Thames Meander Spring | Marathon

Race briefing

There will be a 10 minute Health and Safety briefing that will take place before the start of the half marathon and marathon, so please get to the start in time to attend.

Kit list

Mandatory items:

• Hydration pack or waist pack - minimum 500ml
• Cap
• Sunglasses
• Screen block
   

Road shoes

Road shoes are definitely recommended for this course as 80% of it is run along asphalt paths and the rest on very hard packed dirt trails, so you can easily run this in road shoes or hybrid trail shoes.

Event HQ

Petersham and Ham Sea Scouts
Meadow Close
Richmond
Greater London
TW10 7AH
UK

Overview

2 laps of the half marathon route; starting at the Petersham and Ham Sea Cadets HQ heading out along the Thames Path to opposite the Barnes Sports Club Check Point 3 (the turnaround point) and back.

Map

Surface

The majority of the course 99% is flat. The conditions are weather dependent though it’s mainly a firm running surface. Road shoes are recommended. The turnaround point for the half and marathon at the Isleworth Eyot will also be very well marshaled.

Checkpoints

Please ensure that you move out of the way of fellow runners if you stop to re-fuel to avoid any congestion occurring at the check points and please pay particular attention to marshals on the route, especially at the turnaround point. 

• CP1 Start /Finish Petersham and Ham Sea Scouts HQ, Petersham Road, Richmond, TW10 7AH (KLP Medics) 
• CP2 Kew Gardens Car Park, Ferry Lane, TW9 3AG
• CP3 Thames Path (opp) Barnes Sports Club, Lonsdale Rd, SW13 9Q 

Cut off

The time limit for the marathon course is 6.5hrs.

Headphones

Runners should use the UKA Approved 'Aftershokz' over-ear bone conducting earphones so you can hear what is going on around you at all times, and to be courteous to fellow runners and all other pedestrians / cyclists using the Thames Towpath. If you run using any form of over or in earphones as per the terms and conditions, you do so at entirely your own liability risk. Please be very mindful of the public using the trails too - if you are caught being rude to anyone you will be disqualified from future events.

Qualifying race

The race is fully TRA, ARC and UKA permitted and professionally chip timed.

In this respect it has all the necessary indemnifications in place required for this to be officially recognised as a pre-qualification event for the Comrades Ultra Marathon (South Africa) and 2 Oceans Ultra Marathon (South Africa).

This is not an officially measured course and cannot be used as a London Marathon Good For Age qualification time. 

Runners are encouraged to bring a refillable hydration pack or waist pack.

Included

• Bespoke Hermes Running bespoke race medal
• KLP Medical Supplies (First Aid Support) at the start and finish
• Well-stocked check points at the start and finish and at Kew Gardens Car Park
• Well-marshaled run-route

Optional extra

• Photography by Gareth Parker Photography at £7.50 per photograph
• Professional Sports Massage Therapy by Louise Acher, from LA Sports Massage £12 for 10 mins

Prizes

Winners’ coaster awards for the top 3 Male and Female runners for both races.

Entry fees

This is my 3rd Thames Meander half marathon. I really like the river location and route - especially the new route which takes you directly back to the start/finish. Millie M

Beautiful views of the River Thames on an easy to navigate, 2 lap out and back, flat course. Small, friendly event with plenty of encouragement from the other runners at the turn around points. Well stocked, frequent aid stations. Range of participants from first timers to 100 marathon club runners and suitable for all. Fun, well organised event that I will be sure to run again. Jackie S

My first half marathon and it was overall a great experience. The course offers lovely views along the Thames, not crowded at all and a friendly atmosphere. Chris L

Loved the idyllic route by the river and the fact that it was not crowded at all!!! Also the path was for the most part paved, so no deep mud and puddle bits even though it had just rained quite a lot beforehand. Super happy overall! Very friendly atmosphere from participants, organisers and helpers! Nassia F

Enjoyable event with friendly staff at registration and at the feed stations. Good atmosphere amongst the runners and encouragement from small pockets of support out on the course. Gordon N

The Thames path from Ham up to Putney takes in a lovely route. Volunteers were ultra enthusiastic on this race and the aid stations were excellent. It was muddy and windy but I really enjoyed it! Harvey G

Thames Meander was my 2nd Full Marathon and I really enjoyed it, the course is generally a flat one. Christopher J

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck