A self-supported solo run using a couple of drop bags and 1 shop. This path passes close to where I live, I use parts of it to get in and out of Swinley forest for my local runs. This sparked my interest to look into the route as a whole where I found it has quite some history. I decided to do it south to north, so it would feel more like I would be running home but it did make it a little tough at the 45mile mark to continue and not just go home.
In an attempt to do it as green, low impact, as possible I took the first train down to Winchester to start as early as possible. Injury had stopped me doing it back in April and although July gave me longer hours of daylight, it also gave the UK heatwave with my day of choice reaching 29C. I got through 8 liters of water through the day. I carried 2ltrs at start then picking up more at my bag drops at 15M, 45M and a garage just off the canal path in North Warnborough. Some of the paths were very overgrown at this time of year too, making some sections hard/impossible to run.
This path has a guide book and I choose to follow their route exactly, this gives 3 extra kinks to the route, going through the church yard at Upper Wield, crossing the canal temporarily for the views and doubling back on yourself around Windsor town hall. I decided to follow them all and do it properly. The only issue I had was just after leaving Hartney Whitney where a small section of the path was closed, but I managed to circle around with just a few 100mtr detour.
I reached my first bag drop (Upper Weld) around 10:30 having not seen a single person since leaving Winchester, even though the quaint little villages of thatched cottages.
I reached the Basingstoke Canal and Odiham castle around 13:30 which brought me to half way and familiar ground knowing I had run or cycled all parts of the remaining route. There was a petrol station with a shop a few meters off the canal path just beyond the castle, I took this an an opportunity to restock water and grab a coke and some crisps then stopping for a break from the rather intense sun.
With the heat, I switched to a run/walk for the 3rd section though to my 2nd bag drop just a few 100mtrs from home. Final restock of water and off again, this time on my regular run routes. With the temperature starting to drop I managed to pick up the pace for the final section. Being more built up around Ascot and Windsor the path manages to find small paths still avoiding the built up areas.
Though the center of Ascot racecourse and across the track I was soon in the final section of Windsor great park. Past King Georges Statue and a gentle down hill of the (seemingly never ending) Great Walk.
As I approached the door of the Castle, 2 armed police officers blocked my way. I was given a firm "No" when I asked if I could touch the door and mark the end of of my run. We chatted anyway and I told them where I had run from and for how long. He soon changed his mind and gladly let step through and complete it properly - I didn't think it would be right to get a pic of this seeing as he kept that gun ready the whole time.