Thames Path 100 2025 Preview

Our 100 mile season opener since 2012, back for the fourteenth edition this year - the Thames Path 100 is right around the corner. Flat, fast, often attracting those hopeful of a first 100 mile finish as well as those shooting for major PBs at the distance - this year looks to be no different.

Follow all of the action live via the website homepage from 0900 on Saturday 3rd May.

The conditions have been incredible on the trails over the past month. A couple of weeks out from race day as we write this, things look set to stay the same, but any late downpour especially on race weekend itself can as we have seen in the past, lead to tough going in the final third in particular. That aside, there is so much fast all weather trail surface including paved sections early on, that the going for most at least as far as Henley is often extremely swift.  

The starting field at this event is always set at 300 and this year is no different. So let's have a look at the likely leading contenders in both the womens and mens events.

MEN

Alastair Courtney: Still relatively new to the ultra game but what an opening account he has put together so far. In 2024 he came out of nowhere to finish third at the Hundred Hills 50km against a classy field, before completely dominating the 50 mile Grand Slam. He won three of the four events last year, losing out only at the NDW50 to a course record from Patrick Wightman. He capped the year off with the Wendover Woods 50 in a time which not only won him the race but saw him take the seemingly untouchable Grand Slam record of our very own Jon Ellis by 11 minutes. This however, is his first 100. This year he kicked off with a third place at Country to Capital but in a sub 5 hour time. 

Alastair Courtney

Josh Barrow: The 2020 South Downs Way 50 champion (6:15) took victory at Race to the Stones last year and this year has so far recorded wins at both the Chester 50 and the Manchester to Liverpool 50. This does look to be his first 100 mile attempt.

Sergey Ionov: A long race specialist Sergey has had some outstanding results mainly over the flatter profile course over the years. Winner of the Grand Union Canal Race along with two runner up finishes. Third place at Badwater. Winner of Leeds Liverpool Canal Race and a 13th at Spartathlon. He has run this race once before finishing inside the top ten all the way back in 2017.

Thomas Lepers: The 2022 French National 24 hour champion, Thomas another specialist in the long, flat and faster courses. Last year he set a 24hr PB on route to fourth place in Albi with 257km. He has also has a 100km PB of 7:24 and a 12 hour best of 142km which he ran at our Track 100 in 2022.

Dave Phillips: Dave would feature much higher up the list of potential winners if he wasn't attempting something a little further than the race distance. Dave has shown fantastic form in recent years particularly over the super long ultras. Winner of the 2024 North Traverse, the 2023 Summer Spine Race and with a raft of other wins, podiums and top tens behind him. It has long been Dave's ambition to run all of our National Trails. The South West Coast Path record holder has ticked off a fair few but over race weekend he will be starting off at the Barrier, running to register for the event, running the TP100 before carrying on through to the source of the Thames - a journey of 184 miles.

Matt Gallagher: Super consistent over our TP100 and Autumn 100 courses in years gone by. He has finished five 100 milers with us, top ten positions in all but with a best of 15:34 here in 2023.

Ben Carrol: Seventh at the inaugural Winter Downs 100 back in December, he ran 248km over 24hrs for second place at Crawley 24 back in 2023.

Martin Reed: 2:37 marathoner with three race wins over shorter lower key ultras over the past 18 months.

Alex Sawbridge: Two top ten finishes at the South Downs Way 50, finishing fourth in 6:53 in 2023, he then went on to finish the SDW100 that same year in sixth.

WOMEN

Jennie Dunkley: Fifth at the Autumn 100 in 2023, Jennie also finished fourteenth at the SDW100 in 2023 and seventh at the NDW50 back in 2021.

Jennie Dunkley

Lucile Resplandy: French runner with an incredible CV of mountain races. Has literally dozens of ultra finishes in her past with lots of top tens, podiums and a few wins over the years and most at very long distance events such as Grand Raid Pyrenees, PicAreige, Tuscany Crossing and many many more. It will be fascinating to see what she can do on the flat.

Camilla Mitchell: Picked up five top five finishes at ultras in 2023 including a second at Race to the Stones. In 2024, she won the Ultra X Spring Series 50km and this year finished fifth at Hundred Hills 50km to kick start the season in fine fashion.

Mel Horley: Somewhat of a legend in our community for becoming the first and until this year, only unsupported female runner to finish the Winter Downs 200 - when she took home ninth place in 2023. Previously both a 50 mile and 100 mile Grand Slam finisher, her 100 mile PB of 22:59 was set on this course.

Beyond the usual Centurion Trophies and Age Group Awards, the Ed Catmur Trophies for fastest first-time 100 milers will once again be awarded at the finish, the most fitting way to remember our past champion and 30 time 100-mile finisher with us alone.

A huge thanks to the 100+ volunteers that will make this event possible again in 2025.