set their own goals this year.

So here are the FKT routes I personally submitted and had accepted to the FKT website, ran, and posted new FKT times on. Also, here is the planning that went into these runs - so whether you want to just go check out these trails or challenge a time on them.

Packing list: This was quite similar between all my routes as I like to go out pretty darn prepared!

In-reach mini (no cell reception on route), watch, light first aid kit, gloves, buff, headlamp, waterproof matches, bear spray, knife, trail band , fuel and hydration (ample of each as this was unsupported and filling on route would make the fkt supported), a bivvy, a Jacket and cell phone for pictures! On the hot days I also carried a small sunscreen and anti-chafe, Squirrels Nut Butter.

Each outing also included leaving a trip plan with someone, an estimated time and a ‘late’ time, and letting them know what gear I had with me.

Route #1: Mount MacFarlane: 16km, 1887m gained, (completed alone, unsupported — aka alone with no help or resources from on route)

Planning: I had done this route once before to Upper Pierce lake (just shy of the summit) and a few times to Lower Pierce lake so my research on this route was primarily looking at pictures of the summit to ensure I would be comfortable with the summit on my own. Turns out doing it in the clouds and not having the cliff edges visible is also a great approach.

FKT Attempt/Recap: The first attempt was a wet, cloudy day so I knew that I would not make up a ton of time on the downhill. This route is quite literally straight up and then straight down with technical terrain including rocks, roots, and grades of up to 49% and averaging in the 20% on the way up. This time on route I stopped to send 3 different safety texts as once I was above the lower lake I was the only one up there this day. I sent a safety message through my in reach mini for when I reached the upper lake, the summit and then when I returned to the lower lake. All in all I was stoked to get out and push myself to this level, but knew if conditions were right I had more to give!

FKT Re-do and Recap: This time around, just over a month later, I took a good 40 mins off of my time. I attribute this to knowing the route even better, expecting the high effort, and being able to really run down as it was a dry beautiful day. I also ran into many other people the entire way which increased my comfort with pushing it a bit..and probably a little motivation to do so too! Packing was similar but this time I did not stop for any of the safety messages. This time I also got to see the summit views and amazing summit, cliffs and all. Now I think I can finally leave this one, which winter will force anyways, until next year…it might be a really fun way to test my fitness and compare to this effort. I could only pinpoint 1 or 2 spots where I could have saved a few moments due to waiting for a rope to be available and stopping for a few moments at the summit to enjoy, which I probably wont ever skip!

Route #2: Lindeman- Greendrop - Flora Lakes Loop 18km, 1523m gained (completed with Kathryn Drew for us both to hold the Women’s FKT, unsupported - no aid from each other or taken on route)

Planning: This FKT with Kat Drew was originally going to be a 50km on a loop that, well…doesn’t exist! After checking out an old trail and determining that it is not currently accessible (due to an old landslide and years of overgrowth) we decided to enjoy the day on this fun route! After all, I wanted to post these routes this summer so others could run them and felt doing something that wasn’t truly available to others was not the point (but that route to be clear, was also NOT available to us).

FKT Attempt/Recap: The day was so much fun, it started with spotting a mama bear and 2 cubs on Chilliwack lake road. We watched the cubs climbed the tree and said, nice to see them from the car! Foreshadowing…my only bear run ins this year have been with Kat and this wasn’t our last.

We completed the loop starting with heading up to Lindeman, pushing this section as it is more of the ‘runnable’ terrain for the route before the boulder fields and before the steep climbs. We climbed up to Flora and encountered our second and final bear for the day. Spotting the bear from the boulder field, we stopped, also thought it was a good time to have a snack, and then were briefly joined by a Pica carrying a great big twig. Upwards and onwards to the Flora summit, as always taking a few moments to snack and enjoy the views. Then into the great descent back to the start. This was a super fun day, nothing like another route that ends with a long, steep, technical descent!

Route #3: Three Brothers Mountain - Manning Park 19km, 846m (completed alone, unsupported)

Planning: I had done this one time before in daylight and years ago in the dark when pacing a friend in Fat Dog 120mi so I did some research to make sure I had the route fresh in my mind. I knew it would be busy and prepared for that as well. Some people might use that as a reason to start early but I like to let people get out there, let them say good morning to the wildlife and I’ll happily show up around 10am after a great camp breakfast and coffee.

FKT Attempt/Recap: This route is beautiful, they all are. This is by far the least technical and least climb-y trail of my FKTs this summer. I was hoping for sub 2 hours and moving time would reflect that but I was lucky enough to run into a few friends and stopped to chat, including sharing stories of the wild Grouse we encountered on various trails. One day I’ll simply say something like I’m trying to do an FKT gotta go - but maybe not, honestly seeing people on trails and the best- and who in Covid times is passing up the chance to say hi to a friendly face outside while safely distanced?! All in all this was a great day, amazing views, and I spotted the yellow bellied marmot - ruler of the Mountain.

“The other FKT” (where the lessons were learnt)

Hanes Valley Loop: This loop is in North Vancouver and caught my eye when I saw that there were a few times set on it over the years and that it had some local competition this summer. I planned it as a final FKT hurrah for the season and to truly test myself on a challenging loop with a competitive women’s time on the course.

I started off in the pouring rain, on a day with a 3 day window of weather warnings for rainfall. I will spare all of the long winded details and in short the recap: The log jam water crossing was a raging rapid of death, so I turned around there. Did that suck a bit? YUP. Was it the right choice? YUP. Does it make for a fun story? ALSO, YUP!

All in all tackling the various components of FKT’s was a ton of fun this summer and I hope these routes will encourage others to get out there and see these places and challenge themselves on the trails! I hope to see more womxn put on FKT’s, knowing our efforts are amazing, valuable and can be competitive in this sport.

However you show to the trails, you are valued and you are awesome.

As always I am happy to share any information so please feel free to comment and ask or send us an email pacificpinerunningco@gmail.com

- Jenny