Fitstuff G3 Trail Series is a trio of trail races in the stunning Surrey Hills AONB. Distances available are 10K and 15K and courses and Race HQ locations vary between the original Newlands Corner and the newly introduced pine tree-covered hills of Winterfold Forest – the venue for the Fitstuff G3 Trail Series Race II on Saturday 1 February 2025.

Winterfold Forest was an enforced change last year, as Fitstuff G3 Race Director Rory McPherson explained to runABC South: "We had no choice but to change this race to Winterfold Forest in 2024 when travellers moved into the car park at Newlands Corner a few days before the event. It turned out this was a blessing in disguise!

"With a different feel to the other races, the second G3 race has become a firm favourite with the regular runners of the series. It has it all. A long ascent through the forest over a mix of mud, roots, and ruts to the top of the Greensand Ridge. Swiftly followed by a rocky, technical descent, punctuated with support from volunteers; a staircase and a couple of cheeky natural ‘walls’ to climb, ending with a babbling brook to run down to cool those hot feet and soothe those aching limbs."

Spikes and trail shoes were a definite must as 268 runners assembled for the 8:00am start, an hour before most parkrunners set out for their Saturday morning 5K fix. Fitstuff G3 Series prides itself on delivering no-nonsense trail running on Surrey's 'very best hellish hills and devilish trails' – and all done with most of the weekend still to look forward to.

The 10K winners were series leader Rob Sherwood (42:45) and Betsy Griffiths (48:44). With the tough 15K course being similar in effort to a road half marathon, the winners were Dan Titcomb (1:01:45) and Lizzie May (1:18:31).

The Fitstuff G3 Series concludes with 10K and 15K races back at the birthplace of the event, Newlands Corner, just off the A25 near Guildford at 8:00am on Saturday 1 March 2025. Parking is free and registration opens at 6:30am. Entries are available here at £27 or £31, plus service fee. 

A final word from Race Director Rory: "There will be hills, mud, rocks, sand, forest and babbling brooks. You will need your trail shoes."

Results and reports of Fitstuff G3 Trail Series at runABC South race listing.

Photo courtesy of Rory MacPherson