MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Does anyone know of any beginner friendly events that are worth entering in the next couple of months?
I have looked at the Parkrun events, but they appear to be mainly gravel-paved surfaces; well, the Tilgate one does anyway, which is nearest to me. I was looking for something a bit more trail orientated.
http://www.humanrace.co.uk/events/off-road/tuffman
Shocking entry fee though.
My local fell race was 4 quid today!
That was yesterday, and I fully intended to enter, partly because it's about 5 miles from me. However, an ankle injury kinda set me back a bit.
The denbies 10 is a good one, there are a few out of Guildford not sure who organises and there used to be midweek stuff at swinley forest.
Cheers. I'll have a look at those.
The Denbies one is not until October. There is the Polesden Lacey 10km on the 23rd of June, which may be worth doing.
You can get a listing from the runners world web site. Also see all about tri web site as they have lots of events in the Guildford area. The last of the g3 series is next Saturday. Very hilly off road 10k. Pilgrims half in September as well.
Thanks for the info. I don't think I'll be ready for a 10km by next Saturday, although I did 11.3km on Saturday by myself.
there's a 10k event at Bedgebury in June - not sure what the ratio of fire roads to other stuff is, though.
Yeah I looked at that one last night. The photos all seemed to show gravel fire roads, but the blurb said a mixture of forest tracks.
You've just missed (yesterday) the off-road duathlon @ Kings Wood near Ashford. Shame as it is short and very beginner friendly. Might be worth sticking in the diary for next year though. Two short (3km) trail runs with a 14km bike ride in the middle.
Re: Bedgebury, there is a BHF 10km run next month which is less than half the price of the Runners World event in June.
To be honest I think you might struggle to find organised events down this way that are on "proper" trails rather than mainly bridleway or doubletrack. Most trails wouldn't stand up to hundreds of runners and it would be irresponsible to organise a race along them (I doubt permission would be granted anyway).
Have a look at joining a club, most clubs belong to cross country leagues. That's probably as good as you are going to get. Usually cheap/free to enter too (our club pay our entry fee for us).
That was the good thing about the Pippingford Tuffman event: It was all on proper trails. Unfortunately ankle problems set me back a bit.
I was looking at the Dorking/Leith Hill half marathon but that's full now.
I'll have a look at a club, but I'm not usually into that kind of thing.
Just entered the 13km Eridge Trailman event on 6th April 😯
As Hammerite says. Join a club. There will be one local to you.
Also join the FRA and do some proper "off road" events for a fraction of the price of the over hyped macho events.
[url= http://fellrunner.org.uk/ ]Fell runners association[/url]
Have a look at the events on the front page and leaving aside the "High Peak Marathon" which is a big event the others cost a few quid to enter.
at £26 !!!! to run round a park!Just entered the 13km Eridge Trailman event on 6th April
"Trail running" my a*** I've been "trail running" for the last 35 years. Only the last few years has it been called anything but "running"
Marketeers dream!
That Eridge thing looks fun. Would have gone with my wife - she could have run only and I would have done the duathlon but she has a Marathon the following weekend so possibly not...
Also join the FRA and do some proper "off road" events for a fraction of the price of the over hyped macho events.Fell runners association
Have a look at the events on the front page and leaving aside the "High Peak Marathon" which is a big event the others cost a few quid to enter.
And how many of those are in the SE, exactly?
And how many of those are in the SE, exactly?
Fair point you are hardly in the most hill area however there are lots of clubs so you will get access to all of the local and regional XC events for your annual membership and the rest probably free.
The FRA do the following events in the SE.
[url= http://fellrunner.org.uk/races.php?region=12 ]SE FRA events[/url]
Not a huge amount I grant you but with a bit of travel there are events not too far away.
Dont misunderstand me I just get the hump when I see events springing up that offer "introductions" to running or opportunities to run in "wild" and challenging places then charge you a huge amount to do it. Worse they often displace other events that dont have the marketing budget and offer events very cheaply.
Saxons orienteering is normally good fun...
orienteering is normally good fun.
+1 Orienteering is often overlooked, not done many events but they are great fun, club based and cheap as chips!
It does look a bit more than running around a grass field:
http://www.humanrace.co.uk/trailman-2012
By all accounts there are some leg-sapping climbs too.
I don't think they ever claim to introduce you to running in "wild" places. It is a country manor deer park, afterall.
with the others, join your local club. i'd been meaning to join mine for ages, joined about a month ago, now do 5-6mile club run every monday, cicuit training weds, swim technique thurs. if i want can also do additional training thurs and cycling sun. all good fun, very mixed ages and abilities. definitely not a closed realm of the uber fit.
It does look a bit more than running around a grass field:
Thats why I said "park"
My general point is that there are a lot of events run by clubs that are going to the wall because better advertised (and far more expensive) events catch peoples eye and the less well known club events disappear.
Those not in the "know" think that these events represent what is available in terms of running/MTB etc which is disappointing but more serious as far as I am concerned is that these are events for profit and running clubs (my particular interest) run on a shoestring but offer coaching, support, competition and transport etc for youngsters coming into the sport.
Absolutely not a pop at you Mikey I am just railing against the whole "adventure racing" concept which is just re branding IMO.
My general point is that there are a lot of events run by clubs that are going to the wall because better advertised (and far more expensive) events catch peoples eye and the less well known club events disappear.
Those not in the "know" think that these events represent what is available in terms of running/MTB etc which is disappointing but more serious as far as I am concerned is that these are events for profit and running clubs (my particular interest) run on a shoestring but offer coaching, support, competition and transport etc for youngsters coming into the sport.
Absolutely not a pop at you Mikey I am just railing against the whole "adventure racing" concept which is just re branding IMO.
I see your point, and kinda agree with it, but we aren't all blessed with a plethora of running clubs in our area and an abundance of spectacular off-road scenery to run through (although I do have the Ashdown Forest, but no races on there outside of Pippingford Manor I believe), which is where these other events come in.
I will obviously have a more informed opinion once I have done the event, but I think there is room for these larger events and the smaller, club-based ones you are referring to.
The larger events obviously fill a void so perhaps the clubs should try and reach out a bit more.
It's sportive vs audax for runners this discussion 😉
It's sportive vs audax for runners this discussion
Shhhhh 😉
The larger events obviously fill a void so perhaps the clubs should try and reach out a bit more.
Problem is Athletic clubs spend their money on the items I listed above, providing coaching for grass roots coaching and races being one. For them its not about putting on a "showy" cross country event dressed up as something special its about the support of non profitable parts of the sport.
but we aren't all blessed with a plethora of running clubs in our area
You might be if you look.
[url= http://www.humanbeingactive.org/community/resources/uk-running-and-athletic-clubs/south-east ]SE Running clubs[/url]
You might be if you look.SE Running clubs
I went through quite a number of those and either the links are broken or the clubs don't seem to offer what I am looking for. The ones I looked at in my area seem to be mainly track or road based, neither of which I am interested in.
You could always move 220 miles north and live on the fellside
Thats what I did 🙂