SRKG Loop Run

[Nathan Richer]

The Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway is a 75-miles loop that circumnavigates the Lake Sunapee region, passing through 10 towns, 3 State Parks, many State Forest Wildlife Management Areas, town forest, and hundreds of private property parcels. This amazing system is held together by a dedicated group of volunteers along wit the forward thinking of the many private property owners who graciously allow passage across their land.
Because the trail runs through several downtowns it is a great system for self-supported running treks and a fabulous training ground for long distant trail runners.
In September 2005 I decide to run the entire 75-mile loop and why not? With a runner wife slowed by pregnancy I could gobble up her training miles and recruit her for support. Other gracious recruits were Glen Halleck, PJ Lovely, Aaron Richer, Lori Richer & Erin Lovely, all hardcore athletes in their own rights, as well as my father who set up 3 pit stops for me complete with hot food, lawn chair and a scale. The run was perfect, injury free with splendid weather and only one bear encounter, the only thing missing was a full moon.
I started at 10:00AM in Newbury Harbor and finished up 21 hours and 50 minutes later with hopes of eating a big pasta dinner and the local eatery, but unfortunately it had closed at 8:00PM. So I thanked the small crowed of family and friend that had gathered and folded myself into the car for the drive home.
After completing the run I was interviewed by Jeff Miller, the sports editor for The Argus Champion, who ran an article shortly there after. [/color]

[ryderjag]

I had the pleasure of crewing for Nathan during this attempt, and can verify his start and finish, and the slog of about 12 miles in the middle of it, at night, no less. I did have to pull Nathan away from some drunk punks who tried to spoil his mojo. This run will be attempted again by others in July of this year. The cool part, is that this is a loop, and can be done in sections with or without support.

[adamiata]

Very cool. I grew up in Sutton and spent some time hiking on the Greenway trails when I was younger.

I do have a couple of questions, just for my own curiosity, if you wouldn't mind.

Which direction did you go?
What were the hardest parts? Terrain? Navigation?
Where were you at night? How was following the trail in the dark?
What's your athletic background?

Thanks!

[ngricher]

A correction on the time, I began my run at 10:00 PM with Glen Halleck out of Newbury Harbor and ran up and over Mount Sunapee, continuing clockwise on the SRKG.

My lowest point physically was on Trail 9 up Ragged, for some reason my energy as really low; luckily my older brother was there to drag me over Ragged. On Trail 10 I had some strange IT tightening that played havoc with my left knee, which resulted in a mental break, my wife was pacing me at the time, she talked me through the knee pain as I had slowed to a walk doubting weather I could finish.

I began my run at night, which worked out well; the Sunapee sections were a lot of road back then. In Springfield, Gile State Forest was another matter. PJ and I had a blast doing that section; it was really dark which made the footing difficult to see. I had hoped to finish in daylight, but ended up running Trail 14 in the dark, which was fine, since Fisherfield to the harbor is all roads, all the same I think Erin Lovely was think “what the hell did this guy get me into”.

I’ve done sports all my life, but don’t consider myself an athlete. I must confess any exercise I take on is for the sole purpose of ski fitness, my one true love (athletically speaking, love you Lori).
I got into trail running in Utah as a way to exercise my dogs and stay fit through the long hot summers. At the time I was big into MTB, but the mutts couldn’t keep up, with running the shoe was on the other foot so to speak.
My wife and I had a friend who ran for the U of U and her boyfriend put on the Wasatch Steeple Chase and he would run the Wasatch 100. I paced him and ran some ultras, but mainly just ran to be in the mountains with my dogs. When I returned to NH in 2003 I was still running, but my dogs had slowed, my new challenge was pushing kids around town from errand to errand. My old running partners are gone, but now I have a new guy who is built for speed and endurance, he’s the real athlete.

[PJ Lovely]

    I suspect this record has a short life span left.. With the upcoming Emerald Necklace stage race ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=27040   This jewel of a trail will be more known about, more worn, and ready for a one day attempt..  It is becoming very well marked, and makes a great journey..  Good luck to those that attempt it..

[adamiata]

I've been interested in the route for years because I grew up in the area and the Greenway goes past many places from my childhood. Some scouting has given me second thoughts; many areas are poorly maintained, wet, missing markings, and filled with poison ivy. I'm Hopeful the stage race will help improve things.

[PJ Lovely]

They put out a whole bunch more markers during the race.. The trail is in the best shape I have seen it (but still is remote and tough to follow in spots), almost adventure race like... and Poison Ivy is still present but not bad, Watch out for the ground wasps coming down off from Bog Mountain.. 75% got stung... during the race. I think 17:30 was the combined winning time over 3 days...

[adamiata]

Looks like there's a new reported FKT by Tom Flummerfelt of 17:44.

madathleteconnects.com/blog/when-setting-a-fastest-known-time-fkt-isnt-the-really-the-point

[Tom Flummerfelt]

I ran the SRKG in a time of 17:44 on Aug. 1, 2015. The effort was done in honor of Chad Denning, who at the age of 39, tragically passed away just two weeks after we had a blast putting on the MadAthlete Emerald Necklace 3-Day Stage Race which circumvents the 75 miles of the SRKG.

Similar to Nathan Richer who set the original FKT, I started in Newbury Harbor and headed up Mt. Sunapee. This was a supported effort and had trail companions for part of it and family and friends at the Aid Stations I arranged. The start was in the upper 50s but extremely muggy and my HR was well ahead of what it should have been for the conservative pace. I did struggle at times...particularly from Mile 50-58 (Proctor Academy to part of the descent of Kearsarge) before bouncing back. The day temps were in the lower 80s. The only rain was a 15-20 minute downpour just after starting the descent of Kearsarge.

I made a few minor course mishaps...and one big one. I missed one turn that cost me 19 minutes and an additional 1.7 miles of running. I didn't execute as well overall as I think I am capable of, but had no real issues with hydration, nutrition or cramping.

Total mileage covered: 77.29 miles. Total ascent: 13480 ft. Total descent: 13480

connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/852862317

connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/852786856

A recap of the attempt can be found at....

madathleteconnects.com/blog/when-setting-a-fastest-known-time-fkt-isnt-the-really-the-point

Thank you so much ….. to my wife and kids, my parents, Dave, Tony, Jon, Kristen, Brian, Rosanna (and her kids), Andy, Charlie and to Chad who continues to influence and inspire! #exploreforChad.

And unlike the original FKT which last so long...there is a good chance that it will be broken again only 4 weeks later (5 days from when I post this).

[Tom Flummerfelt]

Quick note....I stopped my watch at the finish in Newbury Harbor and then started it again by mistake (saw time of day clock moving and mistook it for race time). I have a dozen witnesses and believe photo evidence of the 8:14pm finish time if in question. The turn to the right off 103 in the Garmin data after reaching the finish line is after the run was complete.