A 250 mile, non-stop
race, starting and ending in Goring and Streatley, following the Thames
Ring. River Thames to Brentford, Grand
Union Canal to Napton Junction, Oxford Canal to Oxford, then back on the Thames
to the finish.
Over a week has
passed and I’m still waking during the night wondering which checkpoint I’m at
and how far the next section is.
The race seems to be a bit of a blur.
Looking though my pre-race plan now, I can’t
even picture some of the checkpoints now, let alone remember what time I
actually got there. That plan went out
of the window after CP3 when I realised I was going to have to push on to make
more time available for sleeping. That’s
OK because I have learnt that a plan made when sitting comfortably in front of
a spreadsheet has little chance of surviving reality and you should not be too
firmly wedded to it. That way lies DNF
as you get disheartened when not meeting planned times – these long races are
about maintaining a positive mental attitude and being adaptable to the
circumstances. I didn’t realise until
race day that the cut-offs were the time to leave the checkpoint not
arrive. That meant that, if I was going
to have time to sleep, I needed to push on each section to arrive in plenty of
time.
Section One: Goring to Hurley 27 miles
After a hearty breakfast in the pub I was staying in, I
headed to the Goring Free Church for registration, kit check and bag drop. It was good to see some familiar faces from
previous events and to meet some social media friends in person. After a race
briefing from Lindley, we headed off to the village hall for the start.
After a nicely low-key start, I settled into the first
leg. I found myself with Dave Fawkner
and a couple of others. We stayed more or
less together until Reading when I decided this was too fast a pace for me and
dropped back.
The Thames Path is familiar to me having done the T184,
albeit in the opposite direction, but it meant I had no expected navigation
worries up to Brentford.
Soon I arrived at the Hurley CP feeling good and with no
issues. I saw the legendary Dick Kearne
here with Lindley (who still hasn’t caught him up on the beard front!) and
showed him a picture that had popped up on Facebook of him giving me my GUCR
medal in 2013. I found this a very
timely and encouraging reminder for this race.
I had loads of food in my drop bag but didn’t fancy
much. I was already going off sweet stuff
so I had a pork pie and some sausages from the CP then got on my way.
Section Two: Hurley
to Chertsey 55 miles
No problem again with navigation as this all seemed
familiar.
Just before Marlow, I spied Allan Rumbles in his immaculate
boat Tara. I was expecting him to be
there and had to claim my cup of tea and a hobnob! Thanks Allan and Jill.
Approaching Windsor, I began to fixate on having fish and
chips as I’d heard there was a shop not far off the course. At this point Roz Glover caught me up. I had though she was attempting to walk the
whole course but had been running to make up time.
We chatted on the way into Windsor but could not see a chip
shop so I settled for a kebab instead!
Roz had grabbed a drink and carried on so I walked out of Windsor
happily munching my kabab and, when I was finished, there was even a bin next
to some building works to dispose of the wrapper.
I was soon running again and feeling good. I wanted to get through Datchet then Old
Windsor and Runnymede as quickly as possible as I had memories of this section
dragging on – which would seem even worse if going slow.
Just past the Bells of Ouzeley pub, in the zone, I ran past
another runner before I even thought to stop and ask if she was OK. It turned out to be Kate Jayden, who was
having difficulty re-attaching the battery for her Petzl Nao (they have a habit
of turning themselves on in your pack if you don’t do this). In between blinding her with my own Petzl
(sorry) I gave her the light she needed to get it untangled and attached. Then
I moved on as I really wanted to get this section done.
Staines is always a bit of a worry at 11PM. Lots of drunk people, some of which seem
capable of causing trouble. However,
this being a Wednesday night, it wasn’t as busy as previously and, passing the
Slug and Lettuce, I saw the bar was nearly empty so popped in for a pint of
Coke. In the park just past the pub
there was a group of youths standing around on the path so I diverted through
the park and onto the road early to avoid them.
I know this section very well due to previous races and
recces so was ticking off the landmarks (Penton Hook and Laleham Park) on
approaching CP2.
I reached here at about 11:30PM but did not intend staying
long as I had planned to bivvi down in Shepperton Woods at a spot I knew – this
would be quieter than the CP which is by the Kingfisher pub and Chertsey
Bridge.
Section Three: Chertsey to Yiewsley 82 miles
By the time I was approaching the woods, it was beginning to
drizzle but it was not cold. I found my
spot in the woods and laid out my bivvi sack with my sleeping bag on top as I
was still quite warm. After about half
an hour, I swapped to the inside as I had cooled down but the trees were still
sheltering me from the drizzle.
As I was packing up I saw the head torch of another runner. It turned out to be Louise as I caught her up
when she was deciding which path to take.
We ran/walked together along past Walton bridge and were playing
leapfrog along the next section with a couple of other runners.
Approaching Kingston, Louise was going through a bad patch
and had stopped on a bench. I left her
(not sure if this was the right thing but it would be what I would have
preferred) and carried on but it was not long before I felt myself getting
really sleepy. I stopped at a bench for
a power nap, and was vaguely away of Louise and Chris(?) passing me by.
After my nap I felt much better and pushed on. I think I must have passed Louise and the
others on the bit between Kingston and Richmond but can’t remember. On reaching Brentford I found a café and had a bit of a fry-up, a coffee and a chocolate milkshake.
I had recced this section a few weeks previously so no
navigation issues and managed a reasonable pace through Southall and Bulls
Bridge (where I stopped for a selfie).
At the CP I saw Ernie who had decided to drop out. Apparently, six weeks training is not enough for
this event!!!! Who knew? Ernie was in
good spirits though and asked me directly: “Are you going to finish this?” Of
course my answer was, “Definitely yes!”
Section Four: Yiewsley to Berkhampsted 105 miles
I didn’t take anything from this checkpoint as I knew that
the Yiewsley Tesco was just a mile or so past the CP. I stopped here and got mineral water (tastes
nicer), Coke and some water melon which I ate sitting on a bench back on the
canal path.
Glamorous life this
ultrarunning!
The bit through the nature reserve seemed to fly by. Again I saw the protesters camp (something to do with HS2 I think) and the crocodile before reaching Rickmansworth where I stopped for an ice cream.
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| Dangerous local wildlife |
Richard McChesney
was in the shop as he was puzzled by the instructions. Luckily I remembered the way from my recce
and we were soon on the right track. I
pushed on as Richard was walking. I was
soon past Croxley (the end on my recce) so was in unfamiliar territory but
still had no navigation issues into Berkhamsted.
The CP was by a pub and with it being early evening, there
was no real chance of a sleep. A bacon
sandwich was very welcome and I decided to press on to build up some time for a
sleep at Milton Keynes.
Section Five: Berkhampsted to Milton Keynes 130 miles
This section is a complete blur but I made good progress and
made the CP with enough time for a sleep.
Although I do remember stopping at the Tesco at Leighton Buzzard.
My original plan was to go past the CP (which I thought
might be noisy) and bivvi just past MK but I so much needed a sleep that I used
one of the tents.
This CP is under a road bridge and there is constant noise
of traffic, plus the other runners and volunteers calling to each other. None of this mattered and I had a good sleep
and awoke before my wake-up call.
My feet by this stage were blistered but I had decided not
to worry or think about them too much – just press on to the end and live with
the consequences afterwards.
I left the CP with Richard sitting in a chair. He would have to leave soon or be timed out.
Section Six: Milton Keynes to Nether Heyford 156 miles
About 3 miles out of the CP, I realised I had not filled up
my hydration pack and had run out of water.
No worries, I had always planned to visit the 24 Hour Tesco at Wolverton
(which I did) then made my way up to Stoke Bruerne and the Blissworth
Tunnel. I was not looking forward to
this as the canal path diverts onto a road with no pavement and cars that
blatantly ignore the speed limit. I also
wish people would use their indicators to let you know they had seen you and
were intending to pull out. A couple
seemed to leave it to the last second and I was close to diving onto the rough
verge.
Another memory blank spot before the road diversion into the
village of Nether Heyford and CP6.
This checkpoint is inside a hall and there is a sleeping
area on the stage behind a curtain.
Sleep was the first priority and I was soon snoozing, occasionally
roused by the voices in the hall. I
properly awoke before my call and sorted kit and had a bacon sandwich before hobbling
out of the hall on my way to the village shop.
Richard was outside having DNFed not long past the MK CP and wished me
luck.
Section Seven: Nether Heyford to
Fenny Compton 183 miles
This is the section that sees you “turning the corner” and heading
south again.
Braunston tunnel (much
nicer than Blissworth) leads onto Braunston village and the first junction with
the Oxford canal (which you don’t take).
Weariness was taking its effect here as I had to check on my OS phone
app that I had chosen the right way. Then you reach Napton Junction which is a
significant turn. Here, turn right to
follow the Grand Union Canal all the way to Birmingham or keep straight over
the bridge on the Oxford Canal to Oxford.
This really feels like you are on the way “home” now.
Ernie had warned me that the Oxford Canal was difficult and
he was absolutely correct. It was badly
overgrown in places, forcing me onto the sloping rough edge of the path and
this constant lateral movement was taking its toll on my feet. I got so annoyed at the state of the path
that I started running furiously to get this section over with and found I had
less pain from my feet in doing this.
And this was a good bit!
The rain came down in this section so I was glad to make the
CP, crawl into a tent and put some dry clothes on.
After about 45 minutes sleep, I started sorting out and
changing wet kit. My pack was absolutely
soaked. I also changed my jacket for a
dry one - even though the rain had not
soaked through the first one it had got wet lying in the tent. I had slept with bare feet so as to dry them
out and some dry socks were welcome here.
Russ was careful to make sure I turned the right way on the
canal path on leaving the checkpoint. I
guess by this stage, some had become disoriented and turned the wrong way.
Section Eight: Fenny Compton to Lower Heyford 205 miles
I must have feeling a little disoriented myself as I had the
impression that I was passing through a built up area with lots of road and
rail bridges as left the checkpoint.
Approaching Banbury at dawn and feeling hungry meant the
Google Street View recce I had done would come in useful as most shops would
not yet be open. Leaving the canal using
a farm bridge just before the town, I went to a 24 hour McDonalds and had a
double bacon and egg Mcmuffin with hash browns, then to the Tesco for a fill up
of water and coke. This diversion added
nearly a mile but I felt it was worth it.
It was obviously noticed because Kevin Mayo messaged me to ask if I was
alright! Thanks for the concern Kevin!
How I felt at this point!
Pushing on again, I reached the Lower Heyford with enough
time for a decent length sleep. My work
colleague Digby had kindly volunteered and was helping at this checkpoint so it
was good to see him. Kate Hayden also
passed on a message of encouragement from Debbie Jewson which was welcome.
The tents are right beside the tow path and there is also a
railway line right behind so I wasn’t anticipating much sleep but in the event
none of this mattered and I awoke refreshed to get supplies topped up and a
crisp sandwich from Digby.
Section Nine: Lower Heyford to Abingdon 229 miles
About 50 metres down the path from the CP, I took out the
map and realised I hadn’t changed it for the next section so had to return part
way. Doh!
The section between Thrupp and Oxford seemed to drag. I was saving myself for when we crossed to
the Thames Path because I knew the path out of Oxford is pretty good. Eventually I negotiated the bridges (one very
low) that takes you across from the canal to the river. Soon after I was passing The Punter pub. I had seen a post by Kevin Mayo recently and
had commented that I had passed it but never been in so I decided that this
time I would. Thankfully the bar area
was not crowded so hopefully no-one had too much ultra-stink! A pint of Coke was just the ticket.
I left the pub and pushed on, making the most of the even
surface. I soon passed Sandra after this
and asked if she was OK. I think she
said she was checking messages on her phone so I took it that she was and ran
on.
My running spurt tailed off as it began to get dark and I
could see the lights of Radley. It felt
I was near and I could even hear music which I assumed was coming from Abingdon
but it turned out I was not as near as I thought. Along this section I was passing through some
long grass and had a fit of sneezing, followed by a runny nose that just wouldn’t
stop. I thought nothing of this until I
happened to catch sight of my hand in the light of my head torch – it was
covered with blood! What I thought was a
runny nose was a nosebleed. Nothing to
do about it now – carry on and get to the checkpoint, I thought.
Again, it seemed much further than I remembered through the
woods before the weir then, once I crossed the weir, I realised that the
checkpoint wasn’t on the other side as I had thought but almost a kilometre further
on.
A reached the checkpoint tent expecting a lot of fuss about
the fact I was covered in blood but no-one noticed until I mentioned it! Maybe this is normal! 😊
I couldn’t take my drop bag to my allocated tent as there
was a chance I would have to share with another runner. Good luck to them, I said, as I snore! I was hoping not as the tent was only big
enough to lie flat in at a diagonal.
I snoozed between the racket made by the drunks walking past
and the stabbing pain that was now developing in my toes. At one point, as no-one had joined me, I
brought my shoes and socks inside the tent as it sounded like it was raining.
Once again, I awoke before my call and tried to figure out
how to best get my socks and shoes back on.
In the end I walked barefoot over to the CP and sat down to put them
on. I ignored the state of my feet and
put my socks on – hmmm . . . quite uncomfortable. I then put my left shoe on and the pain was
so bad I couldn’t even stand up.
At this point the capable Jen and Maxine came to the
decision for me that it was time to do something about these blisters. Maxine lanced them, sprayed them with iodine,
dressed and taped as best she could.
There was not much to be done about the little toe on my left foot as it
had blistered all the way round, burst and degloved but she put a dressing on
and taped it far better that I could have done.
So back on the with the shoes except . . . I couldn’t physically
get the left shoe on! Some discussion
followed with some pointed remarks from Louise about the correct shoe size
required (yes, I know, I’m an idiot 😊 ) and Maxine came up with the plan of
cutting the uppers to allow the little toe to stick out. This worked and relieved the pressure. Some small adjustments with the scissors to
both shoes meant I could move about again.
Thanks to Maxine I was able to continue. It would have been a pity to have to withdraw
at the last checkpoint.
Section Ten: Abingdon to Goring (finish) 248 miles
I left the Abingdon checkpoint cautiously testing my
modified footwear. Seemed OK but I wasn’t
feeling like running.
About an hour out my headtorch flashed to indicate low
battery. No problem I have a spare
battery. Except, when I find it, it is
the last dead battery that I failed to change over from the one in my drop
bag. Bugger! It was starting to get light so I wasn’t
worried. The torch would operate on low
power for a while even though the reduced light meant I had to be extra careful
not to trip.
About this time Sandra, Mike and John passed me walking
faster than I felt able to so I let them go ahead. Sleepy again, I found a bench by a lock and
set my alarm for 15 minutes.
It’s amazing what a restorative a power nap can be! I was
soon up and running again, with my next mental goal of Benson Lock in my
sights. I passed the other three around
Days Lock I think and ran on feeling good for the moment.
Past Benson and on to Wallingford. In my mind, I thought the finish should now
be close. I just had to look for where
the path left the river and headed up to the road for a while at Moulsford.
However, I have since discovered, pretty much every section
is about 10% longer than billed so the last few miles dragged. Especially the seemingly endless, boring,
unchanging flood plain fields just before Streatley.
After what seemed an age, I saw Maxine waiting at the start
of the wooded section that leads round behind the Swan Hotel. At last!
I walked beside Maxine (who was obviously having to walk
slower then she would have liked!) then ran the last section of bridge to the
Goring side and the finish. I had made
it at last!
It was great to receive the huge medal from Lindley and see
Louise and the other runners still at the finish. I was ushered into the hall and offered food,
drink and a sleeping place but all I wanted to do was get to the pub I was
staying at around the corner.
I had done it but now I could allow myself to be exhausted.
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| Told you there was a Big Medal at the end! |
Conclusions
This is a great race that I have been building up to for a
while and did not disappoint. I prefer
low-key events where the focus is on the running and there is a degree of
self-sufficiency.
Training wise, my highest mileage weeks were just over 60
miles and I did get a 26 mile recce in because I was in London working. Other
than that, the race had a fair amount of thought and planning put in. I use Bing and Google maps to try and get an
idea of what to expect. Street View can
be helpful for the road sections, especially since the signs are easy to miss
in places.
It was apparent to me early on that the key to finishing for
me was to get a decent amount of sleep.
My legs were fine throughout but sleepy-tiredness was the thing that
slowed me down the most. It is better to
lose 15-20 minutes on a power nap than to carry on like a zombie. Of course, having enough sleep time has to be
earned, but this became a goal in itself and kept me going.
I would advise adding 10% to each leg as it can be
disheartening to reach the advertised distance for the section and still not be
at the checkpoint.
What I really need to do more about is my feet. Previously, I have just put up with them until the end but this time, if had not been for Maxine and her blister skills, I would have been out of the race. "Fixing Your Feet" is a good read, I hear!
I think I’ve had enough of the Thames Path and the Oxford
canal for the time being.
