30/05/2026
With last weekend’s temperatures soaring through the roof, Karl had his big challenge of 2026 on that very weekend.
The Grand Union Canal Race. 145 miles. A race that starts in Birmingham and finishing in London.
Some times races don’t go to plan, making a decision to stop leaves bittersweet feelings.
However we feel that near on 80 miles still needs celebrating. 🎉 one hell of an achievement in itself. ⭐️
We asked Karl to share his journey with us-
‘My big challenge for this year was to be the Grand Union Canal race. Running from Gas Street canal basin in Birmingham along the canal to little Venice in London. A total of 145 Miles. My long suffering wife Victoria was going to be my crew, a job that's more difficult than running these things, she has to stay awake for however long it takes me, find some obscure meeting point in the dead of night on a canal towpath and then tell me I'm doing well while shoving Jam sandwiches in me (my food of choice for these events)
We arrived Friday evening for check-in. A quick bag check, these events often have a strict list of kit you have to carry, thankfully summer events you generally don't have to carry too much. An early night in the Premier Inn nearby and we were ready for the 6am start.
Back down on the canal side at about 5:30 and it's already warm enough to just be in a running vest, it's going to be a hot day. A quick race briefing, thanking the volunteers and we are off running. There's 110 people on the start line, it will turn out about 40 will finish. Everyone who starts these crazy adventures knows to conserve energy at the start, it's a long way to go. We get about 400M in and it's the first very small bridge up and over one of the legs of the canal. Everyone instantly stops running and walks over it. This happens every bridge, nobody wants to waste effort, we are soon away from the brick paths and onto the canal trail. The crowd thin out and you find someone who is running at your pace and is ready to talk, Time flies this early on, you aren't thinking about how far you've run or how far to you have to go, the numbers are just too scary so you block it out as a problem for later.
Around 15 miles later I arrived at the first checkpoint, people are refilling water bottles, grabbing crisps and cake from the stand. Some people have a sense of urgency, keen to get back on the run, some browse the menu of offerings like they're settling in at an all you can eat buffet. I grab my sandwiches from Vic, fill my water bottles up and move on.
There's some great scenery on route, I run through Braunston leaving the canal at about 40 miles as there's no towpath through the tunnel there, I run through the outskirts of Daventry meeting my sister and brother-in-law at this point which is a nice boost. I'm only about 2 miles from my childhood home at this point and it's a real buzz to be running through the parks that I know, and the pubs that I've had a beer or two at in the past, no time for that today even if it is tempting in this heat
Mile 53, I come into the checkpoint at Weedon. Starting to struggle to eat now, that's not a good sign, but I change my socks and shoes and force some food in while taking a few minutes rest. Watching my fellow runners come in and sort out what they need. People are trading salt sticks, offering gels or crisps to each other. That's one of my favourite things about ultra running, yes there are quick people and somebody has to be first, but everyone who is there wants everyone else to succeed. That goes for the crews as well, I've taken supplies from other runners crew teams and Vic was spraying some of the runners with the garden sprayer we bought for the purpose. The cold mist really helps although the effect doesn't last. I pull myself together and set off.
Checkpoint 5. 71.4 miles in, I make it there with about 15 minutes to spare. A big climb over the hill at Blisworth tunnel, another one without a towpath, the heat still radiating from the road had proved a tough segment. I'd had to run a lot harder than I wanted to make sure I got to the checkpoint. This time it's in and out, I'd filed my water bottles at a standpipe on the canal so grab some coke and malt loaf and I set off. This was to be just about my end though, my belly was really struggling at this point. I started to be sick shortly after, maybe it was the effects of mild heatstroke, it was the hottest May on record that weekend, maybe it was that climb at Blisworth taking it's toll, I've been analysing everything since. I managed another 4-5 miles but then met Vic at our next scheduled spot and had to stop it there. 60 miles to go and unable to get any more calories in me wasn't going to work.
Vic's been following me along the canal without sleep for 21 hours at this point. But she packs me up and drives me home. I get a few hours sleep before the light and heat of Sunday morning wakes me up. We spend Sunday dot-watching everyone's trackers on the website , willing some of the people we met to keep going and cheering them on from the comfort of bed.
Time to recover, Time to try something different for the next time. I've picked up pots of instant mashed potato for the next event, they could be a game changer. I'm disappointed now, it hurts not making it to the end, more than the blisters and bruises I picked up on the way. But If you don't push your limits you will never know what they are. I don't think I've reached mine yet, just that run on the Grand Union canal, on that weekend wasn't my day. But it was a great event, the scenery, the familiarity of some of the route, and the volunteers and run director were all great. So I think I might be back.... If Vic will let me...’
