Event details
King's Meadow, Napier Road, Reading Map
08.00 Registration
09.00 Start
Sorry - no entries on the day
Finish
Surbiton School Sports Ground, Manor Road South, Hinchley Wood Map
Open from 1700 on Saturday. Space on (hard) floor available for all runners wishing to sleep over - own sleeping bag required.
Course route
The course follows the River Thames east from Reading, meandering for approximately 50 miles before leaving the river at Walton on Thames. The remainder of the route is road/footpath to the finish at Hinchley Wood.
Checkpoints
Locations and opening hours are summarised below. Additional checkpoints may be opened on the day depending on conditions.
CP | Opens | Closes | Place | Landranger grid ref |
Reg | 08.00 | 09.00 | King's
Meadow Playing Fields, Napier Road, Reading |
Map 175
721741 |
Start | 09.00 | 09.00 | Bridge over
Thames/near weir |
Map 175
721741 |
1 | 10.15 | 12.40 | Remenham
Church |
Map 175
771842 |
2 | 11.30 | 15.30 | Marlow car
park by A404 |
Map 175
859861 |
3 | 13.00 | 18.30 | Dorney
Reach/Bray Locks weir |
Map 175
910798 |
4 | 14.30 | 22.00 | Runnymede by
gatehouses in the car park |
Map 175
994734 |
5 | 17.30 | 01.00 | Car park
500m north of Shepperton Church |
Map 176
079668 |
Finish | 17.00 | Surbiton
School Sports Ground, Hinchley Wood |
Map 176
156648 |
Transport
Getting to the start
King's Meadow is approximately 10 minutes' walk from Reading rail station
By Rail: London Paddington direct to Reading - journey time approx ½ hour. Check National Rail website for details.
By Road: Napier Road is off the A329, a few minutes from Reading Rail Station. There is a pay-and-display car park in King's Meadow.
From Stansted Airport: Stansted Express train to Liverpool St, tube to Paddington then rail.
From Heathrow Airport: approx 30 miles by taxi or Paddington Express rail to Paddington then rail or London Underground tube to Paddington then rail.
Getting to the finish
By Rail: Hinchley Wood rail station is 10 minutes walk.
By Road: Off the A309 Kingston Bybass.
Parking: some parking available
Accommodation
Accommodation near the start
The following websites have hotel listings in the Reading area -
AboutBritain.com
4Hotels
Superbreak
Finish
Surbiton School Sports Ground, Manor Road South, Hinchley Wood Map
Open from 1700 on Saturday Space on (hard) floor available for all runners wishing to sleep over - own sleeping bag required.
Equipment
Organisers will provide
- Basic sketches showing waterpoints (not suitable for navigating the course)
- Marshal contact numbers
- Water at 5 manned checkpoints
- Hot soup tea/coffee at the finish
- Muesli on Sunday morning
Participants will need to bring
- Ordnance Survey Landranger maps: 175 Reading & Windsor and 176 West London
- Mobile phone
- Sleeping bag if staying overnight
- Head torch and batteries (it will be dark by 5pm)
- Compass
Suggested additional items
- Rucksack
- Food/energy bars
- Ground mat
- 1.5 litres of water for the 1st stage up to Checkpoint 1
- Medical kit/plasters etc
- Towels
- Plastic bags to keep kit dry
- Spare clothing for Sunday
- Toilet paper
- MdS equipment for testing
- Pen/paper for Sahara School
Clothing
- Spare dry clothing and footwear
- Food
Participants will need to provide their own food for the day. There will be hot soup, tea and coffee at the finish.
Note
We have no facilities to transport kits from the start back to the finish so participants will have to carry everything they bring.
The finish
Surbiton School Sports Ground, Manor Road South, Hinchley Wood
Hot soup and drinks will be available and there will be space on the (hard) floor for all participants wishing to stay over on Saturday night - bring your own sleeping bag.Doors open at 17.00 on Saturday - family and friends are welcome to call in on Saturday evening. For participants sleeping over, kitchen opens for breakfast at 7am on Sunday morning.
Facilities are basic:
Soup and hot drinks
Floor space for sleeping bag
Toilets
Showers (unisex)
Hot water urn
Breakfast - muesli and tea/coffee
Parking - some; small car park with priority given to marshals
The Countryside Code
We will be sharing the river with others so don't forget to follow the code:
* Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs
* Leave gates and property as you find them
* Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
* Keep dogs under close control
* Consider other people
Source: Countryside Access