Milzkalna Stirnu buks

After enjoying the mysterious Pokaiņi forest, the fifth race of "Stirnu buks 2017" goes to the not less mystical forest of Werewolves near Tukums and Engure district.

Start/finish:  Šlokenbeka manor, Engure district. GoogleMap here!

Race schedule: HERE!

Detailed distance maps: bit.ly/MilzkalnsAzuKalns

GPX files of distances available here (click on „Save link as”):  Vāvere – GPX”, “Zaķis – GPX”, “Stirnu buks – GPX”, “Lūsis – GPX”..

Unbelievable, but this will already be the fourth time when "Stirnu buks" will visit Šlokenbeka manor and its yard with rampart walls  - the place, where Stirnu buks was born as a run for friends, in 2014.

This is the only race of the series which is in our calendar every year, however there will be yet unexplored tracks – for the first time we will bring to the Āžu hill also the runners of distance "Zaķis" ("Bunny"), while participants of "Stirnu buks" ("Roebuck") and "Lūsis" ("Bobcat") will explore an abandoned motorace track in the area of Rauda and hill of Milzkalns, which is loved by ski-runners.

There are some five stories of werewolves and three times more ghost stories about the mysterious oak, called Draņķozols (which means rubbish-oak or trash-oak), and the area of Āžu hill. But above all is mentioned an "evil spirit", which leads to loosing one’s way – many mushroom and berry pickers and tourists have searched their way out of the forest till they are completely tired, but in inexplicable way they go in circles and find themselves by this oak again and feel scared and desperate. Draņķozols has been burned down few years ago and all that has left is a memorial plaque, but we all are really grateful, because we are sure, that this ancient oak encouraged us to organise our first trail running race.

"There is a saying in Kurzeme also today, that werewolves destroy those, who destroy the nature  and cut out trees only for money", writes Ralfs Kokins. We are hoping, that "Stirnu buks" has showed at least a little of the amazing nature of Latvia. So run into the forest, hug a tree and put into your pocket the empty package of energy gel!