Thames Path Challenge… race report

Nick, Graham and myself all jumped in a taxi to head to the start. Nick has joined me on many a challenge, but this was the first time I’d met Graham, a mate of Nick’s - what better way to get to know someone than over the course of 100km of meandering towpath.

We arrived in the start area it was clear, it was a much bigger event than we thought. The queue for the bag drop was snaking around like an airport security queue, we shuffled forwards. There wasn’t the excitement of an airport where the awaiting passengers are off on a foreign adventure, this time we were off on a slightly more daunting adventure - the atmosphere wasn’t subdued, but there was a nervousness.

We missed our start slot, not to worry, the Thames Path wasn’t going anywhere and a 15min delay wasn’t going to make much difference. We listened to the race briefing, not much to note.. after all we were running along the Thames for 100km and stopping when we got to Henley. Henley is a somewhat fitting end of a race for Nick as I with our rowing history, but first we would cover the Boat Race course.

Off we went, not much to note at the beginning, past the boat houses and off down the Thames. Don’t worry, I’m not going to describe the whole course(!), we went under Hammersmith Bridge, Barnes Bridge.. and then next to Kew Bridge was the blonde mop of hair that adorns Neil’s head. He was as surprised to see me as I was him, I used to live in Kew so it was that random, and I run a lot.. so perhaps even less random but still - nice to see a friendly face, a brief hello and on we went. (Neil has since admitted he might enter next year… you heard it here first).

The first aid station came into view, it was a tented village with picnic tables all set out - this seemed a little too relaxing. Not only are there a few hundred people running 100km, but there are also people walking, relaying and running a variety of distances from 10-100km. There are a total of 6000 in the event over the weekend, this explains the rather large aid station.

Nick is particularly happy, as a self proclaimed “salty snacks” connoisseur, he was found “scampi fries’ at the aid station. A little early to consume them, so they are tucked away in his vest for later.. and later he would need them. I was feeling a little unsettled in my stomach, I wanted to get that back under control before I added solid foods so I stuck to my trusted Tailwind for the first 1/3 of the race.

This was my second race down the Thames Path, the previous was a 100 miler and it nearly broke me, the rain had drenched the course and it was like an ice rink for miles. People were screaming out in the night as they realised there was another narrow muddy path ahead. So this time I was not underestimating the race, 100km is still 100km.

We hit halfway, spirits were high, we’d been chatting away, we’d had a few visits from Nick and Graham’s family to break up the monotony. We rolled out of the aid station and there was a collective silence. I’m not too sure what happened, it wasn’t too far to the next aid station, it was the section after that was a longer stint - perhaps we’d all been preparing for the long stretch subconsciously? Nothing is ever predictable in an ultra, it’s a constant reminder that you have to focus on the moment you are in, don’t look to far ahead. We trudged on.. you just have to trudge on and not dwell too much. As the next aid station came into a view we all admitted that this section had been a chore.

Another km sign goes past, they are really pissing me off now, every sodding km was another sign - they started at 1, yes every km a reminder. When you run long, you want to set your mind free from the countdown, it’s unhelpful, very unhelpful and this race had a counter every km. I tried to run past and dip my visor to miss the signs, it was impossible.

We were in the pointy end of things now, up past 75km, approaching marathon 2, this is when decisions made hours before start to come back to haunt you. I was struggling a little for calories, I stuff a bit of food down and it helps. NIck was having a bit of a low moment, he offered to let us go on without him, we declined and kept him (relatively) upbeat. The scampi fries were deployed, I’m not sure if they were the nutritional magic bullet he needed or not, but he carried on.

Graham was powering on now, whilst he’s got previous in the world of Ironman and 70.3’s this was his first run beyond 50km. He knew plenty about how to look after himself - that’s half the battle with an ultra. No he doesn’t have the Ironman tattoo on his calf!

We were into the last 10km, finally these sodding signs were of some use. For 90km they had taken an age to appear, now they seemed to be ticking away nicely. We came along the Henley course, a bit of interest and change of scene. Not sure what was going on, but there were boats all decorated and people in fancy dress, they probably thought we looked pretty strange as well.

Over the bridge, around the corner, past a group of rowdy party goers and to the finish. We’d done it, 100km done. I know I’ve done quite a few, but they are never to be underestimated - 100km is a bloody long way!

Collect bags and into the changing tent to get some dry kit on, I get cold after a long run and fast. We grabbed a bit of food, a rather grim veggie burger in a bap that had so little moisture in it. Taxi booked and a hobble to find it. It might sound silly, but after running 100km sitting down is a little bitter-sweet. Whilst you are really quite pleased to not be running, there’s no comfortable position to be in and I can state as fact the back seat of that taxi was not a comfortable place. I “breathed out” few a few back spasms as we drove back to Nick’s place. A shower awaits.. joy.

It was a great event, well organised and plenty of aid stations along the way. The km counters were a total fail and sapped a lot of joy out of the day, but then again, maybe they were good training. The Thames might be flat, but it’s lacking variety, you need some hills to break up 100km, I think I’m done with races down the Thames for now. Well that’s a lie, I’m racing the Autumn100 in a couple of weeks, that takes in part of the Thames path, but 50miles of the Ridgeway to is things up.

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