Geyik Kosulari 2026

Hey there 👋! It's time to put your trail shoes 👟 back on and frolic like Bambi in the beautiful Turkish forest of Belgrad!

Head to the northeast of Istanbul 🇹🇷 for the legendary Geyik Koşuları (Deer Races). And no, you won't see real deer 🦌; they're too clever to run for free! 😂 Early December has cool and pleasant temperatures for running in Turkey: perfect to avoid melting like ice cream in the sun ☀️. But there's no time to play tourist 📸, as during this trail, you're here to run 🏃 through the most beautiful paths of the region! All on a forest terrain that's soft, but sometimes muddy on rainy days 💧 (spoiler: your white sneakers won't stay that way).

This mythical race offers several distances for all levels: from the beginner discovering trail running to the warrior who eats kilometers for breakfast! 🏃‍♂️ If you're a beginner or fresh out of bed, the "4K" is for you. With 173 mD+ it's perfect for those wanting to test themselves. 90 mins top to finish it! ⏱️ If you want to step it up 👆, the "8K" (precisely 7.95 km) with 250 mD+ is an interesting option! 🧐 For intermediates, the "14K" (exactly 14.4 km) eagerly awaits its victims with 430 mD+ to climb 😈. You can finally choose the "28K" course, consisting of two loops of 14.4 km each with 425 mD+ per loop 📈. Basically, you'll do the course once thinking "it's cool," then a second time wondering why you didn't choose the couch! 😅 In total: 28.8 km and 850 m of elevation gain/loss. Suffice it to say, your calves will discover muscles they didn't know existed! 🔥 The course winds through forest trails sometimes very narrow (shoulder-width only), so avoid too much weightlifting 🏋️‍♀️ by then, or it'll get tight. You'll also cross lush valleys 🌱, climbs where you'll invent new swear words, and descents with breathtaking views 😍 (or what remains of it after 20 km).

And for the little ones who also want to play deer, the Bambi Koşuları (Bambi races for ages 6 to 12) 👶 allows budding mini-trailers to get started! Because even future champions started trotting somewhere, right? 😄 These races offer kids the joy of running in full nature, on distances suited to their little legs. The perfect opportunity 👌 for the whole family to participate in the event. A great initiative to raise a new generation's awareness of trail running and show them that you can have fun in more ways than with a game controller 🎮.

Once you've finished your race, take the chance to discover the wonders of Istanbul! 🕌 You can visit the stunning Blue Mosque, perfect for meditating on your life choices that led you to run no matter the weather! You can also indulge in shopping temptation at the Grand Bazaar 🛍️, or relax in a traditional hammam 🛁, your sore muscles will love it! For nature lovers who haven't had enough, Belgrad Forest still offers wonderful walks 🚶‍♂️, but this time in laid-back tourist mode. And above all, don't forget to taste the local specialties: a good kebab 🥙 (you've earned it!), baklavas to compensate for lost calories 🍯, or a traditional Turkish tea 🫖.

May the forest be with you! 🌲