Feeling Good in the Forest: Mud, Miles, and Meeting New People in Sense Valley

Muddy Legs!

There’s nothing more magical about heading into the woods with no pressure on pace and no expectation other than to enjoy the run (and mud).

That feeling came alive recently when I was supporting a Feel Good in the Forest jog in Sense Valley, where a group of us set off to explore the muddy, winding trails of Heather Wood.

We came back grinning, splattered, and very happy thanks to Karl a superb Trail leader.

Running through mud isn’t just fun—it’s liberating. There’s a childlike joy in not worrying about getting dirty, it’s about choosing the adventure about ‘feeling good’.  The kind of good that comes from fresh air in your lungs, laughter echoing between trees, and the freedom to splash straight through muddy puddles instead of tip-toeing around them.

What made the run even better was the people. Conversations flowed as easily as the mud slid under our trainers. You chat to someone new, share a laugh when a shoe nearly gets claimed by the trail, and before you know it you’ve covered miles without even thinking about it.

Meeting new people in this setting feels natural—no awkward small talk, just shared experience and a mutual appreciation for being out there together.

Feel Good in the Forest isn’t about distance or speed. It’s about how you feel when you finish—mud-covered, smiling, and already looking forward to the next adventure. Sometimes, all you need to do to feel good… is head into the woods. I am leading an adventure around Rosliston on 14 March.

A trail leader for Peak Running as well as leading for my local Jog Derbyshire jogging club - Swad Joggers, I’m constantly reminded how lucky I am with trails right on my doorstep.

You don’t need to travel far to find adventure. Around Swadlincote we’re surrounded by incredible local spaces: Swadlincote Woodlands, the quiet beauty of Gresley Wood, the twisting trails through Foxley Wood, and the scenic loop around Albert Village Lake.

Each offers something different, but all provide that same opportunity to step away from daily noise, stresses of everyday life and reconnect with nature.

Exploring local trails matters. Not only does it build a deeper connection with where you live, it makes adventure accessible.

You can finish work, lace up your shoes, and within minutes be somewhere green. Over time, familiar paths become anything but boring—you notice seasonal changes, new routes, and hidden corners you never knew existed.

I have an upcoming 10 mile local, social trail jog focused on one simple idea: embrace the mud!

These are the runs with great friends that remind me why I started in the first place.

Mollie, Trail leader