A great, fun, relaxed evening event. We’ll run through local trails for around an hour, sit and listen to some stories from our special guest and then have some beers (or ales)!! No racing, no medals but a fun time had on the trail with some new people (or your mates) and some interesting stories from our speaker too. Church Farm Brewery will be there with the bar open and a specialist “posh take-away” will be confirmed closer to he date. A dream Friday night!!!!
What’s Trails, tales and ales then?
Wonderful for starters! The idea is simple. We meet at Church Farm Brewery (just outside Warwick) ready to run at 6. We set off in 2 groups with the intention of running for about an hour across the local trails and pathways. We towel ourselves off (baby wipe shower?) grab a pint and place an order for some food (if you want) and sit and listen to our guest chat for about an hour. You can then either head home or sit and have a few more beers until Church Farm shut down for the evening.
Who is talking?
Lauren Gregory. Lauren is a local endurance athlete who ran the 2021 Marathon des Sables and placed an incredible 8th female and first Brit in some of the toughest conditions the event has ever faced. This wasn’t a “one and done” event however as Lauren has raced many ultras across the country and Europe with a few big events planned for just before this event (lets hope for stories of joy!!)
As well as being an incredibly good athlete Lauren set up and established Run Like a Girl in Leamington Spa. This group has been incredibly successful in bringing hundreds, or more accurately thousands, of women out running since it’s inception in 2015.
How fast do I need to be?
It’s not a race. There are no prizes for getting back to the farm first (except to be first in the queue for the bar!). We’ll ask you what you current 10K time is when you enter and split the group in to 2. Hopefully this will mean that the faster runners can go at their steady pace and the slower runners at their steady pace. The idea of the run isn’t to tire you out! It’s not a tempo run, it’s a social run across the fields with some fellow runners. We have the option of 4 or 6 miles routes to be completed in about an hour - as long as that sounds doable for you then we’ll have no issues! No one is getting left in a field on their own!
What does it cost?
Tickets for the whole event cost £15.
(For clarity, drinks and food are not included)
Members of the Big Bear Brigade will save 10% on their entry - if you’d like to do the same consider signing up to the Brigade here!
Where is it?
Church Farm Brewery, CV35 8QL. It is a farm just outside Warwick in a village called Budbrooke. It’s on the big farm on your left if you’re coming from Warwick Parkway station.
There is ample parking, but obviously car share and have a nominated driver so you can enjoy more than one beer!
It is easily accessible from the A46, less than 5 minutes away. Warwick Parkway train station is a short walk from the farm too.
What is the run like?
The proposed routes can be found below (these could be changed leading up to the event). It will be at a sociable pace, the idea is for both runs to take less than 1 hour. The route takes in the canal along with some very quiet country roads and fields. The fields may have livestock in them (they did when the routes were recced) so if this is an issue for you then consider if you want to enter. Given the time of year road shoes are likely fine, unless there is a week of heavy rain in the lead up!
How long will the event last?
The plan for the evening is as follows:
17:45 - arrive, say hello, get a “before” photo and be ready to run at 6
18:00 - trainers hit trail and we run for around an hour
19:00 - return to farm and get warm/clean clothes on and get a pint in hand and order food
19:15 - sit down ready to listen to the talk
20:15 - talk finished, go home or stay and enjoy another beer!
What facilities are on-site?
Church Farm Brewery have been opening up their tap room since 2020 and have expanded it even more in 2022. They know what they’re doing and it’s a great night. We’ll confirm the food vendor closer to the time. There will be non-alcoholic drinks available too, but the beer is genuinely spectacular!!
Has the event been run before?
Yes! We hosted 2 really successful events in 2021 with Ed and James.
I have enough of PowerPoint presentations at work, will the talk be boring?!
No! There will be no PowerPoint or graphs in sight! The idea is for you to sit and listen while Lauren and I talk about the many things she’s done. Think of it as like a big pub chat or live podcast. There will of course be a chance to ask questions too if you’d like to.
What are your refund/withdrawal rules?
You can find them here
I have a question.
No problem, check out our FAQ’s
