Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Untamed Thames Ring 250




Date : Wed, Jun 24 - Sun, Jun 28, 2009
Race : Thames Ring 250 mile race
Where : Start and Finish in Streatley, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Distance Covered : 183.14 miles (CP#7) in 63 hours

Pictures
Pre-race http://rajeevtherunner.smugmug.com/gallery/8992499_QbQHu#597869674_EtKj8
Race http://rajeevtherunner.smugmug.com/gallery/8858686_yNG7R#587155722_ko9cg

I have divided my race report into 3 sections.

Part I covers the days leading up to the race and the first 55 miles.
Part II details the sections from CP#2 (55 miles) to CP#5 (130 miles).
Part III focuses on the remaining 2 Checkpoints (#6 & #7)

I received an e-mail from the newest member, Christian Hottas, of the Ultraholics Yahoo group back in November, 2008 about the inaugural Thames Ring 260. It immediately appealed to my desire to see what lay beyond a race of 100 miles, not that I had sated my appetite for 100 mile races.

I spent a few weeks doing research on the race route and the Thames Ring. The minute I saw names like Henley, Reading, Marlow and Milton Keynes I was hooked. I had to give myself the gift of running a race in the UK. I have always been intrigued by that country and continue to be so even after spending 2 weeks there before, during and after my unsuccessful attempt to complete the TR250 race.


(The Morrell Room)

The race started in Streatley, outside the Morrell Room, and passed through Reading, Henley, Windsor, London, Milton Keynes, Braunston, Napton and then onwards to Oxford on the way back to Streatley. I am hoping to go back in 2011 and complete what I started last month.

Goring & Streatley are quiet little villages that have a few surprisingly famous personalities living there. George Michael, of WHAM and "Careless Whisper" fame, has a home right next to the bridge that connects the 2 villages.


(The back of George Michael's home)

(High Street connecting Goring and Streatley)

Goring is the one with the train station, the library and a host of small shops and restaurants. Its quiet beauty, so English, charmed my heart no end. The Goring side of the Thames is lined with stately mansions. One of them is shown below.

(An estate on the Thames)

The various checkpoints are detailed below.

CHECK POINTS

LEG
Leg dist
Leg time
Tot dist
Tot time
CP opens
Closes (hrs open)
Streatley – Hurley CP1
GR = SU828842
27.25
8
27.25
8
13:30
18:00 Wed (4.5)
Hurley – Chertsey CP2
GR= TQ054666
27.8
8
55.05
16
18:00 Wed
02:00 Thur (8)
Chertsey Yiewsley CP3
GR= TQ066800
27.2
10
82.25
26
23:00 Wed
12:00 Thur (13)
Yiewsley – Berkhamsted CP4
GR= SP997077
23.6
8
105.85
34
05:00 Thur
20:00 Thur (15)
Berkhamsted – Milton Keynes CP5 GR= SP880364
24.35
8
130.2
42
11:00 Thur
04:00 Fri (17)
Milton Keynes – Nether Heyford CP6 GR= SP644591
26.95
11
157.15
53
17:00 Thur
15:00 Fri (22)
N. Heyford – Fenny Compton CP7 GR= SP430532
25.99
12
183.14
65
24:00 Thur
03:00 Sat (27)
F. Compton – Lower Heyford CP8 GR= SP483246
22.84
12
205.98
77
06:00 Fri
15:00 Sat (33)
Lower Heyford – Abingdon CP9 GR= SU498967
23.55
12
229.53
89
13:00 Fri
03:00 Sun (36)
Abingdon – Streatley Finish
CP10 GR= SU594808
18.83
11
248.36
100
18:00 Fri
14:00 Sun (44)
Red = guesstimations!! Green = good sleeping spaces.

Bon voyage! :-))

2 comments:

Niall said...

Hi Rajeev
A very evocative report of the highs and lows of long distance races. I can sympathise with where you got lost on the GUC bit - it's easier going the other way! I was toying with the idea of this race and you have me convinced. If it goes ahead in 2011, hope to see you there.
Niall Dinwoodie

Rajeev said...

Niall,

I am starting the race next year and look forward to seeing you there. :-)

Have a great 2010.

Rajeev