Thames Path 100.
The Thames Path 100 is one continuous run from London to Oxford: 100 miles upstream along the river from Richmond New Waterfront, about three quarters of it on trail. Hills decide little here. The difficulty is a nearly level course on which nothing breaks the rhythm, and that is what your preparation has to target.
Thames Path 100 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From Richmond New Waterfront the marked course follows the Thames Path against the flow of the river all the way to Oxford. Over the whole distance you gain barely 50 metres: the river sets the gradient, and it stays imperceptible. Roughly a quarter runs on paved surface, the rest on trail. The only planned departure from the Thames Path is a minor detour to Clifton Hampden, though diversions can still arise close to race day.
Only past halfway does the terrain register at all. Four short ramps sit between kilometres 84 and 111, and just the one at kilometre 85, close to 50 metres of climbing in half a kilometre, asks you to walk. After that it settles again, and the last 50 kilometres bring no climb worth the name.
So the day is structured by aid stations, not hills. There are at least twelve, with hot drinks from Hurley onward and hot food at Henley and Goring, and medical cover at 13 points along the way. The finish is in Oxford, in front of the pavilion at Queen's College, where another hot meal is waiting.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 84.6 | 0.3 km | 4.6 % | 6.8 % | +15 m | — |
| km 85.5 | 0.5 km | 9.7 % | 16.8 % | +46 m | — |
| km 104.5 | 0.4 km | 4.1 % | 6 % | +18 m | — |
| km 110.2 | 0.4 km | 5.9 % | 8.4 % | +21 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Thames Path 100 2027.
Start under control
No climb sets your speed on this course, so you have to set it yourself. The 30-hour cut-off works out at just over eleven minutes per kilometre, stops included, which feels generous while the legs are fresh. Fix your walk breaks by time or distance before the start, because the terrain will not impose them.
Hold your rhythm
The biggest trap is the first 80 kilometres. The path rises so little there that too fast a pace still feels easy, and every paved stretch costs the legs more than your heart rate lets on. Run this part by feel and you reach the ramps of the second half with heavy thighs. Walk them from the first step, even if they look runnable.
Spend what is left
The race is decided in the final third. Beyond kilometre 110 nothing changes for the muscles, just the same movement towards Oxford, and anyone using the full time window is out there through the night. That stretch stays runnable only if you have eaten enough beforehand, so treat the hot meals at Henley and Goring as fixed stops.
Training plan for Thames Path 100 2027: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect 20 to 30 hours as an age-group runner, with the cut-off setting the upper limit. The effort is almost entirely aerobic and uniform, without the changes of rhythm that ascents and descents force on a mountain ultra. What stops you is rarely your breathing, more how long legs, stomach and head can tolerate the same movement.
Train race pace
The key sessions happen on level ground, not in the mountains. Build long runs that hold one pace for many hours, and add weekends with two long sessions back to back so you practise running on tired legs. Use the same run-walk rhythm you plan for race day from the start. A race on 1 May puts the longest of these runs in March and April.
Rehearse the course
With three quarters on trail and a quarter paved, you need both underfoot. Route your long sessions over mixed paths and test shoes and socks there. For the short ramps of the second half, brisk uphill walking is enough, worked into the end of long runs on any small hill. This race does not need a dedicated mountain block.
Arrive fresh
Also rehearse what otherwise ends a day over 100 miles: solid and hot food on the move rather than gels alone, and longer stretches by head torch, so that the dark in the final third is not your first encounter with it.
Courses
Download the Thames Path 100 2027 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Thames Path 100 dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Thames Path 100.
How long is Thames Path 100 2027?
Thames Path 100 2027 is 160.93 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Thames Path 100 2027 have?
Thames Path 100 2027 has around 812 m of elevation gain over 160.93 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Thames Path 100 2027?
Thames Path 100 2027 is classified as Flat, averaging 5 vertical metres per kilometre. 68% of the route is flat, 17% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Thames Path 100 2027 have?
The hardest climb of Thames Path 100 2027 starts at kilometre 85.5, runs for 0.5 km at an average of 9.7% and gains 46 metres. 4 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Thames Path 100 2027 a loop course?
No, Thames Path 100 2027 is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Thames Path 100 2027 course?
Yes. The Thames Path 100 2027 course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Thames Path 100 2027?
Preparation for Thames Path 100 2027 should account for 160.93 km, 812 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Thames Path 100 2027?
The pacing strategy for Thames Path 100 2027 should reflect 160.93 km, 812 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Thames Path 100 2027 take place?
Thames Path 100 2027 takes place on May 1, 2027.
Where does Thames Path 100 2027 take place?
Thames Path 100 2027 takes place in Richmond, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Thames Path 100 2027?
Registration runs through the organiser: centurionrunning.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
