A BRAND new endurance fitness race is set to make its debut in the Forest of Dean this summer, bringing a fresh and demanding challenge to Folly Farm.

The UNFAZED Fitness event will take place on Saturday, July 11, with organisers promising a test of both physical strength and mental resilience through a unique course design built around their mantra: “There’s no light without dark.”

Described as the first event of its kind in the area, the race combines distance running with a series of functional fitness challenges, split across “light” and “dark” zones.

Competitors will begin with a 2km run before entering Zone One, where they will tackle a 100m farmer’s carry in the light phase, followed by a two-minute bear hold performed blindfolded in the dark phase.

This format continues throughout the course, with participants completing three 2km runs in total. Zone Two will see athletes take on a 100m weighted lunge before moving into a blindfolded two-minute overhead hold, while Zone Three includes a 100m tyre flip followed by a two-minute effort on the assault bike, again blindfolded.

The event will culminate in a sprint finish to the podium, where competitors will receive their medals. All participants will be chip timed, and professional photographs will be made available after the race.

Around 800 metres of event banner is set to be installed, alongside multiple gazebos which will house the dark zones for the blindfolded challenges.

They explained that the dark zones are designed to remove visual cues and push competitors to rely on focus and mental strength, adding a distinctive twist to the traditional fitness race format.

Music, food and a festival-style atmosphere are planned around the finish area.

Organisers added that the goal is to introduce something different to the local fitness scene.