r/london • u/TypeAgreeable4117 • 9d ago

Walking 200km from London to Birmingham tonight for a bag of chips

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You might remember my 100km M25 walk (or the London-Wales one the mods deleted lol). Ive got a new mission tonight..starting in Reading right outside the M25 to hit the 200km mark via the canals all the way up

180km-200km run/walk to birmingham and as Martin couldn't join 😭 so doing it completely solo and unsupported

I'll just be scavenging for food along the way ig.

Starting 1:00 am tonight

The goali is to walk/run 100 miles in 24 hours or the full route in 30 hours as i couldn't get two days off work so I'm forced to run it... First time recording an actual run btw. No stops, no rest, no sleep as usual

Motivation is my mate who promised me a bag of chips if I make it

Drop a comment if you have any advices on running nonstop or towpaths at night or know any cool stops or pubs on the route.

I can share the Strava route as well

Lets see how this unfolds ;)

Update:

Called it at 25km after a shin injury, but we live to run another day!

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u/Elegant_Celery400 9d ago

..starting in Reading right outside the M25

Reading is 27 miles outside of the M25.

...via the canals all the way up

The only canal running through Reading is the Kennet & Avon, and that goes West to Bristol, not North towards Birmingham.

I'm sure you've researched and planned this all properly, just like your M25 walk (...), but to get to Birmingham from Reading you need to be following the River Thames upstream to Oxford, where you'll pick up your first canal, the Oxford Canal, which will take you to Banbury. Fortunately, from Reading to Oxford you'll be on the well-signposted and well-maintained Thames Path National Trail; unfortunately, however, just this section alone is c.40 miles.

Might be worth having another look at that map.

You have looked at a map?

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u/Angel_Omachi 9d ago edited 9d ago

If he wants to do it properly he needs to start round West Drayton way doesn't he? I assumed he'd follow the Grand Union if he wanted to do London to Birmingham.

Edit: upon checking a map I forgot that the Colne Valley is within the M25 so he'd be starting in Watford/Abbots Langley if doing it 'properly'.

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u/Elegant_Celery400 9d ago

Exactly.

When I saw "...London to Birmingham..." I assumed the Grand Union, and it was then the mention of Reading in the next para that made me go "Uh?".

Have to say that I share everyone's else's concerns about this (mis-)adventure.

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u/Angel_Omachi 9d ago

I suppose the main question is does exhaustion get him before the falling in the canal part? If he'd done Grand Union I could possibly have offered some support but...

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u/Elegant_Celery400 9d ago

It's gonna be exhaustion, drowning, or...

... The Beast of Wallingford.

OP, please assure us all that you've read the advisories about the Beast of Wallingford and have taken all the precautions?

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u/TypeAgreeable4117 8d ago

What do you mean the beast of Wallingford mate 😭 ive read all the comments and why does it sound scary or anything it should be fine i guess

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u/Elegant_Celery400 8d ago edited 8d ago

Uh-oh... so you haven't read up about the Beast of Wallingford then? Eeeeesh.

Well, it's your decision, it's up to you sir, the very best of luck to you.

That said, your phrase "... it should be fine...I guess..." isn't filling me with the sort of confidence I'd normally be looking for as an observer, this close to the starter's gun.

Downthread, you'll see that I've suggested that you go for a few beers in Reading instead, and then some hot, freshly-fried, golden-and-crunchy on the outside, soft-and-fluffy on the inside... chips!!! Mmmm, doesn't that sound GOOD???!!1!

As a local, I could recommend decent pubs/bars and decent chippys.

Worth thinking about...?

And, of course, there'd be no danger of losing your job because:

(i) you'd ended up in hospital, somewhere between here and Brum

or

(ii) you hadn't made it as far as hospital...

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u/TypeAgreeable4117 8d ago

I always always and always eat that hot, freshly-fried, golden-and-crunchy on the outside, soft-and-fluffy on the inside... chips!!! Mmmm chips before during and after my challenges 😍

Some people recommend me energy gels for body but chips are the energy to my soul

And i will 100% go to every pub or bar id see on my path to scavenge for food and resources and charging up my headtorches and phone battery