So what's it like to run 250 miles?

 

The Thames Ring 250 is an iconic 250 mile trail race starting in Streatley-on-Thames and following an anti-clockwise loop East along the Thames, up the Grand Union Canal and back to the Thames via the Oxford canal and finally back to the start. The route is almost entirely on canal and riverside paths and relatively flat, though not as easy as you may think.

Runners have 100 hours (four days four hours) to complete the run, navigating using maps, gpx files and being supported by checkpoints every 25 miles or so. It’s an extremely tough run testing runners endurance to the limit with many long hours with little sleep and dark nights.

The first race of this distance in the UK and for many years the longest non-stop race in Europe. It may be flat but it’s not easy…and this was one of the main reasons I had entered wanting to test myself after previously managing to run 125 miles in a 24 hour period.

In the build up to the event my training had gone really well and I had a good three months of high mileage months registering some of the biggest monthly totals I've ever achieved. I did some good long runs, back-to-back runs and the Yorkshire Wolds Way which all added to my yearly total exceeding 1200 miles in just over three months. I thought I'd done enough but had doubts if it was enough for this beast of a race; it only had a 40% completion rate for a reason.

I had all my hotels booked and travelled down the day before race day, meeting up with other competitors in the local pub the night before for pre-race meal and drinks. There was nothing that could be changed now, my drop bag was ready and I was a night's sleep away from the biggest race I'd ever entered. 

On race day I had my usual overnight oats as my pre-race meal and headed to the start, had my kit and bag check before chatting and mixing with other runners. Fifteen minutes before the start I was asked to move my car which was very unexpected and frustrating; finally after driving through the village I found a nice quiet street with off-street parking and I was heading back to the start. I was very close to the start time and was jogging through the village, I could see in the distance the race had started and runners coming towards me but I hadn't started from the official start. I didn't want to cheat so let all the runners pass me heading in the opposite direction. I eventually got back to the official start but I was a few hundred metres behind the last runner when I turned round and started. I enjoyed the first few miles  overtaking other runners and finding my way through the pack and settling into my pace. I had a few little conversations with other runners but I wanted to run at my own pace and found myself creating gaps and leaving people behind after a few minutes. 

Stage one was a 28 mile leg and I found it very uneventful apart from the start. I came into the first checkpoint feeling very fresh in 04:46 and took just nine minutes to have crisps, brownie, a cup of tea, fill my water bottles with Tailwind and pack a few snacks into the pockets of my backpack.

Stage 2 was another 28 mile leg and things were going well so far. Nutrition wise I wanted to drink Tailwind while running between stages, six 500ml bottles would last me about eight hours and with snacks and fuelling at checkpoints I hoped it would be enough. Things again went smoothly and I was clocking the miles well, ⅕ of the way there by checkpoint 2 which took six hours (10:47 in total) - Windsor and the Castle were beautiful on this stage. I spent a little over 20 minutes here having soup, Jaffa cakes, cup of tea and changing into night clothes before heading out again.

Stage 3 was again a 28 mile leg and the first night stage. I don't remember much from the legs but London and Richmond Park always stood out for me on this section. My first stop apart from checkpoints came after about 12 miles on this stage when I stopped to sort out some rubbing and blisters that were starting to form (a good 15 minutes well spent). My mile splits were starting to slow but that was part of the plan which was to start at sub 11 from stage one and add a minute onto my mile splits after every checkpoint. I got into checkpoint three after 06:51 (17:38 total time) and had Ravioli, a cup of tea and Jaffa cakes. I filled all my bottles, took a few snacks for the journey and left after about 25 minutes.

Stage 4 was a 25 mile leg and this was my first and what was to be the only navigational issue when I ended up on the wrong side of the river and no way to cross. After looking at the map and accessing my options I had to turn around and head back to the bridge where I should've crossed, adding about a mile and 18 mins onto my totals. Another good stage and all my splits were looking good and going to plan getting to checkpoint four in 06:25 (108 miles in 24 hours) and looking forward to running in daylight again. I had a good feed again, having two lots of porridge and a cup of tea. 

Stage 5 was another 25 mile leg and this was my first sign of sleep deprivation and tiredness, after five miles I was laid on a grass verge on the side of the Thames for 20 mins, I'm not sure if I slept but I definitely felt a lot fresher just for that little rest. I managed to keep to my mile splits and by checkpoint five I had clocked 133 miles, my longest ever run although it was also just over halfway. I reached this checkpoint in 06:01 which was 30:01 in total. I was feeling tired and couldn't face another night of running on no sleep so had a bowl of sausage and beans before heading to the tent asking the marshals to wake me after 40 minutes. It felt like I was only laid down for five minutes before I was woken up and I had a bowl of ravioli and a chocolate brownie, one hour and 15 minutes at this checkpoint.

The rain had started and it was also starting to get dark again at the start of stage six which was a 26 mile leg, but that didn't stop me; the paths were good and I managed sub-12 minute miles for 10 miles. These paths were never going to last though and they soon turned back to soggy, muddy, slippery canal paths that sapped every last bit of energy that you had. The rain was lashing down and the wind blowing but I still had over 100 miles to go. I reached checkpoint six in 08:11 catching third and fourth place in the last mile; it had been 38 hours since I started and I'd done 160 miles. This was the first indoor checkpoint and I was treated to power to charge my phone and pizza with garlic bread. I had a full change, filled all my water bottles, tried to dry some kit and tried to have 20 minutes sleep but I wanted to get out in third place trying to add to the lead in the last few hours of the night. I left after spending one hour 15 minutes at this checkpoint.

Stage 7 was a 29 mile leg and another one where I should have had some sleep at the checkpoint. I was hallucinating and falling asleep while trying to walk and navigating was becoming difficult. I needed somewhere to sleep and the rain meant that it couldn't just be on a grass bank, I managed to find a narrow boat that was being used for storage and it was dry. After climbing up and making myself comfy on the wooden floor, I set an alarm and I was asleep for 30 minutes. These stages were hard and the miles were getting longer, the splits were not what I wanted and if I was going to finish I really needed to dig deep. It was very lonely on the trails and I was questioning myself. Before the end of this stage I was ready to quit, had been crying and was very emotional. The mud was slippery along the paths but as I saw the friendly faces of the volunteers at the checkpoint I felt motivated and quitting was at the back of my mind.

The volunteers on these events are amazing, your drop bag is always ready and these people who give up their time for you would do anything to help. Checkpoint seven was no different and I had a cup of tea and bowl of sausages and beans while someone else was sorting out my feet, putting new dressings on and getting me fresh socks/shoes out of my bag; these people are inspirational. After some food and getting out of wet clothes, I knew I needed some sleep and this time I was going to use my sleeping bag. This was one of the best decisions I made on this run as, after over an hour's sleep, I felt amazing. I had a bowl of ravioli, another cup of tea and although I'd taken about two hours 15 mins and dropped into fifth place at this checkpoint, I felt I was in a good position to finish the race.

Going into the 23 mile stage eight I was feeling very motivated and had a run/walk strategy for every mile and it wasn't long before I caught up with the two in front and was back into third position. I was feeling lots of aches and my ankle was very sore but I'd done over 200 miles and I only had two more checkpoints to go, the finish was getting closer. I got to checkpoint eight in 08:53 and had done 212 miles in 58 hours. I had a pot noodle before settling down in my sleeping bag again for just over an hour. Once I woke it was more ravioli, a cup of tea and refilling all my bottles again. I had spent 2 hours 15 minutes at this checkpoint again but I felt it was worth it and felt refreshed.

Stage 9 was a 25 mile leg and things were starting to hurt, my ankle was very sore and running was proving to be difficult. I tried to keep to my run/walk strategy but it was hurting and miles seemed to be very long. The paths through Oxford and this night stage were nice and not being on mud was very pleasing but I wasn't enjoying it now. The paths soon turned to sloppy mud again and the last 10 miles into Abingdon were very hard and splits were very slow. I reached the last checkpoint in 10:24 and refuelled on porridge, cheese sandwiches and cups of tea.

This was it, I'd left the last checkpoint and I had 21 miles between me and my medal. I could hardly walk but I knew I had the willpower and determination to finish, I'd come too far not to. I had to dig really deep and use every last bit of energy I had to reach the finish. My watch died with 10 miles to go, I'd left my map in my drop bag, my phone was becoming dangerously low and I couldn't remember the last few miles of the route. The sun was out, I was becoming dehydrated, wanted something to eat and was becoming very emotional. I found a cafe on the riverfront where I stopped for a drink and food to takeaway, the chicken burger and chips while sitting in the sun on the grass verge was truly amazing. I found a passer-by who kindly showed me his maps, I memorised the last 10 miles and cracked on to the finish. The last 10 miles were very slow, I slipped in the mud but I'd done it, the medal was mine and I finished the 250 miles. I finished in fifth place, final time was 77:09:13 and I'd done it all on three hours sleep.

One week later and I've had lots of time to take everything in and reflect. My feet have still not recovered and I've still not had a run because of a very sore ankle which I struggled to walk on for three or four days. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and I've got the medal and t-shirt and achieved my goal of completing it in the 100 hour deadline. I love ultras but still need a few weeks to fully recover and decide on the next challenge.