THAMES MARATHON
What is the Thames Marathon Swim?
The Thames Marathon, also known as the Bridge to Bridge is held every year around August. It’s well known in the Open water swimming community and a highlight for many swimmers. The compeition takes the athletes 13 kilometres downstream from the bridge in Henley to the bridge in Marlow. You have the option to apply for one of the limited non-wetsuite slots, but in gerneral it is mandatory to wear a wetsuit and swim with a tow float for safety reasons.
The route is split into four parts, due to the logs on the route. You have to get out of the water at the logs, have the chance to take on nutrition, before you jump back in.
Why I chose the Thames race?
I had the goal for 2024 to become a marathon swimmer, meaning I have to compete in a race with a minumun of 10km in open water. On my shortlist I had a couple of races such as Bodensee crossing or smaller races in the south of Germany. Then, Katharina and I decided that we will explore Wales in summer, so I started the research and found the Henley Swim. What I liked about it: It had stops inbetween where we had to go on land, hence I am able to take my nutrition on land. One less thing to worry about.
Preparing for my first open water race.
Even before I signed up for the race, I had treated myself with a swim coach. My goal was to be more efficient in the water, therefore I needed to improve my sloppy technique. I had a great winter and made good progress up until the moment I went to Sri Lanka. Well, somehow life got busier, weather got better and the time on the roadbike affected the frequency and time in the pool. Not the best was to prep for such a long swim.
LET THE RACE BEGIN!
Taking on the Thames Henley 13km Marathon Swim.
With a 13km downstream only distance to cover I’d been hoping that the Thames would be a raging torrent sweeping me downstream so I could pretty much lay back and enjoy the ride. Checking in the day before the race I got the bad news: record-breaking temperatures meant that the flow was going to be almost nonexistent. 🤯
Seems like I actually have to put the work in. Being used to early starts from my Ironman races, it was great to see that the start is not before 9am and we were heading to Henley at about 7am. One note I took from the briefing was very much alarming to me, well I think everyone taking part in such a race: no toilets at the start. 😱
Lucky me, Katharina spotted a coffee place close to the start, I grabbed her a breakfast and used the time for a sort of pre-race routine.
Now, time to get in my wetsuit. I had four legs ahead of me: The first stop was at 4k, the second after another 6k, then one at a further 1.8k leaving 2.2k to the finish. I stuffed a bunch of gels into my tow float, inflated it and clipped my GoPro on it. Off I went.
FIRST LEG (4km) - Getting into the groove.
Right after the start, I felt that the adrenaline started pumping. Everythinng felt super exciting and since I’d done a 4km swim before, I was sure this first part is easily manageable.
With this swim, sighting wasn’t a big issue. You had lots of of orange and yellow tow floats all around from the other swimmers with helped you find your way. Also, breathing to the right, I stayed close to the land and Katharina and Pepe were showing up from time to time. That was a great motivator and distraction from a monotoues activity such as swimming.
My watch showed 3.5km and I got a glimpse of a big yellow ling buoy, the sign for the first water exit - Hambledon Lock. The volunteers helped me out of the which was well needed with sloppy legs. I was happy to grab some food and a drink from the well organized food stop, while chatting to Katharina and Pepe.
SECOND LEG (6km) – Welcome to the grind.
The next stretch was fearful: 6 km unbroken. A long way in one go and actually the longest I’d swum in open water ever.
I forced myself not to look too often on my watch, just focus on the technique and get through it. I calculated I would need about two hours and my watch buzzed after every 20min. This was the only guidance I gave myself.
Time went by pretty fast. The whole swim wasn’t as monoteous as I thought. There were always other swimmers around me, I could look at the boats on the sides and there was always something moving around me. The last 500m I had to dig really deep. I felt that I didn’t eat enough and had a ‘Hungerast’. Should have taken that bluddy gel from my flot toew at the first stop. Promised myself to not make this mistake again at the second stop: Hurley Lock.
Here we had ladders to climb to exit the river. My hole body felt super stiff. But well, no one looked like they are gymnasts anymore. I gave myself more time to recover. I felt a bit dizzy, so actually sat down, ate, took three cups of coke and two gels. Since the sun came out in the meantime, this was a great and well needed break.
By this stage I had swum further than ever before.
THIRD LEG (1.8km) – Short and sweet.
After a 6k leg, the short swim flew by. My fingers and toes started to feel numb and I could tell that the wetsuit was a good idea after all. Especially after seeing a guy shaking at the second log. 18°C water temperature isn’t that warm at all, and no wetsuit makes it a totally different challenge. 🤔
After what felt like no time, I could see the next stop, Temple Lock, and was happy to get out of the water again.
FOURTH LEG (2.2k) – Bring it home.
I kept the break short, because I knew the finish is close - final stretch towards Higginson Park in Marlow. The water felt like thick pudding now, I guess this was due to my arms getting heavier with each stroke.
About 700m before the finish you could see the orange arch - finish in sight, what a relief. Since we were swimming on the right side of the river, we had to cross over and that’s when I felt the current for the first time. I had to speed up to make the way over to the final ladder. Damn, what was this current the 13km before, when I needed it.
Made it over, climbed up the final ladder (yes, I needed some help with this) and stumbled my way towards the finish line. Looking at the video afterwards, it seemed like I haven’t walked for years – everything hip-down felt very stiff.
Like with any finish line, it is a massive relief when you cross it. Got my medal and treated myself with some lovely fries and Katharina got me a marvelous tasting finisher beer 🍻
FINAL THOUGHTS
Is there such thing as a swimming bug and did I catch it? Hmmm, not sure yet, but I am definitely motivated to do another marathon swim, this time in a lake and without breaks. Bodensee, get yourself ready!
Happy with the time?
Well, I actually didn’t know what to expect from it and I wasn’t pushing a fast time, taking good breaks.
And, something I noticed after my Ironmans: people are more amazed the longer it takes you. Especially with a swim like this, no one knows how long it takes, so if you say I was swimming for 5h, that actually sounds more badass than just 3h.