Head For The Woods
Forest Runner Series is about to hit the woodland trails again...
The Japanese call it 'shinrin yoku', which translates as 'forest bathing'. Those fun-loving Swedes enjoy a good 'fartlek' in the woods. We just call it trail running and nobody does it better than Forestry England with their Forest Runner Series...
Forest Runner Series is the natural extension of the Run Together and Forestry England initiative to set up way-marked running trails in many of Forestry England's Active Forests throughout the country, with routes from 1K to 10K, including parkruns and junior parkruns in 21 of the nation's favourite forests every weekend.
Many of the England Athletics social running RunTogether groups meet and run in our forests and the joint initiative has recently seen the 1.2 million milestone of runs passed. Forestry England has built over 1,800 miles of walking, running, and cycling trails, including specific running trails in 14 locations from Haldon Forest in Exeter to Chopwell Wood in Gateshead.
Forest Runner Series returns on Saturday 2 September at Cannock Chase Forest, near Rugeley, Staffordshire – the first of 11 such events throughout the winter months. The full programme of 5K and 10K is:
- Saturday 2 September – Cannock Chase, Birches Valley, Rugeley, Staffordshire
- Sunday 10 September – Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
- Sunday 24 September – Bedgebury Pinetum, Goudhurst, Kent
- Sunday 1 October – Sherwood Pines, Kings Clipstone, Nottingham
- Sunday 15 October – Salcey Forest, Wootton Road, Northampton
- Sunday 22 October – Thetford Forest, Brandon, Suffolk
- Sunday 26 November – Forest of Dean, Coleford, Gloucestershire
- Sunday 25 February – Alice Holt Forest, Farnham, Surrey
- Sunday 3 March – Delamare Forest, Northwich, Cheshire
- Sunday 10 March – Hamsterley Forest, near Bishops Aukland, Durham
- Sunday 24 March – Dalby Forest, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering, Yorkshire
At each venue, you can become a Forest Runner at 5K or 10K for a little over £20, which often includes free parking for up to three hours. Click on the Forestry England Forest Runner website to find your nearest event and to sign up now. To benefit from an exclusive Forest Runner/RunTogether 10% discount simply enter the code RT10 on the booking page.
Photos courtesy Forestry England Forest Runner Series