The Forest Mile Challenge - Week 5

Week 5 of the Forest Mile Challenge begins on Monday 15th March and ends at 6pm on Sunday 21st March. (Last weeks results are at the foot of this post). This is the final race in this series. 😞

The Challenge is based on actual routes and distances in the Forest of Dean.  Please note that this challenge starts and finishes near Cannop Ponds.

This week the distance is 14.33km (8.9m) with 130m (426ft) of elevation difference, with no net overall descent.

You do not need to pre enter, just run and submit your time. 

This is the Strava segment that this weeks challenge is based on.  The current male record for this segment is 54 minutes 36 seconds.  The female record is 1 hour 1 minute and 49 seconds.

Those lucky enough to live locally, should try to run the actual route.  This route needs extra caution as there is a road crossing.  I have marked the start and finish above.  This will ensure only one road crossing during the "race", rather than two.  If you start by the gate to the North of the Speech House road and finish by the gate to the South of the Speech House road. Please run clockwise.  The parking at Cannop is metered.  There is free parking in the layby by the Stoneworks on New Road between Parkend and Cannop cross roads or there are a few free spaces near the entrance to Beechenhurst. PM me if you need further information. 

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. 

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.  

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.

Details from Bill re Barnets Wood.

Forest Mile challenge

Barnets Wood 8.9 miles - 14.30 km Week 5

Week 5 is upon us already

Some kindly person has removed the start/finish signs from the start barrier

So the start will still be at the barrier but this time the finish will be approx 50mts up the track after the second turning right

The tree is still across the path just before the first turning right but you can slip past on the right hand bank

Good luck this week this one will not be easy

Have fun with this one

The results from Week 4 were as follows: