The best time of year to run has arrived! Cooler temperatures, wonderful autumnal colours, rainbows, warm rain, and loads of events to enter! Read on to find out what we’ve got planned for autumn and winter 2023.
Recap: Summer 2023
2023 has been a great summer with lots of runs on trails in and around Coventry, and runners smashing longer runs and challenging events. The sun shone for the Two Castles on 11 June, the Yorkshire Three Peaks on 16 June, and the Kenilworth Half Marathon on 10 September. It takes extra mental strength to make yourself work hard when the temperatures are rising and your body is telling you to stay still.
It’s tough in the heat; a huge well done to everyone who ran this summer.
Other events one the summer included Race The Train on 19 August and the Devils Kitchen, which involved climbing Glyder Fawr and Y Garn in Snowdonia on 16 July.
Pics: Yorkshire Three Peaks 16/6/23, Glyder Fawr 16/7/23, and the Tuesday group September 2023
You can read about Race The Train in our blog here.
0 to 5km Running Course in Coventry
Our 0 to 5km course is once again popular; a terrific group of runners are taking part. It’s inspiring to see them increase their time and distance, and meet up in groups throughout the week to complete their homework runs. We hope they continue to run with us after the course has finished.
The next 0 to 5km course starts in the War Memorial Park in Coventry on Tuesday 24 October 2023.
Everyone is welcome, whatever their level of fitness.
What’s Ahead for 2023?
This is what we’ve got lined up for the remainder of 2023.
Chester Marathon: 8 October 2023.
Six runners have been training hard to run in the Chester Marathon this year. Chester Marathon is a multi-award winning event and three-time winner of the UK’s Best Marathon. During their run, competitions pass all Chester's iconic landmarks, including the Roman Walls, Cathedral, Medieval Rows, Eastgate Clock, and the Amphitheatre. The race then heads out to the stunning Cheshire and North Wales countryside and villages, and returns alongside the River Dee.
Also on 8 October, is:
The Royal Parks London Half Marathon: a 13.1-mile route taking in many of the capital’s world-famous landmarks, and crossing through Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park, and Kensington Gardens.
The Bournemouth Half Marathon: 13.1 miles, taking in both Boscombe and Bournemouth Piers along a stunning coastal route.
All events sound amazing. If you are running in one of these events, we wish you the best of luck in your race and look forward to seeing how you get on. Keep us posted. Photos please!
Ben Nevis: 22 October 2023.
Our Ben Nevis event includes plans to tour around some of the sights of the northwest Highlands. So as well as climbing the highest mountain in Scotland, the UK and the British Isles, we’ll be hoping to see:
Steall Falls, The Harry Potter Waterfall.
Walkhighlands says Steall Falls is one of the best short walks in Scotland. To get to the waterfall, which is a 120-metre drop and appears in the Harry Potter films, you follow a route through the dramatic and beautiful Nevis Gorge.
Glen Coe, The James Bond Skyfall Filming Location.
Around 18 miles south of Ben Nevis is the village of Glencoe which lies at the foot of the Glen Coe valley. This is where scenes from Skyfall were shot, as well as in nearby Glen Etive. The famous driving sequence in Skyfall where Bond is driving his Aston Martin DB5, was filmed on the A82 near the striking peaks of Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag. Bond’s dilapidated family home was located on the Dalness Estate in Glen Etive, although the house is not actually there because it was on a set in London.
Falls of Falloch and Loch Lomond.
If time permits, the tour will take in the Falls of Falloch, which is a waterfall and local beauty spot in the north part of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. There are some excellent places to eat and drink around Loch Lomond. The Drovers Inn is an 18th-century stone lodging with a stuffed grizzly bear, and the Duck Bay Hotel and Restaurant has a lochside terrace boasting breathtaking views over the loch to Ben Lomond and Arden Hills.
Pen y Fan and Fan Y Big: 17 November 2023.
Situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Pen y Fan is 2,907 feet (886 metres) high and the highest peak in South Wales. Some sections are tough, and the drop at the top is dangerously steep. However, weather permitting, the views are amazing, making it one of the most popular walks in Wales. As well as Pen y Fan, our 10-mile hike along the Brecon Beacons horseshoe ridge will include Corn Du (2,864feet/873m), Cribyn (2,608 feet/795m), and Fan y Big (2359 feet/719m), which has a diving board rock on the summit that makes a great photograph.
You’ll need to have a good level of fitness for this event as it’s a tough climb and we aim to complete it in just over four hours.
You can sign up here.
Snowdon Sunrise: 16 December 2023.
You need a medium level of fitness to climb Snowdon. However, keep in mind that you need to be that bit stronger for sunrise climbs because we need to drive up to Wales at midnight to start climbing in time for daybreak. This makes the event a bit tougher; you’re missing out on sleep and climbing in the dark.
A Snowdon Sunrise is an experience that inspires joy and awakens your senses, and it really does feel like a fantastic achievement. Let us know if you’re interested in joining us. The good news is, we can be back at our cars for around 8.30 and home in time for lunch, or even brunch.
Come and join us. You can sign up here.
Now for some news.
Sunday Runs
For the next set of 2023 Sunday runs, the runs will take place outside of Coventry. The distance will still be between 10 and 30km, but we will be running at different locations to challenge ourselves. It will involve an earlier start as we will be hitting the Malverns, Dovedale, Brecon, and Shropshire for some runs. Let us know if you’re interested in trail running and you want to join us.
You'll soon be able to sign up for the Sunday runs on our Running page here.
Events With The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF)
Towards the end of 2023 and into 2024, Ashby’s Adventure Trails and Treks will be supporting the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in organising events for fundraising. Some of our events may get booked up, so don’t delay in booking onto an event you like.
You can check back on our blog page for more details on our events for 2024, or take a look at our Events page right now. Any questions, please ask.
Finally, as we head into winter, please be aware of the following.
Winter Runs in Coventry
The clocks go back on Sunday 29 October 2023. Being visible and safe is paramount when you run.
Please bring and wear fully charged lights when you run with us at night.
Please wear bright clothing, items with fluorescent or reflective strips and panels, and high-visibility apparel wherever possible.
We will be running on well-lit paths as much as possible and it’s more important than ever that we all stay together.
On faster runs, if you find yourself out in front, please loop back to the last runner in the group so the whole group stays together.
Remember that we run in all weather unless safety could be compromised. If we have to cancel a run, we will let you know.
Take a look at our runs on our Running page if you haven't already signed up for a winter run.
We look forward to lots of fun runs with you over the coming months.
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