I was changing jobs, but I only had a 4 day Easter break in between until I joined the new organization. I hadn’t had time to plan something relaxing for myself, but luckily I had an idea that I couldn’t get out of my mind. That meant, I had to it. 

Run 200km from London along the Thames Way towards Oxford. Originally, I thought I’d run to Henley-on-Thames and back, but mid-journey I decided I’d rather just keep going along the river instead. 

Highlights from the adventure: 

1) Flooding absolutely everywhere. This meant constant frustrating u-turns and often having to run along paths where water was nearly up to my knees. 

2) Second morning, at around 130km, I accidentally joined a local half-marathon race. This gave me the exact motivation I was looking for. 

3) I ran next to Runnymede where the Magna Carta was sealed. I found that thrilling. 

4) Chats with locals always gave me a smile. Their reactions: “What? You ran here? From London? Why?” 

5) Stayed two nights at hotels. Hotel check-in cut-offs were tough. Each time I barely made it. Also, the darker it gets, the more dangerous roads become. Sometimes, a dark, unmarked and flooded forest becomes your only choice. 

6) I spent one night at the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. When I saw it, I had to book it. Having pictures of Olympians across the hotel rooms was perfect for the occasion. 

7) I saw deer only once during the trip. It was late in the evening near a cement manufacturing plant. I was lost and I felt so was the deer. I think we both felt out place. 

8) After a long day and flooded forest run, I kid you not, I fell (not so elegantly) on the asphalt 1 mile before reaching the hotel. I took a pause, kept lying on the pavement gazing at the stars and wondered to myself “what did I get myself into again”.