For my first race of 2025 I’d be running for doughnuts. On the whole, not a bad thing to be doing really, and Phoenix Running do some nice events. I’ve previously done one of theirs along the Thames path which has turnaround points at either end of a straight, and one at Denbie’s Winery which is an undulating course with twists and turns. This one would be along the Thames path, but I was unsure which direction it would be in.

I decided that this early on in training for a marathon I’d make this a relatively easy half marathon, but needed to decide whether to run solo, or run with Carmen. I'd done a reasonable 14 mile run last weekend, so perhaps the slower the better. Time on feet can be a good thing.

It was foggy and freezing outside before we set off for Walton-on-Thames, and by the time we got there the sun was sneaking above the horizon, and seemed to show promise of being a sunny day. It was -3C, and the ground was frozen solid. The leisure centre is used for car parking, and the tent for the race is set-up just a short walk from there, outside the Weir Pub.

Phoenix events now use timing chips on your ankles, whereas previously you’d call out your number as you reached the aid station. I think the timing chips likely help more on busy races as it’s easier for event staff to keep track of. People can run just one lap, or as many as they can in seven hours, and there’s a lot of leeway for when you start too.

Once sorted we set off along the tow path in the direction of Hampton Court. Of course, if we saw Hampton Court, then we’d have gone too far. I was going to run with Carmen for at last the first two laps, so we set off together once ready. We quickly found that early on it could be quite slippery, particularly around where the gates you need to pass through at Sunbury Lock. After that the ground is frozen solid, even where you could see mud had been churned up by previous users of the path. I think the ground being frozen actually made it more pleasant and easier than if the ground had been soft. Towards the turnaround point there were some large patches of ice, but found that either running across them, or striding over them was fine.

The turnaround point is a little over 1.5 miles from the start so it’d work out as four laps for a half marathon, and eight for a marathon. Carmen spotted some familiar faces, but also people she hadn’t seen at these events before so the lure of doughnuts had likely attracted more people than normal. She thought it busier than normal too, and I think that makes sense when you realise that there’s hundreds of Krispy Kreme doughnuts sitting at the aid station. Whilst busier than normal, I think the numbers were still okay - the only times we really needed to hang back and wait was when needing to get through the gateways.

By the end of the first lap we’d warmed up enough, so Carmen left a layer behind at the aid station, and after a visit to the pub loos, I caught up with her to continue with the second lap. I spotted Paul Addicott in this brief intermission, and then we spotted him a few times during the subsequent laps. He was doing a marathon - but taking it easy due to the conditions.

The time was flying by, and before we knew it we were heading towards the end of the second lap. This time when we reached a fork in the path, we took the wider one along the service road as it was quieter, free of frost, and doesn’t really impact the distance much.

At the end of this lap we stopped at the aid station for our first doughnut. We both had a ring doughnut to start with - I went with this option as I’ve never had a doughnut mid-run before, and wasn’t sure how well I’d be able to run after eating one so went with the lightest option. I think it does make running harder for several minutes after eating it, but it’s not something I’m really used to. We then saved eating more doughnuts until the race was over.

During this lap it started to get colder again as the sun had gone in. We could smell diesel fumes somewhere around the water treatment works as well. I was sure a little further along I could smell someone burning wood as well. On this lap I managed to slide a little at the turnaround point, and on the way back noticed that salt was being spread near the start to alleviate some of the issues with frost there.

As we started the fourth lap, the last one we’d be doing, I ran ahead at my own pace, and Carmen stayed back and ran with Paul and one other. Even on my own it felt like this last lap passed by quickly. Although, the entire weekend had gone by in the blink of an eye.

On the way back after the turnaround point I was slowed a little by a group of three walkers who were using the full width of the path (they were part of the event also as they too had the ankle tags). Once the path got a little wider I passed them, and had no further hold-ups on my way to the finish. I took the left fork for that reason too.

Once I crossed the finish line I walked back over to the aid tent, and rang the bell to signal I was done, before handing over the chip timer. I got a doughnut shaped medal, choosing the one that I thought Carmen wouldn’t choose, and then took a doughnut to eat whilst I waited.

I found a spot close to the finish that would be out of the way for runners, but would allow me to take a photo of Carmen running, and then ran with her and the others to the finish line.