Exploring Beyond May Field

If you’re a new Zwift runner, or even if you’re not, how far have you explored beyond the May Field running track?

In this article, we’ll introduce six areas of Watopia you may have yet to discover.

Repack Ridge

This is the hidden gem of Watopia. It’s the only proper singletrack route anywhere on Zwift. Strictly speaking, it was designed as a mountain bike course, but it’s great fun for runners!

The route is one-way only and is about 3 kilometers long. There’s a watermill, a boardwalk, river rapids, lush soft trails, and a nice climb at the end.

To get there choose the Quatch Quest or Muir and the Mountain routes which will drop you at the start of the Fuego Flat desert and turn left automatically into Titans Grove. The right turn for Repack Ridge is about 4km into Titans Grove, and you must make that turn manually in order to get onto Repack Ridge trail.

Titans Grove

Many will argue this is the best area of Watopia – a forest route based on America’s western national parks.

The route is gently rolling and you are surrounded most of the time by huge Sequoia trees on either side. It’s stunning, but gets even more thrilling when you come upon the dinosaurs. Careful as the T-Rex crosses your path, gaze in awe at the brachiosauruses lounging in the lake or run a little faster as you are chased by the little Compognathus.

You can find Titans Grove at either end of the Fuego Flats desert. Choose Quatch Quest or Muir and the Mountain to get there as quickly as possible.

Mayan Jungle

A dense jungle filled with old Mayan ruins, runners and riders flocked to this dirt loop when it was originally released! With more run-only routes available nowadays the Jungle doesn’t get as much traffic as it used to, but it really is a magnificent place to run.

Particular highlights of the Mayan Jungle are the huge waterfalls cascading down the rockface and the dizzying rope bridge across the canyon with stunning views. Don’t forget to look out for the sloth hanging from a vine across the track!

The loop is around 10 kilometers from start to finish. Choose the Jungle Circuit route to get there.

The Radio Tower

With the release of Ven-Top on the France map and the 1000-meter Alpe du Zwift in Watopia, the Epic KOM is now only the third highest mountain in Zwift. However, it is most certainly worth a visit!

There aren’t many routes that go right to the Radio Tower at the top of the Epic KOM mountain, but Mountain Route and Mountain 8 will take you there. The Mountain 8 route is only 12km to the top. Not many runners make it up there, especially if they are using incline on the treadmill. But once you’re there, the views rival anything you find on the two taller climbs.

Volcano Summit

Speaking of climbs, have you ever been to the top of the Volcano? Group workouts regularly head out to the Volcano and skirt around the bottom, but there is a super climb coiling around the outside and up to the top.

Did you know there is also a second level inside the volcano where you can look down at runners heading through the volcano at the bottom? When you get to the top remember to put ‘drone view’ on and look down from the top into the caldera.

You can run to the Volcano from May Field. Simply turn right out of the track and head through town, past the seafront. You’ll soon see the right turn to the Volcano. If you’d like to get there a bit quicker, select the Volcano Circuit CCW route. Definitely worth a visit.

Alpe du Zwift

The Alpe is a classic Zwift route. Unfortunately, many runners don’t get out here. It’s a long way from the track and it’s possible some are not aware that you can choose to be dropped near to the Alpe.

The Road to Sky route is a 17km run taking in half the Mayan Jungle before turning off to climb the Alpe. During your 1000m climb you’ll pass through the clouds to be greeted with amazing views across Watopia. The snowdrifts are 10′ tall and the statue at the top is as stunning as it is majestic, towering over you as you reach the summit.

Run Steep, Get High

Remember, Zwift runners do not have to follow the elevation profile of our virtual terrain. We have focused on a few hilly routes in this article and climbing is hard work – but you do have a choice. If you are training for a race that has some elevation, consider adding some hill training into your schedule. If not then you can still run all of these routes and enjoy the views without altering the incline on your treadmill.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a few friends off the track and go exploring!