Distance: 23.51 miles
Calories Burned: 2,656
Time: 5:11
THE SOURCE of the Thames is hotly contested. Despite this, at this time of year, and after a period of low precipitation, the spring itself is dry. From year to year, several different locations occasionally spring and start the 200 mile journey south west to the English Channel.
We chose to begin our odyssey from near Coates, the generally accepted start point of the river, at about 12.30pm. After the obligatory photographs, general disparaging comments hiding insecurity, and much putting off of the actual start, we finally couldn’t put it off any longer and started to run.
It was 100 yards before I realised that I’d fail to start either watch. Not the greatest start, but I’m glad I realised when I did. I’d also realised I’d left my hat in the car, and Brother Matthew had left his energy gels behind - foreshadowing, perhaps.
The first few kilometres of the days journey were dry. As mentioned, the upper reaches of the Thames are often dry at this time of the year. That said, the path was not difficult to follow, the arid depression clearly marking the route forward, occasionally lined by series of lush foliage.
After a few kilometres, the dry banks became wet and we were soon running alongside a river. Not 5km in, the Thames had inexplicably burst it banks over the path, and we were forced to Wade through thigh-deep water for several hundred metres, which was actually great fun and now makes we want to sign up for SAS: Who Dares Wins.
This was a repeating theme for much of the next 5km - periods of very dry track permeated by pockets of marshland often completely submerged. This was actually rather welcome - the cold water providing welcome relief to the hot conditions of the midday sun.
We passed through several uneventful villages, during which Dad delivered a River Thames quiz which had been expertly researched. Did you know that the River Thames weighs over 300 million tonnes (citation needed)? And if you straightened it out, rotated it 90 degrees, it would stretch as far as Paris? Interesting.
After roughly 20km, the group paused for a pit-stop at Cricklade, a former Roman frontier town. During the Roman occupation, engineers had constructed a wooden boardwalk across the boggy marshland which unfortunately fails to exist today - it certainly would have helped.
Brother Matthew purchase a pork pie from the local Tesco express, whilst I was happy with an iced coffee and 2 litres of water to restock my two hydration tanks. After 15 minutes, we were out of Cricklade and back on our way.
No sooner than we’d left the town than I started to fall in to a rather difficult period. My energy levels suddenly dropped off a proverbial cliff, the dangerous slide only arrested with much effort by cramming a packet of peanuts, 2 energy gels, and a bag of sweets into my mouth. The period lasted about half an hour; I found myself at the back of the pack and my head staring at the floor, though from experience I knew that it wouldn’t last and I’d just need to dig deep for a few minutes until the dark clouds had passed.
They did, as they mostly always do, and the kilometres started to drop by, though mentally it was still a tad difficult as it all looked so similar! With that in mind, I’ll save the details. Dad, alongside the quiz, had prepared a series of facts relating to various points of interests as we ran by. My favourite: the Red Lion pub claims to be the first pub on the Thames, which is a good claim if we hadn’t already passed two others before reaching the aforementioned drinking establishment.
The day was drawing on, and we were looking forward to the end which mercifully came 38km after starting the day. We deemed it prudent to have a quick sample of the local ale at the pub adjacent to our finishing point in Lechlade (we’ll start from here tomorrow morning), though in truth we were all quite dehydrated and tired and keen to get some rest.
We’re staying at the Saracens Head Hotel in Highworth, though really it’s a series of rooms housed above a rather rustic looking pub. Reviews are mixed between ‘Satisfactory’ & ‘Poor’ but I’ll withhold my judgment of the accommodation until tomorrow’s dispatch. That said, we do seem to be missing either a smoke alarm or a light: instead we have a rather strange circular abyss in the ceiling.
Dinner this evening was a curry just up the road after a quick shower and railing a recovery shake. I opted for the Vegetable Korai and pint of Cobra for I am a lifestyle athlete - these are not mutually exclusive - and the others did the same.
I’m still hot, I’m still tired, and I haven’t drunk enough h2o so I’m off to rectify this and try and get a good nights sleep.
A similar day tomorrow - 23 miles; hopefully less swimming.
Excellent reading. Looking forward to tomorrow's diary entry. Good luck all of you.