01 / KNOW THE ROUTE
What the course asks of you
Give each spur its own purpose
The 2026 route used the Thames Path towards Little Wittenham, the Ridgeway towards Swyncombe Farm and Chain Hill, then the Thames Path towards Reading. The sequence mixes river paths with more rolling ground. Treat it as reference information until the next course is confirmed.
Use the return to base well
Practise a short reset routine: replenish food and drink, check layers and lighting, then begin the next section. Keeping that sequence familiar can make a large distance feel more approachable. On training outings, leave each planned stop knowing what comes next.
02 / BUILD THE BLOCK
How to prepare
Build durable, comfortable running
Develop a regular week with easy running, strength work and a longer outing appropriate to your experience. Include both runnable paths and rolling trail. Gradually extend the time you can move comfortably while keeping enough recovery to train consistently.
Make darkness familiar
Start night practice on known trails with suitable safety arrangements. Test how your light works on uneven ground and how easily you can reach food or a warm layer. Practise checking the route independently so the routine stays clear when the field spreads out.
Rehearse the base-stop sequence
Set up a small kit station on an appropriate longer outing and practise a planned visit. Know which food you want first and where your dry clothing sits. Review the whole outing afterwards, including time stopped, comfort and how you felt the next day.
Bring your running and strength work together. Explore MaxMile for your Autumn 100 preparation, or compare our personal coaching options.
03 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Pace the race you have trained for
Start with a sustainable effort and keep the first spur comfortable enough to fuel well. On the rolling sections, allow walking and running to work together. Compare progress with the current checkpoint schedule once the next edition is confirmed.
Give each departure from Goring a simple focus: comfortable movement, regular food and attentive navigation. In the later hours, bring attention back to the next landmark or checkpoint. A familiar routine can help you keep making useful decisions throughout the night.
04 / MAKE ROOM FOR TRAINING
When should your block start?
The next race date is awaiting confirmation. The 2026 edition has finished. Course information here uses that edition as a reference; a future edition’s route and arrangements still need confirmation.
You can start building a useful foundation now: regular easy running, progressive strength work and comfortable time on relevant trails. Once the next date is announced, work backwards to place the specific long outings, night practice and taper. A coach can help fit that progression around your experience and other commitments.
05 / SORT THE PRACTICAL BITS
Kit and race-weekend planning
Use autumn training to practise choosing layers and keeping spare clothing dry. Test your lights and backup, and rehearse eating in the kit you intend to wear. Check the next edition’s full mandatory equipment list when it is released.
The 2026 format provided access to a drop bag at Goring between spurs, with no crews permitted. Treat those as historical arrangements until reconfirmed. Organise accommodation and travel around the next official date, rather than reserving against an assumed weekend.