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Ollie Langston

Thames Path Challenge 2024

Help me reach my goal of £2,500

100km: completed!

That was a tough one. In fact, that’s rather an understatement.

In truth, that was the most uncomfortable and painful event I have ever endured. However, receiving messages of support throughout the challenge, and knowing that I was raising funds for London’s Air Ambulance Charity, kept me going.

I crossed the start line at 7:00am on Saturday. In the company of two mates and 989 other participants I set out to cover 100km within 24 hours. Some ran, some jogged, the three of us walked.

260 people dropped out along the way. 

The three of us made it to the end. A little bit broken, battered, blistered and bruised but we crossed the line after 23 hours and 22 minutes of walking.

My sincerest thank you to everyone that sent me a “you’ve got this” message via WhatsApp, for all the supportive emails and for every pound that you kindly donated to support the life saving work of London’s Air Ambulance Charity .

I am astounded by how much money has been donated by such lovely people. At the time of writing the figure is just over £3,000. 

Thank you ❤️

Less than 24 hours to go...

My shoes and t-shirt are ready and my bag is packed. I'll eat lots of pasta tonight and will be ready for my lift at 5:30am (on a Saturday; honestly!!) to the start line in Putney. 

I received a call from the Chief Executive (Jonathan Jenkins) of the London's Air Ambulance this morning. He called to wish me well during the challenge and to thank me and my supporters (you!) for our fundraising. Having completed the 100km Thames Path Challenge he was also able to pass on some great advice. 

5 days to go...

I did a brisk 25 km walk on Saturday just to keep my legs moving. The forecast for this Saturday looks ok with the rain holding off until I've crossed the finish line in Henley-on-Thames at around 7am on Sunday.

Training is getting serious...

I am now only two weeks away from taking part in the Thames Path Ultra Challenge which starts on Sat 14th September.  Previous participants had suggested that my training should include being able to walk 30-40km one day, followed by another 30-40km the following day. So, I set out last Thursday morning with a full Camelbak and a bunch of bananas and I  walked from Staines Station along the Thames, crossing the river where necessary, making my way as far as Richmond Bridge before going over the Thames a final time and heading for home. 40km done!

I showered, ate and fell asleep very quickly. 

The next morning I felt surprisingly fresh and so, with more bananas, chocolate bars and an extra litre of water I walked from my front door in Twickenham along the Thames to Wandsworth Bridge. I then turned for home, walking as far as Teddington Lock before crossing the river for only the second time that day and walking back to Twickenham. 47km done!

I achieved my goal: 87km in about 36 hours.

I can't lie. I was feeling absolutely shattered after the second day. I arrived home with massive blisters but (look away if you're squeamish) many more had popped while I was walking, a story which was told by my blooded shoes.  The DOMs were awful for the next few days with my hips being the most painful.  

Lessons learned during the two walks: carry more water, tape-up my heels & toes and change my socks every 25/30km.

One foot in front of the other...

What's better than sensibly staying indoors on a wet Saturday at the beginning of July? Why heading out for a 33km walk along the Thames from Putney to Twickenham (via Hampton Court), of course! I covered 33km in 6hrs and 15 mins, so it's looking like 100km is going to take me about 24 hours. One foot in front of the other...I'll be ready for the Thames Path Challenge in September. 

I'm walking 100km in 24 hours to help save lives in London

Thanks for taking a few minutes to read about London’s Air Ambulance. I chose to support this charity because, as someone who lives and works in London, their helicopters are a regular presence in the sky and I would like to help them to continue their life saving work. 

London’s Air Ambulance is the charity that delivers an advanced trauma team to London’s most seriously injured patients. Your donation will help save more lives by keeping the helicopter in the air and the rapid response cars on the road, ready for when they are needed most. By providing intervention as quickly as possible after injury, London’s Air Ambulance Charity aims to give patients the best chance of survival, and best quality of life, after trauma.

So what am I doing to help? I have decided to walk 100 km (62 miles) in 24 hours from Putney in South West London following the meandering River Thames to Hampton Court, onto Runnymede of Magna Carta Fame, and eventually onto Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. The event is known as the Thames Path Challenge. There is the option to stop half-way and grab some sleep but I'm going to push on and hope to complete the walk in 24 hours. The furthest I've ever walked is 26.2 miles in the 2021 Virtual London Marathon. The Thames Path Challenge is more than twice that distance. 

I'll be crossing the start line at 7:00am on Saturday 14th September.

Please give what you can to help save lives in London. Thank you.

Ollie

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£3,116 + £464.78 GiftAid

My Goal

£2,500

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Thank you to my Sponsors

£52

Dentons

Fantastic work OL.

£20.80

Mandie And H

£20

Adrian Cormican

Nice work Sir! Great beard as well!!

£20

Josh Braid

Cracking effort and many congratulations Ollie!

£91.52

James Coleman

Amazing effort. Well done buddy.

£21.40

Ian Tyrer

Nice work mate!

£50

James & Mat At Rosslyn Coffee

Good luck Ollie, From James & Mat at Rosslyn Coffee

£31.20

Daniel Williams

Amazing effort! I know you love walking around town but this was taking it to an extreme!

£31.20

Mathew Stephens

Good luck pal!

£20.80

Matt Wood

£31.20

James Lowe

Good Luck!!!

£500

Sapcote Group

Good luck Ollie from all the team at Sapcote Group plc

£31.20

Harry Porteous

Best of luck Ollie! This does look tough, but you're up to it! Great work for a great cause.

£52

Mike Lawrence

My only (unhelpful) suggestion is to have someone holding a bloody big, cold, beer at the end!! Good luck, i'm sure you'll smash it.

£100

Will Lucas

Well done matey, and a great cause.

£20.80

Gavin Rowlands

Good luck!

£20

David Bannister

Great work Ollie

£31.20

Tom Smith

Enormous effort for an incredible cause. Wish you all the best!!

£31.20

Fuller Spurling

Best of Luck Ollie - hope it goes really well!

£52

Max Taylor-smith

Good luck!

£31.20

David

Best of luck Ollie, a truly gruelling challenge, I do somewhat fear for the state of your feet by the end though!

£20

Andy Jackson

Best of luck Ollie, remember there’s no such thing as bad conditions…. Just bad preparation! Go smash it mate!

£52

Gavin Hubrich

£500

Locate Retail

£15

David Poore

Enjoy it!

£20

Anonymous

Finish this and Gordon says he's gonna play you like a harmonica. Best of luck Your dear friend Phil.

£20.80

Mark Sheldrake

Best of luck!

£30

Lisa Swales

An amazing and very worthy challenge Ollie. Good luck, and what an amazing excuse to eat cake with all that training you’ve undertaken. All the best Lisa & Stephen

£10

The Russell Lee

I'm not donating. I'm paying for Jo to give you a footrub

£20.80

Mark Priestner

Good luck!!! 😲😬

£52

Gene

Excellent cause, you will do them proud

£30

Richard Ward

Good luck Ollie! What a challenge!

£52

Mia Turner

Milly will be very glad when she doesn’t have to join you on these long practice walks!

£51

Rob Barr

Best of luck mate! No falling off bikes in the meantime.

£78

Christopher & Pong

Fantastic effort Ollie, great charity, wishing you the very best of luck. Fuelled by delicious cake, it’s the only way.

£52

Tristan George

Great cause, best of luck Ollie!

£250

John & Mary Brooks

Truly Inspirational Ollie. Not only is it the event itself but also the hundreds of miles you will have walked preparing for the big day. A formidable undertaking. We wish you the very best of luck.

£51

Thad, Claire, Raffy & Ziggy

Good luck Ollie - fantastic event and amazing charity!

£500

Caroline And Phil Langston

This is a generous donation of your time and fitness for a cause we hope never to need. Hope it's a dry day for the walk.

£52

Anonymous