Nearly 400 runners tackled the 33rd running of the Dursley Dozen today, Sunday.
For the first time in the history of the popular race, runners faced the challenge of running through the grounds next to Leaf and Ground deli and garden shop.
First across the line was Chris Phillips from Saddleworth Runners’ Club, clocking an impressive chip time of 1:23:36.6. Closer to home, Dursley RC runner James Everett finished second in 1:25:52.4 and clubmate Alex Lane came fourth.
First runner home for Stroud was Ben Lowe in 1:30:34.3 and first female was Sarah Rose in 1:44:05.8
Earlier, runners tackled 12 challenging miles of multi-terrain over hillsides, woodland, open country, mud, road and solid rock.
The race started in the car park of May Lane Surgery with runners passing The Old Spot and before they could catch a breath, they were straight into the challenging Hill Road, ascending steeply for almost two hundred metres before entering woodland and climbing onto Stinchcombe Hill Golf Course. The race route then re-entered the woods.
This year, the race route descended on land at the popular Leaf and Ground café, where runners arched around the pond are before climbing back up into the woods and onto the golf course.
A mile and a half of muddy woodland paths took runners to a brief section of road and into more woodland before a steep descent down Axe Lane to the New Inn at Waterley Bottom. A steep ascent followed back to the hilltop and a circuit of Breakheart Quarry.
A section of quiet country road saw runners back into the woods before the last descent into the town.
The final sprint saw runners hit the pedestrianised Parsonage Street to the finish line in front of the Dursley Market Hall building, where all received their hard-earned technical T-shirt.
For full race results click HERE
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