Club member Ryan Gresty ran over 100 miles and reached the last 5 of the Putney Loop, a “last one standing” ultra in which runners complete a 4.1 mile (6.7km) loop in London, once per hour, until they can run no more. All in support of The GlassDoor Homeless Charity. “Absolute insanity. Where do I sign up?” asked another of our runners. Over to Ryan:
The Putney Loop BYU 2025 Report
A backyard ultra. 4.16 mile loops on the hour, every hour, until there’s only one left standing. What’s the point in that? Good question. What’s the point in writing about it? Even better question. Let’s follow the golden rule of BYUs and take it one hour at a time.
- Loop 1. 69 of us set off in probably the least impressive race start you’ve ever seen. Motivational speech, clapping, big countdown: 3…2…1… GO! And everyone walks off slowly.
- Loop 2. Lots of chit chat and very little running. Nice tail wind on the leg back from Hammersmith Bridge past Fulham Football club. Lots of people out on the river path. High tide.
- Loop 3. The wind (storm Amy) is getting a bit angry. Trees creak ominously above our heads in Bishops Park. First cup of tea, with homemade apple cake.
- Loop 4. Chaos as Bishops Park is shut and a diversion is hastily plotted on the roads. We run a “bonus” 100m. One runner gets stuck in the park and is timed out.
- Loop 5. We’re on to the night route early due to the wind. Twice across Hammersmith bridge, more road and less river path.
- Loop 6. Justin is angry because Liverpool are losing to Chelsea. Ryan is astonished that Man Utd have won a game. 2nd cup of tea. More apple cake.
- Loop 7. Wind has died down. River path is still abuzz with people and dogs. Field is down to about 40. Pot of instant porridge.
- Loop 8. Porridge has not settled well and an emergency stop in the Red Lion pub toilets saves the day. Head torches come out for the next one.
- Loop 9. Spots of rain as we go into the night. 3rd cup of tea and a couple of bananas. Low tide.
- Loop 10. Big cheer from a group of fans in the Red Lion pub. Glad they weren’t there 2 hours ago. Noodles arrive from somewhere and are devoured.
- Loop 11. Another big cheer from the Red Lion fan club. My mate brings us cheeseburgers back at base.
- Loop 12. On the river path it’s just us runners going one way and a trickle of drunk people staggering the other way. Red Lion fan club have packed up and gone before closing time so the last mile back to base is a bit of a mope. 4th cup of tea.
- Loop 13. Reward for 50 miles is a change of shoes and socks and a disappointing pot noodle.
- Lap 14. Heckled by some drunk revellers from one of the Putney boat house balconies. Swiss roll and more tea.
- Lap 15. 100k high fives for everyone coming the other way on Hammersmith bridge. 20ish runners left. High tide.
- Lap 16. Everyone’s gone to bed save for a few dodgy people sitting in cars. I think about shining my torch in the window for a laugh but can’t be bothered to divert even a few cm from my line.
- Lap 17. 2 foxes spotted. Another couple drop. Tea, paracetamol and a caffeine pill.
- Lap 18. Boring plodding hitting my marks: 18 minutes to the bridge. Walk the up hill, run the down. 21 mins round the bollard on the far side. 26 to the petrol station. Run to the bus stop, walk to the letter box. 34 to the pub. Run to the dark bit, walk to the wonky tree. 45 to the little blue bridge and 51 back at base. Another couple drop.
- Lap 19. Fed up of the night now. Another couple drop.
- Lap 20. Daylight. Hooray! Nobody drops.
- Lap 21. Back on the day loop, complete with easy terrain and tail wind on the way back from Hammersmith Bridge. Rowers are out loading boats into the water. All feels good again, apart from the constant pain. More paracetamol.
- Lap 22. Warmed by glorious sunshine, walking is easy. Running with the wind behind us is even easier. River path is packed. Justin rants about maniac E-bike riders.
- Lap 23. Dad brings us McMuffins. I liberally apply Vaseline to a sensitive region. Justin does too (to his, not mine). Change of shoes & socks makes no difference to the foot pain. Low tide.
- Lap 24. My wife and kids turn up. Cuddles all round. 10 of us bring up 100 miles, Justin with a sprint finish, cheered on by some returning DNF-ers. I talk him into another 100 yards which turns into another 4.16 miles.
- Lap 25. Only 5 start this one. On our 41st crossing of Hammersmith bridge we both decide we’re done. My legs fall apart on the plod back to base. Chafing is a real problem. Can’t do any more of that.
- Lap 26-28. 2 runners left. Justin and I are offered pints and chairs. Vic wins with 28 laps looking like she’s done 1, Stephen assists with 27. Everyone goes home.
Turns out you can go on quite the journey without really going anywhere. The changing light, skies and tides. The same paths crowded, then deserted, then crowded again. The people and the wildlife. The mighty bridges and the trees creaking in the wind. The late night piss heads and the chiselled athletes up at first light. Millionaires in mansions and people sleeping rough.
Against this backdrop you get a few hardy runners gritting it out. Instead of a strung out field you come together every hour so you get to know everyone, get to experience their races alongside yours, and you buy into their success as much as they buy into yours. And then you want to come back next year and do it all again with them, maybe going a loop or two further. That’s the point, if you ask me.