The thirteenth edition of the Thames Path 100 kicks off this coming Saturday 4th May at 0900. After one of the wettest winters on record, the path has been muddy or literally under water for vast periods over the preceeding months but has just begun to clear up - with a dry week ahead we look forward to good conditions on race day. At least, not a weather event as has been the case the last several years! The runners do have to contend with a few miles of added diversions due to structural issues with bridges at points along the course - we have made provision for that by adding an extra hour to the cut offs from Hurley onwards. But the race at the front of both the womens and mens fields are exciting and the potential for fast times is still very much there.
WOMEN
Chavet Hills: Her second time racing with us, after she finished the 2023 Track 100 in 16:58. Based in the US, Chavet has had great success at the flatter longer ultras so this race should suit her. Amongst many other solid performances she's clocked up a second at Daytona 100 in 16:46, wins at Prairie Spirit, Pony Express and Nanny Goat 100s and has a couple of solid finishes at Badwater to her name.
Chavet Hills
Anna Brown: Anna set out to run the Grand Slam in 2022, but fell ill in the lead up to the TP100. She went on to finish 11th at the SDW100, 2nd at the NDW100 and 4th at the Autumn 100 - she then ran a solo TP to complete the set, but is back this time to complete the race officially!. Last year she finished a strong 3rd at the Battersea Self-Transcendence 24 hour with an 18:28 100 mile split.
Anna Brown
Jette Anders: The German runner won the Wesbergland Backyard Ultra last year and took three other podiums at distances ranging from 50km to 40 hour multi-stage events. Has raced once in the UK before with a 7th at Hardmoors 110 a few year back.
Victoria Henderson: Fifth at the WD200 in 2023, Victoria has previous top ten finishes with us at the A100, WW Night 50km and in 2019 won the Testway Ultra.
In the Hunt for Top Ten: Stephanie Innes-Smith, Natalia Fokina, Kasia Atmaca, Rachel Vernon.
MEN
Mark Innocenti: Second at our Track 100 in 2021 in 12:34, previous winner of the Autumn 100 in 14:44, with a 50km PB of 3:02. Mark is strong at all distances, winning local 10ks and upwards all the way to multi-day events and a long flat event like this is right in his wheelhouse.
Mark Innocenti
Kallum Pritchard: A really strong start to the year for Kallum who won Country to Capital, finished runner up to Mark Darbyshire at our Hundred Hills 50km and then finished first at Manchester to Liverpool 50 mile in 5:39. He does have 100 mile experience too with a 15:39 win at Robin Hood 100 in 2021.
Peter Windross: Four time Grand Slam finisher, winner of this event back in 2018 in 15:49. Peter is one of our most decorated runners both in terms of finishes but more so top tens, podiums and wins. This race would be his 25th 100 with us and 7th TP100.
Adam Kimble: Great to see another strong American runner, this time on the mens side. Adam has twice finished 12th at Western States and has been competitive at a range of distances, including some big events. Top 10 at Canyons 100, 5th at Kullamannen 100 and 8th at Leadville all in the last few years. Plenty of wins at shorter distances too.
Matt Gallagher: 7th here in 2021, 4th in 2023 in a time of 15:34, he has also had a 7th at the A100 in 16:34 and a 4th at the NDW100 in recent years.
Andrew Churchill: 3rd at Winter Downs 200, he also finished in the top 10 at both the A100 and SDW100 in 2023.
Milan Sumny: 14:52 for 100 miles last year as part of his Venice 24hr race where he finished second, he has twice finished in the top 5 at Spartathlon and was third in 2021 in a sub 24hr time, something that is exceedingly rare over the classic ultra of 153 miles of Greek roads.
Ben Carrol: Second at Crawley 24hr in 2023 with 248km, this is actually a step down in distance from his seemingly more regular format of 24hr. Also Top Ten at GUCR in 2021.
Follow the race live via the website here from 0900 Saturday 4th May, until its conclusion at 1400 on Sunday 5th.