A leading figure in the parkrun movement will be a keynote speaker at the Eden Escape festival later this year.
Tom Williams, global chief operating officer at parkrun, will appear at the event at Kirkoswald in May.
In 2010 he started the Marathon Talk running podcast, which ran for 600 episodes over 12 years and throughout that time was the most-downloaded UK running podcast. He’s completed 25 marathons and seven Ironman triathlons.
The Eden Escape Festival will be held at Mains Farm, Kirkoswald.
It has been organised by Wiz Lees and Leigh-Ann Newburn, of Shap, and Keswick-based wild-swimming guru Ali Phillips.
Wiz is a personal trainer and fitness instructor, and Leigh Ann teaches yoga, and together they created Fox Red Events to organise the festival, which had a small-scale launch in 2019.
After two years hit by the pandemic, they’re planning to offer adventures on a local level and a staycation experience for the whole family. Ali, a well known blogger for Girl About the Lake District, will be bringing her expertise to the river-swimming side of the adventures.
Wiz said: “We are delighted that the inspirational Tom Williams will be joining us. He represents the parkrun ethos, to make the world a healthier and happier place through their free, weekly 5k events.
“That fits perfectly with our aim here, to offer open-air adventures at a local and sustainable level. We all know the benefits that come with exercise, especially when it comes to mental health. In today’s work-obsessed world, more people are finding it difficult to manage stress, and live in constant worry about something or the other.”
More guest speakers will be announced shortly. The festival will stage music events, including a 1980s night on the Saturday featuring tribute band Under Neon, and films from Kendal Mountain Festival.
The festival runs from May 27 to May 29.
