Mortimers Forest Trail Run

28/01/2025

I was at the National Running Show on Sunday and caught up with the The Green Runners and wonderful folk at Preloved Sports CIC, who produced our reusable race numbers printed on old race tees.
There was great enthusiasm for the numbers we trialled at the race last December. So much so that legendary ultra runners Allie Bailey and Damian Hall got their own personal numbers!

10/01/2025

Ludlow Runners have also supported Kitsquad with the race. We collected a car boot full of donated kit, which I dropped off today at Atcham. The photo is of just some of the kit we collected, thank you :)
Thank you so much everyone who donated. Not only does this keep material out of landfill, but it really massively helps those who couldn't otherwise afford outdoor gear.
Ultra races and expeditions such as DofE often have extensive kit requirements which can be a real barrier to some people, but the work of Kitsquad enables people to enjoy the outdoors, who would otherwise not be prepared.
With the current cold snap, then school expedition season starting around March, and families looking to summer holidays, please consider donating any unused kit. For more information, please visit their website at https://kitsquad.co.uk/

07/01/2025

Ludlow Runners are delighted to be able to donate £600 from the race to local environmental causes. This has been split between Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and Friends of Mortimer Forest.
We are lucky to have access to truly wonderful countryside, but we all have an impact on it.
As an event organiser, it is important to acknowledge and mitigate the impact of the race while encouraging access, and it is thanks to the work done by organisations such as The Wildlife Trustss and Friends of Mortimer Forest, as well as Forestry England in Shropshire & Herefordshire that we are able to enjoy such beautiful areas.
Thank you everyone who participated, and those who made additional donations.

21/12/2024

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on the race, we will have a good read through and consider what changes we can make for next year to make it even better :)
To clarify, the recycled race numbers were used on the 4 mile only.

If you still haven't got your fix for hills and mud this winter, check out Andali Events' Midwinter Mortimer Trail on 28th December, 30 and 15 mile options. https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=14046
Also, another classic race being resurrected, The Morning After is making it's return on 1st January. Hosted by Mercia Fell Runners, fully marked, it is a great intro to winter fell running. https://merciafr.club/races/morning-after/

16/12/2024

Photos!
Well what a good looking group of runners you all are.
We are managing a Google album with race photos here; https://photos.app.goo.gl/dQQBafVQLCtsAmAM9
This will be updated as people download the vast quantities from their phones!

A more curated set will hopefully be on the website in due course.

219 new items added to shared album

16/12/2024

Results!
Both the 4- and 10-mile results are now live on the wesbite https://mortimerforesttrailrace.wordpress.com/
Please keep an eye on it for further photos and race report.
I will also be sending an email round with the results and full debrief/race report.

To confirm the medals, these were only for podium and category winners, sorry. There were no race participation items.

4-mile award winners were:
1st F & FV40 Helen Woodvine
1st FSn & 3rd F Emily Jones
1st FV50 Karen Thompson
1st FV60 & 2nd F Kim Braznell
1st M & MV40 Andy Woodvine
1st MSn Jamie Symonds
1st MV50 & 2nd M Jim Brace
1st MV60 & 3rd M Thomas Wright-Smith
1st MV70 Guy Whitmarsh

10-mile award winners were:
1st F & FSn Sara Willhoit
1st FV40 & 3rd F Jules Toon
1st FV50 Jaye Dickens
1st FV60 Caroline Davies-Hale
1st FV70 Janet Hill
2nd F Eleanor Pitcher
1st M & MV40 Dom Jones
1st MSn & 3rd M Sam Jones
1st MV50 Jez Brown
1st MV60 Dave Powell
1st MV70 Tony Lewington
2nd M James Stuart

If anyone didn't manage to collect a prize, please send me any email ([email protected]) and we'll try to sort it.

Club (fastest 2 male and fastest 2 female in 10-mile), choccies only for 1st:
1st Mercia
2nd Croft Ambrey
3rd Kings Heath

A massive well done to EVERYONE who took part!!

Please keep an eye out on FB and the website as we share more photos and stories from the day :)

15/12/2024

And we are done! Everyone accounted for, course dismantled and
thank you so much to EVERYONE who raced and volunteered, it was amazing.
A full post and email will go out in the next few days with images, results etc but for now, chill, put your feet up and enjoy a well earned rest!

Please do send in any photos you may have, and I'll share some here and on the website.

We've had some great feedback, so thank you. I will be sending a survey out over the coming days if you wouldn't mind taking some time to give us feedback. Full results and pictures will go live in the next couple of days also, plus a race report so please do keep an eye on this page and the site.

I have some lost property, I'll send details round in an email later, but if you think you've left something please email [email protected] with a description.

We collected a boot load of kit for Kitsquad, and will donate over £600 between Friends of Mortimer Forest and Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. Thank you so much for you generosity!

Finally, a massive thanks to our suppliers Pretender to the Throne for the amazing awards, Podium Catering for top notch food and Preloved Sports CIC for the reuseable 4-mile numbers. You all helped make this a great event!

15/12/2024

So excited to welcome you all today!
See y'all in a bit :D

FYI:
There have been a few spam links going around FB and this page, for "skysortz" from Ashik. I have hidden and reported all I could find. Please IGNORE any you see; they are spam and NOT to do with the race.

14/12/2024

The courses are now cleared, marked, and ready for your lovely feet!
Huge thanks to Andali Events for the help marking today and bolstering the signage.

Can't wait to see you all tomorrow. The weather is looking good, not the sunshine of today, but dry and little wind YAY!
It is VERY muddy in sections; I'd suggest your more aggresive grip. Some short sections of hard track, but also serious gloop and the Big Dippers are slipperific :D

13/12/2024

Final details have now been sent out, and can be found on our website here https://mortimerforesttrailrace.wordpress.com/on-the-day/
Please let me know if you did not receive the email.

I look forward to welcoming you all to the Mortimer Forest on Sunday!

***This race is now full, but we have a waiting list. Please sign up as normal, you will be put on the waiting list, but not charged until a place becomes available and an invite sent out. We will …

13/12/2024

Just a couple of days to go now, and I can confirm the routes are all clear after the storm :D
Final race instructions will go out tonight.

I would like to extend a massive thanks to Forestry England in Shropshire & Herefordshire for their tireless effort in clearing the courses for us. It's no easy task removing storm blown trees, and they have been communicative throughout. Really appreciated.

Beyond the material structure of the forest, this race is also supporting the Friends of Mortimer Forest who provide valuable education and engagement with the woods, and Herefordshire Wildlife Trust who manage a small reserve at the western end by The Goggin. A huge thanks to both of these charities for the work they also do supporting this precious resource. A portion of each entry goes to them, and we will be accepting additional donations on the day.

12/12/24 update As of Thursday before the race, the route is now runnable. I have been talking to Forestry England and they have done a stirling job. All the large trees are clear and there is emer…

12/12/2024

Hi all, there has been a Mortimer Forest Trail Run page sending friend requests. These ARE NOT from this page. Please ignore it until I figure out who/what is happening. Thanks.

In better news, the woods are pretty much clear! Routes are looking fine for Sunday, a few final obstacles to move and small branches on the ground but runnable :D

08/12/2024

So, I have been round the course today. It's nice and soft underfoot, huzzah! Some firm tracks, but I'd suggest your more aggressive shoes if you want to make it over the Big Dippers...

In way of update on Storm Darragh:
There are several fallen trees and I have moved what one person can by hand, but am communicating with Forestry England to have the larger obstacles attacked.
For now, please assume that all is normal for next Sunday, routes the same etc. I will update Facebook and the website when I have further details

As of 08/12/24 there are a significant number of fallen obstacles along the course. We are working with Forestry England to have them removed. All brash has been cleared and it is just the larger t…

07/12/2024

A tad breezy outside. Stay safe folks, I'll check the course for any obstacles.
Less so in the garage where I've been stockpiling signs, much to Mel Gibson's consternation.
Big thanks to Andali Events for bolstering our supply for the day :)

30/11/2024

I've just had a very exciting half hour; I collected the awards and took delivery of the race numbers.
The category awards are courtesy of the amazing local artist Ellie from Pretender to the Throne. I shan't spoil the surprise, you'll have to come along in a couple of weeks and see for yourself ;) But be assured they are fantastic and thoroughly unique!
The numbers are also a bit special. As part of our work to reduce the environmental impact of the race, we are trialling reusable numbers printed on old race tees. Due to logistics, only the 4-mile course will have these this year, but they are completely weather proof and washable so we will use them again and again. A massive thanks to Michael at Preloved Sports CIC for producing these and The Green Runners for the inspiration.
For more details on our efforts on sustainability of the race, please see our website https://mortimerforesttrailrace.wordpress.com/going-green/

27/11/2024

It's getting close!
Preliminary race day information can be found on the website here https://mortimerforesttrailrace.wordpress.com/on-the-day/

A few things to note before I send final instructions nearer the time:

Please cycle/public transport/car share if you can. 99% event emissions come from travel, so if we can reduce that then great! Also, parking is tight and a reason for the limited numbers; you have plenty of time to find a buddy to share a lift with. If we have space left, then next year we can hopefully up numbers!

We will be collecting unwanted outdoor gear for Kitsquad. Please ensure any donations are clean and still useable. Please see their website for the kind of stuff they need; think trail running or DofE expedition kit.

We have a waiting list. Hopefully you won't, but if you do need to cancel pease do so ASAP so we can reallocate places. Refunds will be allowed until 4th December.

***This race is now full, but we have a waiting list. Please sign up as normal, you will be put on the waiting list, but not charged until a place becomes available and an invite sent out. We will …

20/11/2024

Mortimer Forest is wonderful any time of the year, but in the snow it is particularly enchanting.
Ludlow Runners enjoy it every Tuesday evening, and last night was no exception, with a stunning orange moon visible from High Vinnalls.
We can't promise what conditions race day will bring, but whatever the weather, the woods are fan-bloody-tastic.