Briefing runners prior to a Runaway Adventures Trail Ultra
In this interview series, Ahotu will be speaking with the people behind some of the most unique races across the globe. We’ll be discussing the history of the event, challenges and how to overcome them, attracting sponsors, reaching new runners and more!
Thanks for joining us Chris. We’re delighted to have your events available for our runners across the globe. For those who aren’t familiar with you or your races could you introduce Runaway Adventures?
Thanks for having me! Based out of London, England, Runaway Adventures is a race company and community helping runners discover trail running and everything it offers. Our races are an opportunity for runners to compete and challenge themselves in beautiful locations, and around this, we organise social adventures via monthly group runs, regular coaching sessions and lots more.
Your races all take place on trails and often over long distances. Is that by design and if so what is it about this kind of event that appeals to you as a race director?
Everything we do has a focus on trail. Running in nature allows us to completely disconnect and that’s becoming increasingly important. When someone arrives at one of our races, it is the product of months spent on the trails and enjoying this environment. This process is part of what makes trail and ultra running special.
Our core events are 50K in distance, and I think this is the enjoyment sweet spot for trail races, both for me as the organiser and the runners. There is plenty of shorter stuff too – This year, we have three half marathons and a 10k to compliment the ultras.
How did you get into organising your own events?
Since I started running in the Chilterns back in 2017, I wanted to bring a new event to the area. It’s got a delightful mix of woodlands, ridges and historic trails, and we wanted to create a standout 50k race in that area. After launching the Chiltern Ridge in 2019 it’s been an exciting time, and three years later, we’re up to seven annual events!
What is the most challenging part of putting on trail / ultra events?
Without a doubt, it’s route planning. There are a vast number of variables to consider to stitch everything together in the right way. The countryside is a diverse place, and before everything else we have to be sensitive to everything that’s already there, from working farms to nesting birds. Then we have to consider safety, reducing road crossings, finding appropriate aid stations, and all without making the overall distance more than advertised – No one likes a 23km half marathon!
How has the trail running scene changed in the time in which you have been involved? Any trends you are seeing in trail / ultra running in the UK?
The sport is growing, and more people are discovering that trail running is simply running, but in lovely places! Of course, there are plenty of improvements to make, particularly regarding participant diversity, which is something we are working towards at Runaway Adventures.
You’ve recently announced a partnership with Athletic Brewing, what do you look for when considering partnerships with brands for your races?
We like to partner with organisations that are genuinely interested in trail running and motivated to improve and support those who partake in it. We are proud to be working with Athletic Brewing, alongside Mountain Fuel and Tribe. All great companies doing good things.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for runners when booking and attending races. Do you take any measures to reduce the environmental impact of your events?
We look at this in two ways – Reducing our own footprint and reducing the runner’s footprint. Internally we are constantly aiming to reduce our waste output. This year, we invested in reusable cable ties and purchased more durable signage with a longer shelf life. Where possible, event bases are located within walking or cycling distance to train stations, and we are exploring ways to incentivise runners to use this.
Most of your races take place within the South / East of England, and many of them are close to London. Where do you find your runners tend to come from?
Through our monthly group trail runs that we’ve been organising since 2017, we’ve created some nice pockets of runners, both from Central London and the surrounding counties. Year on year the participant lists are getting more wide-reaching. May’s Chiltern Ridge has representatives from 20 nations and 45 running clubs.
What can runners expect from a Runaway Adventures event?
A friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Attention to detail. Local beer on ice at the finish.
You’ve got a range of events this year, with three brand new races taking place, could you tell us a little more about those and where can runners learn more about your events?
For sure! We’ve got seven races in total with three new races hitting the calendar for 2022. We kick things off on April 2nd with our Hughenden Half Marathon, a stunning forest run on a historic National Trust Estate. For those not so keen on the hilly stuff, we have a new flatter ultra in the form of the Suffolk Coastal Path 50k (Sept 10th). A point to point run between Lowestoft and Aldeburgh. We then end our season with the Suffolk Coastal Path 50k (Oct 16th), the new sister race of the Chiltern Ridge Ultra Trail 50km and we think it’s going to be a classic!
Interested in taking part in a Runaway Adventures Race? Keep an eye on the upcoming events on Ahotu or at RunawayAdventures.com
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