Thames Trail Ultra
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Thames Trail Ultra
The Thames Trail Ultra is a 47 miles point to point ultra-marathon following the Thames Path from Iffley near Oxford to Henley-on-Thames. The route uses sections of the Thames Path and the Ridgeway National Trails and includes mixed surfaces: about 40.4 miles of cross-country trails and riverside paths and about 6.6 miles of roads. Reported elevation change for the course is approximately +947 ft gain and -1053 ft loss.
The event is an Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc Index race in the 50K category. The finish moved to the YMCA Y Centre in Henley-on-Thames in 2024, where runners can access hot food, showers, and changing facilities after the race. The course has recent route changes: the Donkey Bridge near the finish is closed and a diversion is in place, and the Benson Weir footway is closed with the updated route provided on GPS tracker and GPX files.
Support along the route includes five aid stations supplying water, snacks, and Go Beyond fruitcake, plus energy bars supplied by Real Meal that are described as high calorie, low sugar, gluten free, and vegan. Toilets are available near Checkpoints 1, 4, and 5. Real-time tracking uses Geo Tracks with position uploads every 10 seconds.
Mandatory kit requirements include a fully charged mobile phone, power bank, minimum 1L water container, survival blanket, waterproof jacket, whistle, headtorch with spare batteries, hat and gloves, long-sleeved base layer or fleece, and a debit or credit card. Baggage transfer from start to finish is offered with a maximum bag size of 56 x 45 x 25 cm. Parking at Iffley is limited and a courtesy shuttle bus runs from Oxford train station. The event is restricted to participants aged 18 and over. Prizes include trophies for the first three male and female finishers and medals and event merchandise for all finishers. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
