The Forest Mile Challenge - Week 3

Week 3 of the Forest Mile Challenge begins on Monday 1st March and ends at 6pm on Sunday 7th March. (Last weeks results are at the foot of this post)

The Challenge is based on actual routes and distances in the Forest of Dean.  Most of them start and finish at Mallards Pike Lake. This week the distance is 5.49km (3.41m) with 75m (245ft) of elevation difference, with no net overall descent.

You do not need to pre enter, just run and submit your time. Do not feel obligated to run every week of this five week challenge, dip in and out as your other commitments allow.

This is the Strava segment that this weeks challenge is based on, some of you will recognise that it is mainly the Mallards Pike parkrun route with a bit tagged on.  The current record for this segment is 14 minutes 41 seconds, recorded by Ben Robinson attached to one of his very fast dogs! Ashleigh Bailey holds the female record of 16:51, again supported by a dog.

Those lucky enough to live locally, should try to run the actual route.  The route starts just beyond Go Ape at Mallards Pike (FOD) where the sign showing all the running trails is. It heads out along the same route as the Mallards Pike parkrun, then finishes back where it started at the trail marker point. It is fully route marked. The parking at Mallards Pike is metered, so I suggest parking at New Fancy or elsewhere and running in.  If you run the actual routes in the Forest and your Strava data does not match the segment data, no time or ascent penalties will be applied.

Those of you who are not local, need to choose your route in order to comply with the Covid restrictions applicable to where you live. Please see details of the Barnets Wood alternative route at the foot of this post. There is also another option at the new Greenway cycle path near the Dive Centre.

If you run your own route, time adjustments will be made to try and make your results comparable to those running the actual route at Mallards Pike.  

Only one result submission is allowed per person.

Road v fire trail

All of the Forest of Dean trail routes are on firm fire trails, if people choose to run on the road a 5% time penalty will be added.  The idea of this challenge is to encourage you to go off road.  If people run at the Industrial Estate this week, I reserve the right to introduce a very hefty time penalty from next week. 😈

Ascent

If your run has too much ascent, then you will get a time bonus of 1.74 seconds per 3.048m (10ft) extra.  The ascent bonus will be limited to 60m total ascent. If too little ascent there will be a time penalty of 1.74 seconds per 3.048m (10ft). These Forest trails are all loops, so the elevation for your run at start and finish should be equal (elevation at finish must not be lower than elevation at start by more than 5 metres). 

Distance

There will be a time penalty if you do not run sufficient distance. Strava adjustments will be ignored.

Time submissions

I have created a Google form in order that people can submit their times.  This works in exactly the same way as you have been doing it for the Gwent Leisure Centre League events.

Here is the link to the Google form -  Submission form

I would also encourage you to post your time on the Facebook post in the same way you have done for previous Chepstow Harriers challenges.  This will therefore ensure that the social side of the challenges is maintained.

I hope you all enjoy this challenge and I look forward to seeing your results.

Barnets Wood alternative - Details provided by Bill Savage

off the B4235 Usk Road 

Markers used are Start Finish and Directional arrows

All directional arrows point upwards or to the right

NOT the LEFT

Start is at the green barrier in the lower left corner of the carpark facing down hill

The course is run clockwise just over 3 laps

Notice just after your first turn right on your left is the finish point

Just think only 3 more laps to do 😄

After the 2nd turn follow the arrows uphill until you hit a wide forest track turn right and follow back to the carpark and off you go again

Oh what fun you will be having by this time

Results from Week 2