Geyik Koşuları (literally Deer Run)is a trail running event for all, which is organised by Macera Akademisi-MCRRace Setter since 2011 every year. Except of 2012, its a series of the races organised 2 or more times peryear.
Organised by trail runners for trail runners, Geyik Kosulari promises the best trail running experience in Türkiye, with 50%+ more running on non-vechicle tracks. Located only 40min drive away Istanbul city center, 37 editions were held untill end of 2024 and still counting.
What is a Trail Running?
ITRA ( International Trail Running Assosiation) describes Trail running as run which takes place in a natural environment and mostly onnatural ground (man made vehicle roads and pavements should be less then 20% ofthe route) and must be open to everybody.
We, folkd stMacera Akademisi, wanted to createa course, that will show the natural beauty of Belgrad forest, help to discover new paths to run. We thought about it even 22 months before the first meeting with ITRA – we attended that very first gathering in Courmayeur, Italy.
We dreamed about creating unknownroute, tracking thiny trails and paths, untouched then popular Neşetsuyu running loop. We wanted to start and grow a trail running tradition.
At the beginning, decision about start-finish location was made. F.Rıtkı Atay Recreation Spot (mesire alanı) and Yeniderya Facilities opposite thedeer breeding farm was final decision. In a way this location gave a name toour event. Then we made combination of natural tracks and unavoidable existingroads and a get a challenging course of appx. 14km length.
We describe it in our words:
“Using of our 10 years of experience of running and organising endurance eventsin Belgrad Forest we wanted to share an thrilling route, which we planned atNorth-East part of it: Starting from a wide dirt road, then the variety of coursechanging from wide jeep tracks to single tracks, with uphills and downhills ofdifferent angles and duration. Also terrain switched in between flat fast andtough technical, with little rocky sections and some tree roots.
You will wantto run again and again between the valleys and hills of the forest,
will be able to control your pulseafter breath-pushing climbs, sometimes slippery but always stepping with care. It’sa trail with surprising views and quite muddy when the weather gets wet.
Not an easy bite: expect theeffort of a flattish half marathon on asphalt; It is useful to use your powerand time strategy accordingly. You will climb and descend a total of 400m for14,5 kilometeres.”
With variation of courses as 14K,4K and 28K we can satisfy the needs of all runners at different levels.
At second event of 2011 series weadded a Bambi Run for the kids aged 4-12. In this way it become an introductionand small school of running on a natural tracks for kids.
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