2024 Dursley Dozen Results

Thank you to everyone who ran, marshalled, volunteered, or simply came out to watch the 34th edition of our iconic race – The Dursley Dozen!

In the male category, Sam Moppett led home James Everett (first DRC runner) in second with Daniel Shepherd in third.

Top female runner was Caroline McAleese (19th overall) with Hannah Large (32nd) finishing as runner-up. Kath Sutherland rounded out the podium and placed 60th in the overall rankings. Leading DRC runner was Tia Corkish who delivered a top-100 finish in 97th.

Top three per individual category

Male
1st Sam Moppett
2nd James Everett
3rd Daniel Shepherd

Female
1st Caroline McAleese
2nd Hannah Large
3rd Kath Sutherland

Male 17-34
1st James Plumstead
2nd Dougal McDonald
3rd Theodore Roberts

Female 17-34
1st Amy Brammar
2nd Alice Saltmarsh
3rd Olivia Zeltner

Male 35-39
1st Ben Bohane
2nd Robert Deller
3rd Lance Taylor

Female 35-39
1st Candice Snelling
2nd Eleanor Lacey
3rd Olga Goffin

Male 40-44
1st Andrew Kirkup
2nd Alexander Sampson
3rd Edward Bailey

Female 40-44
1st Tia Corkish
2nd Jo Widdup
3rd Kylie Mansfield

Male 45-49
1st Stuart Padget
2nd Tom Wilson
3rd Martin Wright

Female 45-49
1st Debbie Jones
2nd Sophie Bruce
3rd Rachel Stanley-Evans

Male 50-54
1st Chris Newby
2nd Philip Kirk
3rd Andy Monro

Female 50-54
1st Corinna de Vries
2nd Kate Browning
3rd Ruth Walker

Male 55-59
1st Richard Davis
2nd Alec Woods
3rd Sean Williams

Female 55-59
1st Lucie Lynk
2nd Kathryn Hoffen
3rd Sandra Evans

Male 60-64
1st Simon Merrick
2nd Vaughan Lindsay
3rd Andrew Hindson

Female 60-64
1st Maggie Salter
2nd Ingrid Harris
3rd Helen Mann

Male 65-69
1st William Lee
2nd Clon Ulrick
3rd Brian Griffin

Female 65-69
1st Bardie Holmes
2nd Jan McAll

Male 70-74
1st Jon Brough
2nd John Hargreaves
3rd Chris Foley

Female 70-74
1st Sharon Smith

Male 75-79
1st Andy Johnson

Full results of the race can be found here.

30th Dursley Dozen

Team DRC ready for the off!

After months of planning and preparation Sunday the 10th of February saw the 2019 version of the Dursley Running Club’s Dursley Dozen taking place. Six hundred athletes had entered the race with 450 making the journey to Dursley, they were greeted by a chilly and overcast morning. This year race was marked by a large turn out from DRC reflecting the club’s growth with 75 entrants and over 60 finishers. Up until a week ago the course was quite dry but a week of persistant and heavy rain meant that it was going to be reasonably challenging underfoot. From the gun there was rush from May Lane up Hilll Road with those with an eye on a top placing keen to get into the woods ahead for the masses. James Everett led the way for DRC. Sadly for DRC Dan Anderson and Paul Hocking were not on the start line due to illness and injury, which was a blow to DRCs hopes of another win in the mens team race, with Robyn Wait missing from the DRC women’s team. Everett noticed that one of his competitors, James Pictor, was findng it easy enough to talk to him on the initial climb to the Golf Course, a concerning sign, as Everett was working hard at this point. By the time the Pictor came off the golf course road and into the woods he had just over a minutes advantage of DRC’s Everett and Simon Byrne of Swindon Harriers. Xander McInnes was next in the woods for DRC. First woman at this stage was Annabel Grainger just three minutes behind the leader with Matt Read a minute behind Grainger. Next in for DRC were Ben Amigoni, Haydn Smith and Chris Sweet. Nicki Morgan of Chepstow Harriers (F50) was second woman at this stage with a 3-minute deficit on Grainger. DRC’s Zoe Lammerton entered the woods as 5th woman with Margaret Johnson a minute or so back. By the time they reached the Quarry Pictor, now running in bright sun, was now a clear two minutes ahead. Everett’s was second with two chasers within striking distance. Behind Everett for DRC it was MacInnes and Read, chased by Smith who had overtaken Amigoni, with Louis Rummer-Downing in the mix as well. In the woman’s race Grainger has almost 5 minutes on Morgan now, with Lammerton had moved into third position a further two minute or so in arrears. DRC runners were now coming through the Quarry thick and fast, Johnson just in advance of Jadie Cotterell and Kim Bird who were working well together. There was plenty of support around the course for all the runners and the course was well marshalled. As the runners ascended to the Golf course there was not much change in the key positions, with both the leading man and woman having commanding advantages that only a severe mishap would interfere with. At the finish Sam Pictor was a clear overall winner as was Annabel Grainger in the women’s category. Pictor floated around, unsurprising for an athlete who ran a 31:29 10K in 2018 and who posted that he was achieving 20 hours training a week mid-January. Grainger’s run was a master class in form and concentration. James Everett came home second overall and first for DRC. He was really pleased with his run he said it felt “harder’ but he was quicker than last year and he confirmed that conditions underfoot were definitely more testing than in 2018. Zoe Lammerton also continued to work hard to ensure she was not going to be caught on the run-in. She looked as strong as she had earlier on in the race as she started her decent in to Dursley. Zoe led a strong DRC women’s performance, with Johnson and Cotterall joining her to finish first Female Team. Bird, Lewis and Caroline Whitlock placing 3rd female team. Despite missing two key runners the DRC men’s team managed second place behind local rivals Thornbury with Everett McInnis, Smith and Read counting, DRC also supplied the 5th men’s team in the form of Amigoni, Rummer-Downing, Sweet and Jackson. There were at least two DRC personal bests on the day, Damian Lai and Louise Biddell were very pleased to smash their PBs on the course. There were a number of DRC athletes debuting some like Margaret Badger, a Walk to Run Graduate, and Hannah Osbourne vowing to marshal next year having experienced the challenge. DRC brought the race home with Nicki Cowle, Ben Houghton and Margaret Badger finishing in just over three and half hours.

Overall Results Top 3: Male: Sam Pictor , 01:20:40, Un affiliated; James Everett , 01:23:51, (Dursley Running Club); Paul O’Mara , 01:24:29, (Tyne Bridge Harriers). Female: Annabel Grainger , 01:36:00, (Bristol and West AC); Niki Morgan , 01:46:12, (Chepstow Harriers); Zoe Lammerton, 01:48:30, (Dursley Running Club).

DRC did well in the age categories with Lammerton 1st F40, Lewis first in her category. Johnson and Everett 2nd in theirs and Kevin Jackson 3rd in his. Jenny Mills travelling up from Launceston was sprightly as ever, returning to Dursley to place first F65 ahead of Kate Sackett (F55) and Alice Lewis(F60), a very impressive performance, as was Chris O’Carrol’s first pace M70 performance. Tony Freer Race Director commented “ What an amazing day, this time being the 30th running of this amazing event which attracts runners from as far as Cornwall and Newcastle. As always, the success

2018 ‘Try Out Tri’ Junior Triathlon Event Success

The first ever DRC Junior Triathlon event was a huge success, wow, just wow! Over 50 athletes competed, giving their best and showing us their swimming, cycling and running skills. Well done to each and every athlete who completed the race. Full results here >>

Winners of the 8-10 years category were:

  • 1st Benjamin Howse
  • 2nd Stanley White
  • 3rd Billy Smith

Winners of the 11-13 years category were:

  • 1st Lucy Holdsworth
  • 2nd Luke Davies
  • 3rd Jacob Brounger

Winners of the 14+ years category were:

  • 1st Aneurin Earle
  • 2nd James Durden

This event could not have happened without the huge support of all those who  planned, organised and delivered the event, so a huge thank you to everyone who helped. A few specific call outs to Martin Bragg, Tara Truman and Annette Keevil (our area leads) and our sponsors; The Pulse (thanks to Ange and team for the swimming, pool, spin room and help on the day), Emsea (our amazing medals and trophies supplier) and Sainsbury’s (the snacks).

This event was so successful we may even do it again next year!

Caroline Jones

Dursley Peaks Race 2018 – Race Report and Results

A claggy late may evening greeted the 90 participants in the 2018 running of the Dursley Peaks Race, giving it that “fell race” feeling.

It was a great evening of racing for DRC. Dan Anderson led up the Peak and did not relinquish control of the race at any point. He finished in 44:31 a new course record, by just two seconds.

DRC’s Dan Anderson Starting the Uley Bury Climb on his way to a New Course Record

DRC’s Robyn Jackson was first woman home setting a course record for the women.

Paul Hocking and Jonny Marks were 3rd and 4th overall respectively. Jonny was a minute and half quicker than last year even though he had competed at the Gloucester Sprint Triathlon on Sunday!

DRC had winners in many age categories too, Margaret Johnson was third woman home and first F55, running over 2 minutes quicker than her previous outing and looking like she was enjoying herself all the way around. Tony Wooldridge first M65 and Alice Lewis first F60.

With so many strong finishes by DRC, local knowledge was clearly an advantage, with the visitors often quite leggy as they entered the final 50m. Conditions were not easy, wet and muddy after the torrential rain and quite humid, great efforts all round, and super, as ever, to see all the competitors enjoying the event.

Despite the mist the race was well supported with a large contingent on Cam Peak cheering the runners out and back.

Full race results can be found here >>>

 

 

Berkeley 10k 2018 – Race Report and Results

A warm May evening greeted the runners at a sold out Berkeley 10k 2018. 50 of the 422 starters were Dursley Running Club athletes. Despite the hot weather, after a rousing send off from Dave Wood the front runners started briskly.

Steve Millward of Gloucester AC led the race around the first circuit, completing the 5k loop in 16:31 as he piloted Lee Stopford of Stroud AC into Hamfield Lane for the second time. They had an ample lead on the following runners and it seemed that it would all be down to who of the two had the legs. Steve later admitted that he probably adopted the wrong tactic of front running as he was unable to break Stopford who eased past him with 600m to go and extended his lead to about 15 metres in the run in, enough to secure him the victory.

Behind this tussle Eilidh Bell representing Team Bath AC had a more comfortable race to be first woman finishing in 37:22 and looking controlled, with Dursley’s own Robin Jackson second woman in 39:05, a  new personal best.

Jonny Marks was first home for Dursley in 38:12, with Nigel Sankey second in and very pleased with his personal best of 38:54 off the back of some great training runs. Margaret Johnson was second DRC woman home with a PB of 44:25 with Fran Amigoni in 3rd to complete the women’s team. Fran was picked off by Graeme Tudor who paced his finish extremely well pulling past Fran with about 25 meters to go. The club had a host of top ten age category finishers; Veronica Higgins, Audrey Harris, Claire Searle, Jim Moss, Fran Amigoni Graeme Tudor, Nigel Sankey and Jonny Marks. On the Podium along with Robyn Jackson were Kevin Jackson second in his category, Alice Lewis first F60 and Margaret Johnson first F50. The strong women’s performance saw DRC third in the women’s team race behind Almost Athletes and CLC Striders.

Ronnie Williams completed her first 10k a year after her first attempt was curtailed by the need to have her appendix removed, Kris Rymer achieved another PB, his first in the space of a month whilst Ellen Efford and Graham Wilkes , both Walk to Run Graduates also completed the race.

Full race results can be found here >>>

Special thanks go to Race Director  John Rogers and all his helpers, in particular Dave Saunders and Alice Lewis, but so many other people out there making the event run smoothly. Big thanks to Matt Sherrington and Jo Turner and crew who did massages and physio after the race raising over £70 for the clubs charity! Thanks to DB max for their excellent timing service, SGS College and Hamfield for use of facilities and Skills4Life for their medical support.

 

Dursley Dozen Race reports

2017 Race

Sunday the 12th saw the 28th running of the iconic all terrain race The Dursley Dozen. The race was full over a month ago with 600 entered, and just under 500 travelling to Dursley to take part.

Over night snow on Friday night and Saturday morning left s Stichcombe covered in a banket of snow and continued flurries of snow on gave race organisers pause for thought, with memories of the 2009 cancellation coming to mind. However, the snow never became anything other than light flurries, more importantly no ice was forming, by Sunday morning there was little left to be seen. The runners received an extremely chilly welcome in Dursley, climactic of course, on the Sunday. A warm welcome from Dursley Running Club awaited then at Race HQ and as ever inclement conditions lead to race HQ becoming hubbub of activity before and after the race as old friends and novices chewed the fat, considering what was in store for them or analysing the course and performance afterwards.  A number of anxious faces were to be seen before the start with concern not only about the temperatures but also the state of the course. A number of Dozen veterans had said they had not seen it so muddy before. A few Dursley novices looked rather worried, but also determined to do their best. Dursley was hopeful of some good results with a number of runners across the category ranges in good form. Dan Anderson was coming into the event in good form and hopeful of competing for victory, behind him in term of pace but still running extremely strongly of late where James Everett, and Mike Crompton. Who was going to count as the fourth man home for Dursley was open to debate with Tim Britton and Joe Browning strong candidates to be supporting the front three. For the women Robyn Jackson a new speedster for DRC looked likely to lead the women around with Keeley Smith and Margaret Johnson always strong off road, Zoe Lammerton was also one to watch as she has returned to running with vengeance after some “maternity leave”. In a change form recent years the male veterans were outnumbered by younger runners, Kevin Jackson and Dave Wood looked likely to be leading the male veterans home, the women on the other hand had a host of strong veterans competing, with a just 7 seniors. The runners were “penned” into May Lane surgery carpark and a countdown began for  the off at around 10.30. The traditional charge up Broadway then gathered pace, James Everett and Dan Anderson leading the race into the woods as they began their first ascent of Stinchcombe. With two significant climbs and a rapid descent the first three miles immediately created gaps in the field, at the 3 mile mark, the front runners came off the golf course road and into the woods at around twenty three minutes, Andrew Gardiner led Chris McMillan, Weston with Dursley’s Dan Anderson in close attendance. A minute in arrears James Everett entered the woods, with Mike Crompton a further 30 seconds back. The first woman into the Woods was Annabel Grainger hitting three miles in just under 27 minutes, Wendy Nicholls almost a minute behind, Robyn Jackson entered the Woods in 4th position a minute a half behind Grainger, looking composed as she negotiated the tricking change in levels before turning onto the main track.  In the competition to be Dursley’s fourth counter Tim Britton entered the woods just in front of Johnny Marks, running incognito (someone get him a DRC vest please!), both around a minute and three quarters ahead of Joe Browning, in the battle of the big men, they must be close to 20 feet long if you put them head to toe!

Kevin Jackson was on the woodland path just ahead of Jon Tudor  and Simon Jones , who was a minute ahead of the trio of Richard Smith, Andrew Truswell and Dave Wood. Dave had taken to the three mile point to catch up with Rich and Andy, perhaps hinting at a more conservative start. Your correspondent’s next stop was at the Quarry, trying to keep in touch with the action at the front of the race, walking down  to the field where the runners exit the woods after the ascent from Waterley Bottom, I positioned myself half way up the incline leading to the stile, around the six and half mile point. Chris Macmillan was first out of the woods hitting this point in around 46 minutes, just under 20 seconds behind were Dan Anderson and Andrew Gardiner, both working extremely hard up the incline, this did not bode well for their ability to close the gap on McMillan who looked to be in control.  James Everett was now 2 minutes down on Anderson and Gardiner, with Mike Crompton just over a minute down on Everett. Annabel Grainger looked in full control as she reached this point in around fifty two minute, Wendy Nicholls was not making any impact on Grainger’s lead but she had a comfortable 1 minute cushion on Polly Ainsley of Southville RC, who had a similar lead on Robyn Jackson as the trio left the quarry, onto the terra firma of the road until they would reach the hole in the wall to descend towards the muddy depths of the Dozen.

The leaders were heading for home just over the hour and Chris McMillan reached the top pf Broadway in about 75 minutes with Andrew Gardiner around 40 seconds behind and Dan Anderson the same distance behind Gardiner, Macmillan clearly descended like a demon as he stretched out his lead to almost a minute by the time he reached Dursley, winning in 01:19:33 whist Dan Anderson closed the gap on Gardiner to 26 seconds, placing third overall and second senior male, in atimeof 01:20:56. Whilst he may be disappointed with his third place he was substantially faster than in 2106 in more testing conditions, and his time would have won last year’s race.  These times were very impressive given the difficult conditions. In the race for first woman Grainger had created an unassailable lead and finished 17th overall in a time of 01:31:15. Wendy Nicholls was just over 8 minutes in arrears. Both Grainger and Nicholls looked in total control of there races throughout.  Polly Ainsley finished 57 seconds back and Dursley Robyn Jackson just 40 seconds adrift of 3rd place with an impressive run.

Dursley with 54 athletes running were making a strong showing at the front, James Everrett and Mike Crompton putting big efforts in to finish 5th and 7th respectively, Tim Britton ran strongly and was 5 minutes behind Crompton with Johnny Marks a similar distance behind Britton. Robyn Jackson was the rose between the thorns and behind her a battle was taking place between Dave Wood and Kevin Jackson. Jackson is renowned for looking over his shoulder over the last miles of a race to ensure he stays in front of his Dursley competitors, today he failed to do so, and so Dave Wood was able to congratulate him on his effort (Dave Wood is very polite)  before surging past him over the rise of the Slade to descend as fast as he could, hoping that he would get around the turn on to May Lane before the final sprint down Parsonage Street. It was mission accomplished for Wood who recorded his second victory over Jackson in thirty years making him extremely happy man. After Robyn Jackson, the Dursley women’s race was between Keeley Smith, Margaret Johnson, a resurgent Zoe Lammerton and the ever present Alice Lewis. Alice Lewis suffered the unusual set back of being hit by a deer, knocking her over  and disorientating her.  Cut and bruised Alice picked herself up and continued but this incident clearly put a dent in her performance, but also  gave her the opportunity to show her grit and determination which is a key foundation t her excellent performance  season by season. Keely Smith showed her off road credential, and whilst disappointed with her time, should reflect on her excellent 2nd category position; she finished almost two and a half minutes in front of Margaret Johnson, who was a further 01:18 a head of Zoe Lammerton, both runners finishing strongly. Zoe Lammerton’s return from having a baby has been committed but not quite as committed as Fran Amigoni who completed her Dozen with a top 20 category finish after having her little girl Mia  just under four months ago! Respect is due to all the Dozen virgins, who chose a hard year to initiate themselves into the joys of a hilly mudder, many were nervous before the start but showing more grit and determination rose to the challenge. Julie “jaffa’ Fenn commented after the finish “I don’t do mud” she is clearly incorrect as she did plenty of it in the 2017 Dozen. The Dozen welcomes back many old friends, Annabel Grainger and Wendy Nicholls are two examples, travelling up from Launceston in the South West Jenny Mills is another Dozen frequent flyer, running impressively to be comfortably under 2 hours and yet again claimed the F65 prize before heading back home.

Strong running from Dursley paid off and the senior men’s teams won for the second year in a row, beating Cirencester AC, positions were reversed in the women’s senior team event. Thornbury RC placed first in the veteran’s event, with Almost Athletes ahead of Emerson in third. Again Cirencester pipped Dursley in the female veterans event with Forest of Dean placing a happy third.

Dan Anderson won the Martin Blythe Memorial Trophy for the 5th consecutive year, but James Everett has taken his jacket off now and may well pose a challenge in the coming years.

Results

Overall Men

01:19.33 Chris Macmillan

01:20.30 Andrew Gardiner

01:20.56 Dan Anderson

Overall Women

01:31.15 Annabel Grainger

01:39:21 Wendy Nicholls

01:40:18 Polly Ainsley

Teams

Senior Men

1. Dursley RC

2. Cirencester AC

3. Emersons Green RC

Senior Women

1. Cirencester AC

2. Dursley RC

3. Almost Athletes

Males Vets

1. Thornbury RC

2. Almost Athletes

3. Cirencester AC

Female Vets

1. Cirencester AC

2. Dursley RC

3. Forest of Dean AC

Category Winners

01:30.07 M40 Martin Humpreys

01:28.50 M45 Jonathon Newey

01:20.30 M50 Andrew Gardiner

01:42.22 M55 John Walsgrove

01:46.58 M60 Bryan Stadden

02:08.25 M65 Jonathon Bateman

01:44.03 F35 Holly Tugwell

01:31:15 F40 Annabel Grainger

01:39.21 F45 Wendy Nicholls

01:41.55 F50 Lynette Porter

01:52.07 F55 Kate Sackett

02:12.29 F60 Jacqui Winds

01:58.03 F65 Jenny Mills

Plenty of excellent placings for DRC in the age categories:

Joe Ball 2nd JunM, Keely Smith 2nd F35, Dave Wood 6th M50, Zoe Lammerton 3rd F35, Kevin Jackson 2nd M55, Margaret Johnson 4th F50, Alice Lewis 2nd F55 and Sam Martin 7th F35.

PBs for Jonathon Tudor, Margaret Johnson, Zoe Lammeton, Karen Eadon and of course Damian Lai, Karen’s PB c. 20 minutes! #Boom

Well done to the DRC back markers nothing like strengthening your relationship by running around with your partner, well done Emma Boxall and Mark Owen, and the club’s Lanterne Rouge, and hopefully immensely proud to be so, was Anya Wood who completed the course in under 3 hours, that is a LONG time to be out in the mud, snow and biting cold, respect is due!

As ever a huge thank you to our Race Director, this year Tony Freer in his first year after taking over from Greame Hawkins who had done such a fine job having taken the reins from Trevor Lewis. Also thanks to Marshal and Route Set Up coordinator Neil Parry, HQ and finish line coordinators Neil Truelove and Nicola Evered and of course to all our volunteer helpers and marshals without who this great race would not happen. Organisation does not start on race day and doesn’t finish for a while afterwards your commitment and hard work is much appreciated!

We also thank the Dursley Town Council, The Pulse, Dursley Community Association and Bosum Buddies for their help and support in putting the race

A runners view of the race, as posted by Maya Goodwin on DRC facebook page after the event, a MUST read:

“How hard can a race be that takes in your old school cross country route, and the route we all used to walk to our favourite pub in Uni holidays?

My school XC took me 20 mins, and I wasn’t the fastest. And a walk to a pub? Well beer makes any climb worth it when you’re in your 20’s with loads of laughing mates.Add on another 10 miles and you’re coming close. The race starts in the town, downhill for 50 meters and then STEEP UP for another 200. A tough ask, and there were walkers (including me) from about 100 meters. Then off the road and into the hill. Still up, not as steep but a narrow path and muddy. I won’t lie, I was delighted with the bottleneck and the chance to gather my thoughts and breath. We undulated to the top and the pack thinned out. A lot.

I could bore you with every hill climb up and every slippery trot downhill, and even now, just a few hours after I’ve finished, they’ve merged into one another. Here are the ones I remember.

Past Hilltop House. A house literally clinging to the side of the hill. I could see into their kitchen as we trudged (with purpose, I was still full of purpose at this point of the race) past, and I could see they were making roast dinner. I was contemplating how hungry I was when my Uncle David turned and said “Hilltop House. Not a very *imaginative* name, is it? How about Slipping Down The Hill House?” That made me laugh.

A slippery slide down to the New Inn. The village is called Waterley Bottom. No really. We are in the Cotswolds remember. The run down this hill was terrifying. Now I know I’m prone to exaggerate, but this was really really steep, and muddy. I looked at my watch and it said I was doing 25min miles. I guess the speedsters leg it down without touching the ground, but I wasn’t. I like my legs attached to me ta.

My family were at the pub to cheer me. I remained steadfastly Uncheered, especially when I turned to look at what I had to get up next. Are you KIDDING. A steep steep STEEP field. I’m told it is 1 in 4. I have literally no idea what that means, I just know it was steep. I grumbled and moaned and crossly got myself to the stile at the top. To which there was ANOTHER massive steep climb. Steep enough to have 4 turns to get you to the top. At the top was a marshal, who cheerfully yelled down to me ‘nearly there!’ I yelled back ‘No I’m NOT!!’ And laughed. At least I was laughing again.

And then the PRECIPICE. The clue is in the name, I knew there was a rope to pull yourself up. I imagined a rope like you get stapled to the walls as you walk up steep village streets. My imagination SUCKS.

“Are you kidding me? Why isn’t there a button lift here?” (I’m all about a button lift after last week skiing?) “Sorry love, it’s broken down, you should have got here earlier… “

It looked impossible. The people in front of me were almost bent in half at the waist as they pulled up the hill. The marshal said the trick was to keep the rope taut and just keep on going. It was SO tough.

Apparently the race leaders even use the rope and pull themselves up. I was glad of the thumb holes in my sleeves. It took what felt like forever, I kept having to stop every three heaves to get my breath back.

And then back onto the top, for another flat mile in the bitter wind and then a mile back into Dursley.

This race was a killer. It took me over three hours, I was hoping to be quicker, given the downhills too, but the mud, and the steep made for slower going. Nothing easy about it, nothing…! I’m really proud of myself for doing it, and it was a really pretty route with brilliant cheerful marshals who made me laugh.

Thank you for a brilliant birthday gift Uncle David, I know I grumbled a lot, but I’m not grumbling now”

Thank you Maya for a brilliant account, see you next year sub 3 hours?

A further runners eye f view has been provided by Shaz….

Dursley dozen Posted on February 14, 2017 by shazruns

“When I first moved to Devon I did a half marathon in the New Forest. The 13.1 miles were described as flat. I was not impressed when that was a big fat lie (press here to read about it) I realised then that unless the course description contained the words ‘pancake flat’ then it was more than likely to have hills.

Fast forward four years and things are very different.

I read the course description for the Dursley Dozen and it contained the words steeply, hill, undulating, steep descent, steep ascent, For the final climb “THE PRECIPICE” ropes are provided and mud, oh my kind of event, where is the credit card let me sign up!

Sunday morning I headed up the M5, wondering if it was going to ever get light, it was as though someone had put one of those energy saving lightbulbs in and it was taking for ever to reach full outage. Dreary.

Car parked, number collected, cake stall checked out (lots there I can take my time), serious 4×4 trainers on, hat, buff, hanky and gloves, all set. I followed the stream of runners to the start, all trying to keep warm.

10:30 we were off, downhill, yay, then 200 metres steeply up, is it too early to walk? No according to my calf muscles, walking was the only way forward. Fortunately a majority of those around me did the same. I was pleased to get off the road in to the woods, as it levelled out a bit, but it was still tough going due to the mud and then another climb.

The run basically went like this down, up, down, steep up, golf course, steep down, mud, muddy mud, up hill, gold course, road, slippy mud, rocks, road, mountain, snow, road, down hill. Every hill I came too I thought oh this must be the precipice they mentioned, but they haven’t added the rope this year. Each hill was tough and surely could not get any harder. Wrong. The precipice comes in the last quarter of the run, just when every leg muscle is screaming in pain. The rope was much needed for the first bit of the climb and then due to very poor arm strength (think T-rex) I opted to let the legs to the work and found it easier proceed without pulling. When the rope finishes I assumed wrongly that, that was the end of the hill, oh no we still had another climb up to the golf course.  Then it was all down hill to the finish. Phew.

Another great event, with some very enthusiastic marshals and great support on the course. I got to the end without the body complaining too much and without falling over in any of the mud, so that must count as a success. Hills, mud and a sprinkling of snow, a great way to spend a Sunday. Oh and a great t-shirt”