Thames Trail Ultra

5 days to go

77 km Distance

342 m Climbing

4.4 Grit · Challenging

51.7287° N, 1.2381° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 4 m / km Fast & Flat. This course is relatively flat and fast. Ideal for PB attempts.

Time limit 11 hours 8:34 min/km average. Tight. Sustained running. Long aid-station stops will cost you. Among the tightest 50 mi cut-offs we track. Measured against 478 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~75 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (48mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, October

Daytime high 15°C

Night low 7°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 10 h 12 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for October — NASA POWER, grid elevation 112 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2025	48mi	75	Andrew Platt · 06:53:32	Katie Brazier · 07:46:52
2024	47mi	57	Joshua Chamberlain · 06:59:21	Katie Harris · 08:32:20
2023	47mi	85	Alastair Leslie · 06:19:37	Ruth dos Remedios · 07:58:20
2022	47mi	83	Roger Corbett · 07:19:17	Rachel Piper · 07:27:52
2021	47mi	110	Robert Payne · 05:47:14	Ruth Hawkins · 07:02:35
2020	48mi	132	Tom Ridsdale · 06:11:02	Laura Swanton-Rouvelin · 06:59:03
2019	48mi	145	Alex Tate · 06:15:11	Susan McCartney · 07:08:04
2018	48mi	83	Harry Geddes · 06:18:45	Betty Bohane · 06:40:54
2018	50mi	200	Alexander Whearity · 06:12:04	Anna Troup · 07:26:39
2017	50mi	145	Neil Martin · 06:22:37	Rachel Merriman · 08:06:16

The field grew 32% between 2024 (57) and 2025 (75). 19% of the 2025 field were women.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (48mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Course notes

terrain This is a fast & flat course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.
gear With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

Gear for this race

Chosen for 77 km of trail with 342 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 77 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
Race Nutrition 77 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Flask capacity for 77 km, without the bounce.
GPS Watches Battery life first — a 77 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

New Balance

Fuel Cell Super Comp Trail

★★★★★ 4.5

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Tailwind

Endurance Fuel

All-in-one calorie and electrolyte drink mix. 200 calories per serving.

$25 ★★★★★ 4.8

Salomon

ADV Skin 12

Industry-standard 12L race vest with front flask pockets and minimal bounce.

$180 ★★★★★ 4.8

Garmin

Enduro 3

Ultra-endurance GPS watch with solar charging and 300+ hour battery in GPS mode.

$900 ★★★★★ 4.8

All gear guides →

Overview

With 342 meters of elevation gain across 77 kilometers, the Thames Trail Ultra offers an exceptionally flat profile averaging 4.4 meters of climb per kilometer. Starting in Iffley and following riverside paths, country trails, and roads toward Henley on Thames, the gentle gradient makes for continuous running rather than power hiking.

The primary pressure comes from the clock. An 11-hour time limit requires an average pace of 8.6 minutes per kilometer, making the cut-off tighter than 92% of 50mi peers and more generous than just 8%. Runners cannot rely on walking breaks to slip under the line on this point-to-point route.

Having debuted in 2017 with 10 editions through 2025, the race drew 75 finishers in its 2025 running—a field bigger than 65% of 50mi events and smaller than 34%. For an entry fee of 75 GBP, participants get a sustained, runnable test along the Thames with almost no vertical resistance to slow their forward progress.

Similar races

Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.