Pyrrhic Victory

The past few weeks I've been getting all excited again about the canal. It is a very different feeling from last time, this is more expectation than anticipation. I don't for a second believe that it will be any easier next time round but I do feel I'll be better prepared for it. Still, with these races anything can happen.

I put the Thames Ring out of my mind for 2 reasons. One I thought it would be silly to attempt to run 260 miles at this stage of my life as it could finish me and two I didn't think it would actually happen. It most certainly is happening and DK has 59 "interested".

So the first reason should make it a no go anyway. The problem is that I will feel rotten knowing that this is going ahead and I am not there. It starts on a wednesday and could not imagine being at work and knowing some people are out there doing this. Entering this race will probably cause harm, not entering surely will. I have a lot to lose even if victorious, I have more to lose if I stay at home.

That it how it feels at the moment anyway.

The Thames Ring Comes Back

Not that it has ever existed. But here are the details..

THAMES RING RACE 260

This project has momentum. We are close to the point where will ask potential runners for commitment. Entry forms and a first draft of the rules are being drawn up. The rules will provide an indication of what you are in for.

59 people have expressed interest in the race so far. We have decided that we should limit the entry to 100. Past experience of ultras suggests that we would then have no more than 75 starters on the day. A prompt entry is therefore advisable for those who want to be sure of participating. Anyone who decides to withdraw will get their entry fee back (less £15) provided we are notified of the withdrawal no later than 31^st May 2009. Anyone withdrawing after that date will forfeit their entry fee. If that seems hard, please remember that the TRA will be incurring substantial expense on this race and it will not be able to obtain a refund of that expenditure.

We have secured the Morrell Rooms in Streatley which are situated on the Thames Path itself. This is the venue for both the start and finish of the race. The booking extends from early on Wednesday, 24^th June, to Sunday afternoon, 28^th June. Precise times have not been set but, as you will realise, runners cannot be accommodated in the Morrell Rooms on the night before the race. If you cannot travel from home on the day, you will need to arrange your own accommodation in the vicinity. The start time remains fixed at 10 am. That gives time for a good night’s sleep and breakfast beforehand.

We have not decided yet where the Check Points will be. However, a preliminary attempt has been made to calculate approximate locations and likely cut off times (see table below). The cut offs will apply to departure times from each CP, not arrival times. The table set out below assumes a time of 100 hours which remains the overall time limit. It is also assumed that the pace throughout will be relatively steady although it is likely to be faster in the early stages and slower later on, particularly when you factor in sleeping time. The distances are approximate so don’t assume that an extra 5 miles has been added to the total!

LEG	Leg dist	Leg time	Tot dist	Tot time	CP closes
Streatley – Marlow CP1	27	8	27	8	18:00 Wed
Marlow – Chertsey CP2	25	8	52	16	02:00 Thu
Chertsey – Brentford CP3	26	9	78	25	11:00 Thu
Brentford - Kings Langley CP4	26	9	104	34	20:00 Thu
Kings Langley – Soulbury 3 Locks CP5	25	9	129	43	05:00 Fri
Soulbury – Stoke Bruerne CP6	26	10	155	53	15:00 Fri
Stoke Bruerne – Braunston CP7	27	11	182	64	02:00 Sat
Braunston – Banbury CP8	27	11	209	75	13:00 Sat
Banbury – Oxford CP9	27	12	236	87	01:00 Sun
Oxford – Streatley Finish	29	13	265	100	14;00 Sun

Sleeping arrangements are a headache. No provision for sleeping will be made at CP1 and probably not at CP2 either. This does not mean that sleeping is forbidden (provided one keeps ahead of the cut offs). We expect to provide tents for sleeping from and including CP3. However, runners will be expected to bring their own sleeping bag (and a bed mat if required). This will be taken ahead in the runner’s baggage which will be produced for the runner at each CP. Baggage is limited to two bags per runner.

Doubtless this update will provoke a volley of questions. May we request that you store these up until you receive the entry form and rules as the rules may answer at least some of your questions. That would make our life a bit easier.

Finally, the race can only take place if we have enough helpers. We expect a spread of as much as 40 hours between the two ends of the field by the time that the first runner finishes. That means we need a lot of people to look after the runners through this unprecedented test. Offers of help should be sent to either Dick dickjan@talk21.com and Anthony a.j.taylor@talktalk.net

Dick Kearn and Anthony Taylor 26.10.08

Thames Ring - 370 days to go

This time next year I'll be preparing for what I see as an insane task. Though somehow it does not seem as insane as the GUCR did this time last year. It's all relative. What might be tricky is running both the GUCR and the Ring. For that I'll need to be fully recovered from the 145 miles 5 weeks before if I have any chance of finishing it.

Or maybe not. I proved to myself that I can run 100 miles on tired legs, why not 260? There was a time when I wouldn't dare run 10 miles on tired legs. The legs lose their relative importance when you talk about distances like this.

A "rule of thumb" states that I should not enter another competitve race until October 18th. 1 day recovery per mile ran. Luckily I am not a thumb.