After a successful first event in 2019, RunFestRun was put on ice in 2020 like every other mass gathering, but it made a triumphant return over the 2021 August bank holiday weekend (with safety measures in place, of course).
People starved of running events were delighted at the return of this three-day festival, which combines races with music, food and general merriment. If you missed out this year then it’s worth booking early to get in on the fun in 2022.
This time the festival will be held in the scenic grounds of Englefield Estate in Berkshire. Runners tackling the various events held over the weekend can enjoy rare access to the Estate’s expansive grounds, which are usually closed to the public.
The runs start with an easy 3km event at sunset on the Friday, then on Saturday there’s a family-friendly 2.5km road race, plus a 5K and a 10K. Then on Sunday there’s the Big Bug Fun Run and a half marathon. Apart from the family road race, all the events involve a mix of on- and off-road running around the grounds of Englefield Estate and you can take on as many as you like.
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You can choose to be part of one of the four teams during the festival, adding some friendly team spirit to proceedings. With each run you’ll earn points for your team’s overall tally, and the winning team will be crowned at the end of the weekend. Team captains include legends like Colin Jackson, Paula Radcliffe and Steve Cram, adding some extra motivation into the mix.
Running is just part of the attraction of RunFestRun, though, and there is lots to do apart from the various events. Each night there is live music, and although the line-up is yet to be announced for 2022, it’s sure to feature some major artists and bands – 2021’s roster included Rick Astley, All Saints and James Blunt. In the daytime there are fitness workshops with experts, plus stalls where you can try and buy all sorts of running kit and tech.
Tickets for RunFestRun 2022 are on sale now. Weekend tickets start at £130, or you can buy individual day tickets for Friday (from £40), Saturday (from £65) and Sunday (from £45). It costs an extra £25 if you include camping for the weekend. The event is designed to be family-friendly and children’s weekend tickets are £55 for kids aged six to 16, and £15 for those under six.
