This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®. In episode 27 we take you behind scenes at the trail taster event which took place 27 November 2021 at Epping Forest.

There was a group of more than 20 runners, including a contingent from our friends Emancipated Run Crew, many of whom were running on the trails for the very first time.

We were hosted by Camino Ultra and Orion Harriers Running Club. Regis Martin from Camino gave a map-reading and navigation workshop, focused on the route we would later run. Darren Strachan from Camino shared trail running kit advice.

Then it was out into the cold of late November for a run along the grass and leaf-strewn trails of the largest ancient woodland in the south of England, with views across London from Pole Hill, 91m high on the Greenwich Meridian. So much fun was had that some of the group went out and ran the route again, finishing with some night-running practice!

In this conversation we share firstly some of the key learnings from the workshops that you can apply. And secondly you can listen to some of the great conversations we had on the trails.

We have plans in place for more trail tasters events in 2022. We’ll be heading to the Lakes, to Wales, the South Downs and elsewhere. To find out more you can follow Black Trail Runners on Instagram @blacktrailrunners