EP48 - Getting Lost Made Me Faster: How Orienteering Can Transform Your Trail Running

She’s back!

In this episode of the RUNcensored Podcast, Ben and Gary catch up with Kay Hawke from British Orienteering — one of our most popular past guests — to find out why orienteering is exploding in popularity and how it can seriously level up your trail and ultra running.

Kay explains how combining navigation with endurance creates the perfect mental and physical challenge for runners, and why “getting lost” might actually be the best training you can do.

We talk about everything from Street-O showdowns and European city races that start in police stations, to the mindset of staying competitive, motivated and just a little bit obsessed with maps.

Here’s what’s inside this episode 👇

🧭 Why orienteering is the secret training tool for trail and ultra runners

📍 How navigation sharpens focus, confidence and decision-making

🏃‍♀️ Red Courses explained — and why they’re perfect for trail runners

💡 How to pick the right event (and avoid getting discouraged)

🏅 Competition vs enjoyment — does winning really matter?

🌍 European orienteering: from Belgium’s beer races to Gdansk city adventures

🎒 Using SI Entries to find local, affordable events every week

🏫 How schools and communities could use orienteering to get more kids outdoors

⚡ The reality of UK funding and why media coverage could change everything

🍺 Ben and Gary’s Street-O stories, geocache fails, and questionable map reading

🔥 A preview of the ‘Quid Games’ Orienteering Event at Kendal Mountain Festival

Whether you’re training for your next mountain ultra or just love the idea of running with a purpose, this one will make you see trail running — and getting lost — in a whole new light.

🎧 Listen now to EP48: “Getting Lost Made Me Faster: How Orienteering Can Transform Your Trail Running”

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