DIARY
Looking ahead at race dates in December, January and February
DECEMBER MAVERICK EXPOSURE DARK DORSET
A perfect event for night-trail newbies. This race in the dark wends its way through the waymarked Sika Trail, in Wareham Forest and takes in forest, heath and open pastures. Organisers insist that if you love trail running you’ll enjoy doing it in the dark, wearing a head torch, even more. They insist that your senses are heightened and you immerse yourself deep in your surroundings. You might even see the odd deer or even a barn owl. A fairly flat course and suitable for all levels of runner with 5K, 10K and 16K options
SUE HILL
•Wareham Forest, Dorset, 7 December, from £20 maverick-race.com/races/thedarkdorset2019
THETFORD TRAILS
Leave the tarmac and traffic behind and run through some beautiful forest trails in this series of three 10K winter races. The races start at High Lodge in the heart of Thetford Forest where there’s a café and bike hire for your supporters. With races in December, January and February this is a great event for regular parkrunners who want to challenge themselves to a longer chip-timed distance. You can sign up for all three so you can track your improvement across each race.