Revelstoke’s Run Forest Run club isn’t letting colder temperatures and darker days hinder weekly runs, even if winter running means a couple of adjustments to gear, routes and warm ups.
Founded in April 2025 by Maegan Downey, the club heads out for the trails every Thursday morning, rotating meeting spots throughout town. From skirting the Big Eddy neighbourhood to scaling a chunk of Mount Revelstoke, the club aims for a five kilometre loop each time before heading to a coffee shop for a snack and some socializing.
“Running is really just the modality for how we are meeting up,” Luke Hall, Run Forest Run club leader told Revelstoke Mountaineer, explaining that speed is set by each runner’s individual pace and the club is more focused on connecting runners new and old together.
“We’re a coffee club with a running addiction,” Hall said.
The club’s focus on socializing helps bring newer runners out onto the trails, he added, along with Run Forest Run’s cafe stop instead of pub hopping. While there’s many clubs and events that highlight Revelstoke’s brewery and distillery scene, some members of the running club appreciate a social gathering not centered around drinking.
“I love going to the pub with mates, but it’s nice to have a space away from that side of things,” Hall said.
Members of the group are varied in experience levels, ranging from newbies to marathon runners, folks are urged to, “go at your own pace.”
“We get people who are doing really cool things with their running and people that are just keen to have a chat while running and go for a coffee,” Hall said.
There’s always a new face to connect with, Hall said, making Run Forest Run an ideal way to make new friends.
Run Forest Run’s tips for winter
While the club has yet to run into weather that’s entirely hindered plans, preparing with layers, lighting and stretching can keep runners comfortable and safe during winter.
Similar to other cold weather recreational activities, wearing a base layer to pull sweat away from your skin, a middle layer to keep body heat locked in and an outer layer to protect from the elements can keep runners comfortable in freezing temperatures.
Hall also recommends runners bring a headlamp or other source of light to help keep an eye on path conditions. From concrete slick with ice to packed-down snow, trails aren’t always clear of obstacles, and a headlamp can be just as important as good shoes.
“Especially at those darker times of the day, just keeping an eye out for any inconsistencies in the path is really important, and will just help keep you safe,” Hall explained.
Keeping a hat and a set of gloves that can be easily removed on hand also goes a long way to helping regulate temperatures as you warm up doing the run.
No matter your skill level, Hall advised runners to reassess their capacity when running in the winter and especially on snow. It might be helpful to reduce speed and distances as snow does not provide an easy spring point to take off from.
“Your muscles have to work a lot harder to be able to run at the same pace as you would just on a flat pavement,” he said.
If conditions deteriorate too much, there’s no shame in taking your running indoors, Hall said.
“Having a treadmill accessible, whether at home or at the gym is just a really nice way to stay on top of your running training,” he said.
For those eager to take their running outdoors, the Run Forest Run club meets Thursdays at a new location each week. Runners start at 7:15 a.m. with a quick warm up, and members are encouraged to show up early. Locations and trail length can be found on the Run Forest Run Instagram page @runforestrevy or contact Hall at [email protected].
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