Reflections on the Thames Ultra 200: A Journey of Endurance and Discovery

The inaugural Thames Ultra 200, a 200-kilometer paddleboarding event stretching from Lechlade, Gloucestershire to Teddington, Southwest London, was an adventure that truly tested my limits. As I prepared to start, the rain poured down, mirroring the anxiety I felt after a sleepless night. Having never paddled this section of the Thames before, my nerves were high, but the friendly start team helped ease my tension as we waited for the signal to begin.

I’ve tackled mid to long-distance paddles before, but 200 kilometers was a daunting new challenge. As we set off, we faced a narrow, twisting stream that turned every 50 yards, making it impossible to gain any momentum. On my 14-foot inflatable paddleboard, which offered minimal glide and was tricky to maneuver, it quickly became clear that this would be a grueling day.

Compounding the challenge was the lack of any flow in the river. With zero current to assist, each paddle stroke had to propel the board forward entirely on its own. Any headwind or even a slight crosswind quickly sapped the power from each stroke, making progress feel painfully slow. Every push of the paddle became a battle against the elements, and maintaining momentum was a constant struggle.

Early in the race, I teamed up with Jan, a wonderful Polish paddler who eventually became the first man to cross the finish line on a SUP. We decided to take turns drafting, switching positions every mile. Our teamwork helped us maintain a steady pace of around 6.5 km/h, despite the relentless rain and lack of current. This pace felt sustainable at first, but as the kilometers wore on, I began to question whether I could keep it up for the full 200 km.

Around the 30 km mark, technical issues with my board started to slow me down. A cable hanging off my board posed an entrapment hazard and had already caused me to fall in once. I decided to stop and make some running repairs. Although this break gave me a chance to cool down, I felt unsettled and anxious. I was grateful for the support of people on the riverbank, but I needed to find my own rhythm and clear my mind.

Jan caught up with me after I had spent some time at a checkpoint, and we paddled together for a while through the rolling plains of Oxfordshire. As we approached Oxford, I realized I needed to adjust my pace, so I told Jan to go ahead and that I would catch up at the next checkpoint. This gave me the chance to focus on my own stroke, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and find some inner peace.

Reaching checkpoint three felt like a significant milestone. I found my friend Alex waiting there on her hardboard. We shared stories about the tough portages, some of which had steep drops that were challenging even in daylight, let alone in the dark. With night falling, we agreed to stick together for the remainder of the journey, adopting the mantra “we’re stronger together.” After a quick snack and a hot cup of tea, we equipped ourselves with lights and set off into the night.

Navigating the Thames in pitch darkness was a surreal experience. The 44 locks we encountered along the route, spaced roughly every one to three kilometers, were energy zappers, draining our stamina with each encounter. At every lock, we had to climb out of the water, carry our boards, and negotiate a variety of surfaces—steps, gates, uneven terrain—before carefully lowering our boards back into the water and remounting them safely. These frequent portages required immense physical and mental effort, and it quickly became clear that this race was as much about endurance and strength of will as it was about paddling technique.

By the time we reached Bently Lock, Alex was struggling to get back on her board. We had agreed that if one of us couldn’t continue, the other would also stop, prioritizing our safety over the desire to finish. We sat on the riverbank, laughing and reminiscing about the journey, knowing we had made the right choice.

Although we didn’t complete the full distance, I left the Thames with a deep sense of accomplishment. This experience taught me invaluable lessons about pacing, preparation, and the importance of camaraderie. In a sport that can often be about individual achievement, I found strength in the bonds formed on the water.

The Thames Ultra 200 may have been the most challenging paddle of my life so far, but it also reminded me of the joy of adventure and the importance of safety and well-being. There will be other opportunities to complete this race, and when the time comes, I’ll be ready, with a stronger mind and a more prepared body. For now, I’ll give my shoulders and arms a chance to recover, knowing that each challenge faced is a step toward becoming a better paddler.