Races
Thames Path 100
Putney to Henley on the towpath. Flat on paper. Heat in April. The cutoff is the crux.
- Start371 ft
- High371 ft
- Low72 ft
- Finish128 ft
Geometryderived
The cruxMoorland bogs, steep fells, and night navigation on unmarked paths (near mile 65)
Course DNA
The Course
Thames Path 100 runs 100 mi through England. +1,664 ft gain and -1,907 ft loss. Surfaces skew 70% trail / 20% path / 10% road. Moorland bogs, steep fells, and night navigation on unmarked paths. High point near 371 ft. Low near 72 ft. April temps run 40°F to 70°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 50.
The Work
Train for 1,664 feet of climbing across 100 mi. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 30 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 65.
Kit
April in England: plan for 40°F to 70°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 30 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 70% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 50.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 50. Moorland bogs, steep fells, and night navigation on unmarked paths near mile 65 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
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