Thames Path
Ultra Challenge®
13-14 Sept 2025
- Thames Tow Path
- Putney to Henley
- 100 & 75 & 50 & 25km
- Henley 10K
- Walk, Jog, or Run
- Camping
- Transfers
- Solo Challenger Start Option
- Ultra March Option
England’s greatest river provides a fantastic backdrop for an unforgettable challenge – and you can join and fundraise for London’s Air Ambulance Charity. Over 3000 adventurers will join the Putney Bridge start, and the full 100km route heads upstream to Henley along the famous Towpath. It’s through Richmond, Hampton Court, Runnymede, and Windsor, with some wonderful scenery to a riverside finish line. With three quarter, half, quarter distance options also available – plus the separate 25km ‘Thames Bridges Trek’ & ‘The Moonlight 10 Walk’ through Central London as part of the weekend ‘festival’ – there’s a Thames Challenge for everyone!
The Ultra Challenge® Experience
UK’s #1 Endurance Style Events for ALL Experience Levels.
Choose your Challenge, support your charity – do it at your pace, and there are 20 events in the Series with distance options to suit all! The ‘famous’ Ultra Challenge support enables you to go further, whilst enjoying the great outdoors & camaraderie. There are marquee rest stops, lots of food & drink, medical & massage teams, with a fully signed route to guide you. A big finish-line celebration awaits with an amazing sense of achievement, and once the aches subside you’ll feel energised, and up for more of life’s real challenges!
Push Yourself Further in 2025
Good preparation & smart planning are key, and from the moment you sign up you’ll have access to our Challenge App – with training guides, optional training walks, maps, online forums, and the latest news & updates.
Rest Stops every ~12.5 km with ‘major’ ones every ~25 km, and are much more than the shaky gazebo with water that you see on some events. We’ve marquee cover, large medical & welfare tents, catering services, seating areas for recovery, changing rooms, and a friendly welcome!
There’re pink arrows to guide you, distance markers, glow-sticks at night, hazard signs, and a route map in the App. Our ‘Trek Masters’ organise group departures at night so nobody has to walk solo. Our chip timing system enables our Control Room, and your friends / family, to track your progress through the Rest Stops.
Keeping you well fed & hydrated is key. We pride ourselves on the quantity & quality of our catering, and meals, snacks & drinks are included!
- Snacks & drink stops every 12.5 km
- Snacks – from the healthy to treats
- Picnic at 25 km (for 50km participants)
- Energy drinks
- All dietary requirements catered for
- Lighter options for ‘runners’
- Finishers hot meal 50 km (picnic for 25km & 10km)
We’ve experienced Doctors, Paramedics, First Aiders, Podiatrists, and Massage Teams at Rest Stops. There’re ‘Self Help’ areas with blister plasters, talc, Vaseline, and tape if you want to patch your own feet. Our mobile Emergency Medical Teams are only a phone call away, via our 24 hour Control Room
We don’t want you to forget that finish-line moment – our Cheer Squad will ensure you won’t! You’ll get a medal, finisher’s T-shirt, and a glass of fizz, before heading to a BBQ and a well earned rest. Download your official Challenge certificate when you’re ready.
There’re shuttles to local train stations for onward travel, and most finish lines have parking so supporters can meet you. We’ve bus ‘transfers’ to / back to key venues (eg the start) – and check out the ‘Bookable Extras’ for details of all transport options.
Your Challenge
Your Way!
Whether you’re a walker and new to challenge events, an experienced trekker, a marathon enthusiast upping the distance, or a seasoned ultra runner – there’s an Ultra Challenge® you! Walk, Jog, or Run at your pace, as an Individual or a Team, for charity. There’s an Ultra March® option for ‘fast walkers’ – and a new ‘Solo Challenger’ start time to join up with others. The Thames Path Ultra Challenge is fun, safe, & rewarding – with full support all the way, enabling you to push yourself further in wonderful coastal scenery, and enjoy a great weekend away.
Check out which Challenge is for you….
How to Join
Sign up online & pay a Registration Fee. You’ll get a confirmation email, which includes a link’ to set up your online JustGiving sponsorship page. You’ll also get access to the ‘Challenge App’ which holds all the details about the event.
Check out the ULTRA MARCH® option if you’re a walker and want to hit a ‘fast pace’. We also have a new SOLO CHALLENGERS START TIME – if you want to meet others!
Choose how you want to join the Challenge – register via that option and its associated online form. Then enter your personal details.
- Option 1 – Sponsorship for Charity
- Option 2 – Mixed Funding for Charity
- Option 3 – Own Place Charity Fundraising
* A ‘Platform Booking Fee’ of 3% is applied to all event registrations.
Confirm the challenge distance you’ll take on (Full ~100km / 3/4 ~75km /Half ~50km / Quarter ~25km / 10km etc) and then select a provisional start time slot (actual start times are confirmed 4 weeks prior to the event, and for Teams – it will be as per the Team Captain’s choice).
The ‘ULTRA MARCH’ option is for WALKERS who want to hit a sub 24 hour pace (for 100km) or a sub 12 hour pace (for 50km) with a group of like minded challengers – all starting together with experienced ‘pace setters’. You can opt in to this format & start time on the Registration Form.
SOLO CHALLENGERS – if you’re signed up on your own, and want to meet up with others – we have a special ‘Solo Challengers Start Time‘ – which you can opt into if you wish (on the Registration Form).
Everyone has to register as we require personal details & declarations. Within the form you can choose to ‘Create’ or ‘Join’ a Team. Teams can be of any size – members can opt for the same or different funding options, charities, or distances.
- Create a Team – you become the Team Captain. You need a Team Name, and a Password for others to join. Then invite friends & family to join you!
- Others join the Team as they register, by searching for the Team Name & using the Password
- Team Start Time – is as per selected by the Team Captain
All sponsorship goes direct to the Charity via your online JustGiving page. At least 50% of the ‘sponsorship target’ should be with the Charity 3 weeks prior to the Challenge. At this time the Charity agrees to pay a Fee for your place to the Organiser (similar to the Self Funding cost – or half of it for Mixed Funding as you’ve already covered half).
Failure to meet the deadline may result in cancellation of your place by your charity.
The remaining 50%, and any extra, should be with your Charity by 4 weeks after the Challenge.
There’s a range of optional extras designed to make the planning for, and joining, your challenge easier. Sign-up to your chosen Challenge first – and you can then book any optional extras later / separately (see below for details).
Looking for a great event for your team without all the hassle, risk, or costs of organising it? These events are the PERFECT solution!
Your Team will be energised, exercised, bonding & motivated on a fun, accessible, safe, high quality outdoors event. With optional hospitality packages available – make an Ultra Challenge® your company’s special event in 2025 – supporting your ‘charity of the year’.
FIND OUT MORE >>
Get in Touch:
corporate@actionchallenge.com
Costs & Fundraising
Select your Option below to start the sign-up process. Reg Fees are paid online & Fundraising goes to the charity via an online JustGiving sponsorship page that you’ll need to set up (look for the link within the ‘Confirmation Email’ you’ll receive).
With ‘Full Sponsorship’ (Option 1) – you’ll get 75% OFF the standard reg fees below inMay – if you use code: MAYDEAL at checkout– as you’ll be fundraising for an official SERIES CHARITY PARTNER
Option 1
FULL SPONSORSHIP
FOR CHARITY
Pay a small Reg Fee & Fundraise for a chosen Charity (who pay for your place)
FULL CHALLENGE ~100km
£50 Reg Fee & at least
£575 fundraising/sponsorship
3/4 CHALLENGE ~75km
£45 Reg Fee & at least
£475 fundraising/sponsorship
1/2 CHALLENGE ~50km
£40 Reg Fee & at least
£375 fundraising/sponsorship
1/4 CHALLENGE ~25km
£30 Reg Fee & at least
£275 fundraising/sponsorship
10 K CHALLENGE ~10km
£20 Reg Fee & at least
£100 fundraising/sponsorship
Option 2
MIXED FUNDING
FOR CHARITY
Pay for half your place cost & fundraise less for Charity (who pay half of your place cost)
FULL CHALLENGE ~100km
£110 Reg Fee & at least
£330 fundraising/sponsorship
3/4 CHALLENGE ~75km
£90 Reg Fee & at least
£270 fundraising/sponsorship
1/2 CHALLENGE ~50km
£75 Reg Fee & at least
£225 fundraising/sponsorship
1/4 CHALLENGE ~25km
£50 Reg Fee & at least
£150 fundraising/sponsorship
10 K CHALLENGE ~10km
£22.50 Reg Fee & at least
£70 fundraising/sponsorship
Option 3
OWN PLACE CHARITY
FUNDRAISING
Pay for your place & fundraise whatever you can for a Charity (small admin fee to charity)
FULL CHALLENGE ~100km
£199 Fee paid online &
fundraise whatever you can
3/4 CHALLENGE ~75km
£169 Fee paid online &
fundraise whatever you can
1/2 CHALLENGE ~50km
£139 Fee paid online &
fundraise whatever you can
1/4 CHALLENGE ~25km
£89 Fee paid online &
fundraise whatever you can
10 K CHALLENGE ~10km
£39 Fee paid online &
fundraise whatever you can
NOTE – Our registration system provider is Active Network – you’ll need to create an account, or log into an existing one as you register. All Reg Fees are paid online. A 3% Platform Booking Fee applies to all transactions.
Bookable Extras
A range of optional extras designed to make the planning for, and joining, your challenge easier. Sign-up to your chosen Challenge first- and you can then book any optional extras later / separately.
open now!
FAQs
You must be 18 or over (on the day of the challenge) if taking on a Full Challenge (~100km) or Three Quarter Challenge (~75km); 16+ and accompanied by an adult if taking on a Half Challenge (~50km ), 14+ and accompanied by an adult if taking on a Quarter Challenge (~25km) or Marathon); for a Half Marathon aged 12+ and accompanied by an adult; and finally 8+ & accompanied by an adult for a 10km/mile Challenge.
Under 18s taking part must be signed up by someone over 18.
You’ll receive a ‘transaction receipt’ (via email) along with a Confirmation Email welcoming you, and detailing any next steps, timelines you need to be aware of, and how & where to find all the info / details you’ll need for your Challenge. (NOTE– If you don’t receive that e mail within 12 hours, please check your spam/junk mail folders)
You can expect to hear from your charity within 14 days. If for some reason you do not hear from them – please contact them directly, and also email us at charity@actionchallenge.com & we will follow up with the charity for you.
We ensure that registered teams are assigned the same start wave (where distance/challenge option allows), and your team name will be printed onto your bib.
There are no restrictions on our regular teams – you can be any mixture of charities / distances / funding types (i.e. Self Funding, Charity Sponsorship or Mixed Funding), and can have any number of members. (even 2).
Even if you are not fundraising for the same charity, you can still create a challenge team with us.
Whilst you are signing up and registering for your challenge – in the TEAM INFO section (towards the end of the registration questions), you will be asked if you would like to ‘Join a team’ or ‘Create a team’.
If selecting to create a team, you will be asked to create a Team Name and Password. Subsequent team members can then register and select to join your team, and will need to provide the team password in order to join it.
Yes – as long as you are fundraising for the same charity, you can create a team fundraising page on Just Giving (we recommend letting your charity know this is how you will be fundraising together). However, please be advised that the minimum fundraising targets remain per person (not per team), so you will need to reach the combined total fundraising amount on your page for your group.
If you are entering on a Charity Sponsorship or Mixed Funding place then NO – you must select one prime charity for your fundraising. This is because your charity will be paying for a portion of your place on the event (out of the fundraising that you generate). If you wish to also fundraise for another charity, you can do so on your own terms but only as long as you reach the minimum fundraising target your first/prime charity.
If you join as ‘Own Place Charity Fundraising’ however, you have complete flexibility on who you fundraise for – with no targets or deadlines.
All sponsorship goes direct to the Charity via your online JustGiving page – WHICH YOU MUST SET UP.
At least 50% of the ‘sponsorship target’ should be with the Charity 3 weeks prior to the Challenge. At this time the Charity agrees to pay a Fee for your place to the Ultra Challenge Organiser (similar to the Self Funding cost – or half of it for Mixed Funding as you’ve already covered half).
Failure to meet the deadline may result in cancellation of your place by your charity.
The remaining 50%, and any extra, should be with your Charity by 4 weeks after the Challenge.
All charity sponsorship and mixed funding places close 4 weeks before each challenge, so that you have enough time to fundraise and reach your target. Self funding places close for online registration on the Tuesday before each challenge.
Visit the ‘HELP CENTRE’ on the Ultra Challenge Website:
If you still need additional help or guidance – you can contact the Ultra Challenge Team at:
Tel: 0207 609 6695
