Our latest Virtual Challenge celebrates the official extension of the ‘Thames Path’ to Woolwich (where our offices are based) and its linking up to a new section of ‘The England Coastal Path’ which heads all the way out to the coast on the Isle of Grain at the entrance to the Thames estuary. The Thames Pathway now stretches for 373 km from the river’s official source which lies in a remote Gloucestershire meadow on the edge of the small village of Kemble on the edge of the Cotswolds, all the way down to the sea in north Kent!
The ‘Source to Sea’ Virtual Challenge has 4 distance options along the Thames Path route – from the succinct 85 km double marathon to Oxford, 200 km to see the Royals and our Easter 50 Challenge start line at Windsor, to the taxing 275 km to get as far as Westminster, or the full 373 km all the way to the sea on the Isle of Grain coast! A great way to get active this spring and some training in if you’re on an Ultra Challenge later in the year – or to get in shape for the summer months ahead! Choose your challenge – take it on anywhere in March – log your progress manually or automatically – and move across our Virtual Map of The Thames Path, whilst sharing your stories online as you head downstream!
There is a ‘Prize Draw’ for all who have crossed their finish line by 31 March. Fundraise for a charity if you wish to (optional) – and there’s a fantastic Thames Sea to Source Challenge medal – or the option to ‘Plant a Tree’ to mark your achievement and to help the environment!
Once you’ve signed up to your chosen challenge distance – you can either ‘link’ up to our Thames Path Source to Sea Map with Strava / Garmin / or FitBit (so your activities automatically feed through to our online map) OR you can add activity distances manually (so each time it’s logged you’ll progress along your route on the map along with other participants). You have up to the end of March to complete your Virtual Challenge, you can start any day from 1st March onwards, and can join at any time up to up to 13th March.
Walk, Jog, or Run – Anywhere, Anytime.
A great Challenge for everyone, a double marathon from the Source to one of Britain’s most historic towns, Oxford. Originally named as it was a crossing point for cattle – or ‘Oxen’s ford’ and famously home to one of the oldest Universities in the world
For those wanting to go further, why not target Windsor, home to the British Monarch at the magnificent Castle. Windsor Racecourse is also the basecamp for our upcoming Easter 50 Challenge on the 9 April – and there’s still time to sign up!
Head from the source into the heart of London, home of the UK Government and Westminster Abbey, dating all the way back to 7th Century! Those choosing this route will complete nearly all the original Thames Path, finishing at the nearby Thames Flood Barrier
If you want to really push yourself further – take on the full path including the recently completed Thames Path extension. This starts right at the source on the edge of the Cotswolds and heads to the Estuary on the Isle of Grain.
To keep you focused, and on track, we have x3 £100 kit vouchers from our partner Cotswold Outdoors to give away for all having crossed their finish line by the end of March.
Below is the cost of entry & inclusion. Please note we can only send Medals to a UK address. Registration is open until 13 March 2022.
NOTE – if you have a valid Discount Code for this Virtual Challenge – enter it under “Entry Code or Voucher” at the start of the registration form.
Our Virtual Challenges have so far raised over £275,000 for UK Charities*, and we’re hoping this Virtual Challenge will raise another £30,000 for the Ultra Challenge Partners.
If you’ve signed and want to fundraise for a charity of your choice – all you need to do is set up a Just Giving page using the button below and create your sponsorship page. There is no specific target to reach – just raise what you can!
* Source Just Giving
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