Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, This is the second year that fitness guru Joe Wicks has led a training session at Glastonbury festival Article information
- Author, Natalie Grice
- Role, BBC news
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4 minutes ago
The sight of hundreds of people working out with fitness guru Joe Wicks, also known as the Body Coach, likely gave determined Glastonbury festival-goers pause for thought.
Times seem to be changing as Bob Dylan could have sung at the iconic Isle of Wight festival in 1969 (but apparently he didn’t).
(Sex), drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, that’s not what it’s about. More and more fitness and wellness areas are appearing at festivals across the country, as organizers respond to the changing zeitgeist.
And there is a festival, held in an area of outstanding natural beauty, where fitness is on an equal footing with music.
Image source, Love paths
Image caption, Theo Larn-Jones founded Love Trails together with another running enthusiast
Love Trails, taking place this week in Gower, Swansea, offers visitors a mix of running events and music performances that can also be found at regular festivals.
The idea to combine the two came from co-founder Theo Larn-Jones, whose mother grew up in Mumbles and now lives nearby herself.
In 2015 he was living in London and was an avid runner and became involved with a group called Midnight Runners.
Instead of a traditional night out at the pub or club, the group would come together, complete with speakers, and go for a run mixed with exercise to a pumping soundtrack. Some runs would also be followed by a more traditional party night.
But he also loved music festivals.
So it was a ‘merging of those two worlds that were in two separate buckets at that time’.
He said: “Me and the co-founder of Love Trails were out running and we just thought, this is great because this is a place where we can meet like-minded people, where we can go running and where we can go out on a Friday night.
“The next logical extension of this is to turn it into a festival – would that even be possible?”
The first year it was initially aimed at people who were really into running and into music, “so it was quite a small niche,” but over time it’s grown to a much broader audience, he says.
Image source, Anna Rachel Photography/Love Trails
Image caption, Movement and music are given equal place in the Love Trails program
Theo emphasizes that both sides of the festival are given equal weight. “We put the music and the spinning on the same level of programming.
“There are many more music festivals that offer incredible line-ups of music and there are also thousands and thousands of running events that offer incredible experiences within the running world.
“But it’s only at Love Trails at the moment that you can listen to a band or DJ who would have played at Glastonbury last week. No running events do that.
“Many festivals these days have a wellness area or pay a little nod to it, but we really take it to a higher level, both in terms of music and performances.
“I definitely think the world is changing, and I think it’s a really positive shift. There are a lot of signals we’re seeing in the UK festival industry that other festivals are looking at what events like Love Trails are doing and they want to incorporate some of that into their programme.”
Image source, Richard Tilney-Bassett/Love Paths
Image caption, Music is as important as the practice for the festival
Glastonbury Festival was unable to comment on whether exercise and fitness are becoming more important in light of Joe Wicks’ session, but the festival said it was a well-earned break for staff after this year’s event.
But Theo points to the Bristol group Ravers to Runners, for example, who are touring festivals such as Glastonbury and Latitude this summer, as well as Love Trails themselves, and are organising a running competition at each of them.
His former group Midnight Runners also organizes a running race at the Wilderness festival, where they heavily promote their wellness offerings.
“Most festivals are increasing the wellness offering. I think people are realizing that it feels really good to feel good. Hangovers just aren’t that fun and you can have the best of both worlds these days.
“Trail running is the best form of exercise you can do for your body and your mental health. Plus, you do it in a green environment, so you get all the benefits of nature on top of the benefits of running.”
Image source, Anna Rachel Photography/Love Trails
Image caption, …and the festival-goers clearly do not shy away from all forms of traditional enjoyment
Part of that is changing the attitudes of the younger generation.
“You see this in the next generation too: drinking less, it’s cool to be healthy,” he says.
“People are much more aware of their mental and physical health and want to do things that make them feel good.”
The festival has weathered the corona years well and has the ambition to continue growing, and perhaps even expand to other locations.
And with Joe Wicks reportedly set to take his fitness session to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury next year, it seems a healthier version of hedonism is here to stay.
