We have a limited number of spaces available on our Dartmoor Trail Running Skills Weekend, which will be held on 10 - 12 December 2021.
This residential course is more than just a weekend of going out for a run; it's an opportunity to learn the skills to improve your trail running, thereby making it more enjoyable.
The cost is £300 per person and includes all instruction, accommodation and meals (excluding Saturday evening meal at the pub).
Itinerary
Friday
17:00 Arrive at venue (tea/ coffee)
17:30 Welcome and safety briefing
18:15 Guided evening run
19:30 Dinner
20:30 Introductions/ course outline
Saturday
07:00 Wake-up
07:30 Short, guided run and strength session – there will be cereal bars etc available (showers)
09:00 Breakfast – choice of full English or Continental
10:00 Morning session – Outside
Improving your technical confidence
In this session, we will look at techniques to improve your confidence on the trail, covering different terrain types. Particularly focusing on technical/ rough ground and increasing your confidence running downhill. We will also look at physiology and training to help you maximise your training gains and get the most out of your run.
11:30 Break
11:45 Mid-Morning Session – Inside
The Fundamentals
In this second session, we will examine the types of kit you should take with you on longer runs as well as giving you a chance to try on some trail running shoes and clothing. We will look at navigation techniques and help you with some techniques that will speed up and improve your navigation accuracy be it for a 10k, an ultra or your first mountain marathon.
12:45 Light Lunch
13:30 Afternoon Run – Outside
In your next accompanied run, you will now have a chance to put into practise some of the techniques you heard about in the morning sessions in small groups.
16:00 Return to base (showers, tea/ coffee, sandwiches)
16:30 Afternoon Session – Inside
Resilience - Building mental agility
Looking at what causes us to lose confidence or even why we struggle to gain it at all. We will talk about how you can build a stronger mindset to enable you to start in the first place or to ‘just keep going’ and how you can help yourself tackle these stumbling blocks in relation to running/ hillwalking/ expeditions and even apply the techniques to your life in general.
17:30 Admin time – sort kit/own time
18:30 Evening Meal – We will walk down (20 mins) to the Prince of Wales in Princetown for our evening meal
21:30 (approx.) Return to base
Sunday
07:00 Wake-up
08:00 Run Venture (very) mini-Dartmoor Marathon
Self guided trail run, teams of 2-3
You will head out on a planned route navigating to checkpoints. You will carry food with you. Our team will be out on the course to support you along the way.
10:30 Arrive back at base and Debrief
10:45 End Of course and pack up
Venue & Accommodation
The course will be based out of Bachelors Hall, 1.2 miles drive from Princetown, Dartmoor. The hall is a centrally heated bunkhouse complete with bunkbeds in dorms, showers, dining room and drying room. There is Wi-fi, but mobile phone reception is patchy. No towels or bed linen is provided so please bring your own (see kit list).
Address for navigation purposes is: Bachelors Hall, Princetown, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6SL.
Directions by car if approaching from Plymouth on the B3212
At the only roundabout in the centre of Princetown, carry straight on and then turn immediately right between a converted chapel and The Fox Tor Café. Follow the road over a cattle grid down hill to a sharp right bend. Carry straight on the private road ahead and over a small bridge. Just before Bullpark Farm at the bottom of the hill, turn left on a hard core track and through the gate. Please close all gates after passing through. Go through another gate and straight on. Bachelor's Hall is on the right.
Directions by car if approaching from Exeter on the B3212
Just before the roundabout in the centre of Princetown, turn left between a converted chapel and The Fox Tor Café. Follow the road over a cattle grid down hill to a sharp right bend. Carry straight on the private road ahead and over a small bridge. Just before Bullpark Farm at the bottom of the hill, turn left on a hardcore track and through the gate. Please close all gates after passing through. Go through another gate and straight on. Bachelor's Hall is on the right.
Parking is available but limited so car share where possible. Alternatively, you can be picked up from Plymouth train station by prior arrangement.
Kit List
Dartmoor is renowned for its exposed moorland and very changeable weather, from biblical storms to baking hot heat waves. Therefore the following items are required:
For the days out running on the moor
Trail/ fell shoes with substantial grip (road shoes will be allowed but will reduce the enjoyment of the course in our opinion. It's your call)
Waterproof jacket/ smock
Long tights or leggings (for the colder days)
Shorts for those born at the North Pole
Long sleeve tee/ base layer
Warm midlayer
Socks
Personal first aid kit to include blister plasters, etc
500ml water in an appropriate bottle
Hat/ multi-functional head garment and gloves
Snacks/ gels etc as required to fuel while out on a run
Trail vest/ bum-bag/ pack/ daysack
Headtorch with spare batteries or ability to recharge
For the classroom
Change of clothing
Notepad and pen
Dry footwear
For the dorms/ bunks
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Towel and wash kit
Personal items of your choice
Instructor Profiles
Colin Kirk-Potter
Colin is the director of Run Venture Ltd and is a qualified mountain leader, sports therapist and coach. He has completed many of the top fell races, including the self-navigating UK Mountain Trail in the Lake District, two Bob Graham rounds, the 105 mile Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc in Europe, and numerous mountain marathons which involve running and navigating in remote areas over two days. As a former Royal Marine, Colin has a very intimate knowledge of Dartmoor.
Olan Parkinson
Olan has lived in the UK for almost 20 years now having moved from Ireland in 2004. He qualified early as a climbing instructor and went on to pursue a career in mountaineering skills training and leadership. Olan has led over 20 high altitude expeditions to the Himalayas and South America. He is a qualified Level 5 cognitive behavioural therapist (CBT) and is also studying for an MSc in Psychology. He is currently working with the NHS Trust offering CBT therapy. Olan strongly believes in embracing the restorative power of the outdoors and likes to incorporate this approach wherever possible.
How To Book
There must be a minimum of 8 people for the course to run. Places are offered on a first come first served basis.
Click link to book: www.runventureonline.com/events/dartmoor-trail-running-skills-weekend-300
Covid-19 Policy
Please do not turn up if you feel unwell or have any of the symptoms of Covid 19.
Please take a lateral flow test 24 hours prior to the course starting.
If you do test positive, or have to isolate, we will refund 50% of the course fee and offer you dates on future courses.