Most race routes do not include a castle familiar to Game of Thrones viewers. Run Forest Run Gosford does, which gives it a useful head start in the battle for the most interesting 5K or 10K of November.
The event takes place at Gosford Forest Park in Markethill, County Armagh, on Saturday November 21st. Runners can choose between a 5K and 10K on a course combining forest tracks, park roads and dense woodland.
Entries remain open, but there is an earlier deadline than runners might expect. All race numbers are being posted, so online registration is due to close at 11pm on Wednesday November 11th.
A Forest Course With A Famous Castle
Gosford Forest Park covers around 240 hectares of woodland and open parkland in the rolling countryside outside Markethill. Both routes travel through the forest and pass Gosford Castle, which featured in Game of Thrones.
It is a rather better race day landmark than another roundabout or industrial estate.
The course uses a mixture of tarmac and forest paths. Organisers say ordinary running shoes are suitable for both distances, so this is not a technical mountain race requiring specialist kit. It still offers a proper change from a standard road event, particularly with November conditions likely to make the forest sections part of the challenge.
The 5K begins at 10.15am, followed by the 10K at 11.15am. There will be no water station on the course, so runners who expect to need a drink should carry their own.
Choose The 5K Or 10K
The two distances make Gosford accessible without stripping away its sense of occasion. The 5K offers a manageable introduction to forest running or a short, hard effort for those chasing a time. The 10K gives runners twice as much time among the trees and a fuller taste of the mixed course.
Junior entry is available for the 5K from the age of 11, while junior participants in the 10K must be at least 15. Adult entry for either distance costs £30, with junior entry priced at £23. Processing and postage charges apply.
Every entrant receives individual chip timing, a race number, a bespoke Run Forest Run medal and post race refreshments.
A Winter Series That Is Still Within Reach
Gosford is the second event in the six race Run Forest Run series. The opening fixture at Minnowburn has already taken place, but the programme continues at Tollymore in December before visiting Loughgall, Antrim Castle and Castlewellan in the new year.
Runners who complete five of the six events receive a commemorative T shirt, while anybody completing the entire series earns a bonus medal at the Castlewellan finale.
For somebody joining the series at Gosford, that five race target is still possible. Running Gosford and each of the four remaining fixtures would be enough to reach it.
The series has also partnered with Cancer Fund for Children, with entrants given the option to make a donation during registration.
Entries Are Still Open
Online entry is currently available for both distances. Adult places cost £30 plus a £1.98 processing fee, while junior places cost £23 plus a £1.61 fee. Postal charges are £3 for Northern Ireland and £4 for the Republic of Ireland.
Gosford Forest Park also charges £5 per car for entry, so sharing the journey would save a few quid and reduce pressure on parking. Pets and running buggies are not permitted on the course.
Race day registration may only be offered if places remain and will carry an extra £5 charge. Booking online before November 11th is the sensible option.
With two distances, a forest route and a castle straight from one of television's biggest series, Gosford has an identity all of its own. Entries are open, the date is close enough to provide a target, and there is still time to turn one race into a five event winter campaign.
Race Essentials
Event: Run Forest Run Gosford 5K And 10K
Date: Saturday November 21st, 2026
Location: Gosford Forest Park, Markethill, County Armagh
Surface: Tarmac roads and forest paths
5K Start: 10.15am
10K Start: 11.15am
Adult Entry: £30 plus processing and postage
Junior Entry: £23 plus processing and postage
Online Entry Closes: 11pm on Wednesday November 11th
