Wednesday February 14th 2007 Dursley Dozen

On Sunday 11/2/07 I ran the Dursley Dozen, a twelve mile multi- terrain race, very muddy and hilly. I did run this race 17 years ago and vowed never to do it again, (my legs hurt for a week) but decided that 17 years ago I would have been racing it whereas in my more mature years I could take a more leisurely pace. This tactic must have paid off because my legs only hurt for two days, either that or I am fitter at 54 than I was at 37!!!

After a couple of days of a reasonable amount of snow (Thursday and Friday) followed by rain on Saturday, this made conditions somewhat muddy. The race starts by going up a steep hill - road to begin with then on to track - the hill seems to continue zig-zaging it’s way through woodland for about a mile, you eventually come out on a golf course. You then have a couple of miles of golf course and road, which is flat, then back to undulating track through wood land. At about halfway you have a descent that some downhill skiers would bulk at, this did hurt my legs, for the first time in my running career I had to walk the last 20m down hill (old age), this was immediately followed by a steep uphill, which is a lot easier on my legs than going down.

After this you had about four miles of undulating woodland track again, muddy but good running. Just before ten miles you have the mother of all climbs, I jest not, they tie ropes between the trees so you can pull yourself up, this part was so steep I overtook Edmond Hillary (first man to conquer Everest!) on the way up. Oxygen was supplied at the top - actually it was a man offering Jelly Babies, and very nice they were too. The last two miles are flat with a very steep down hill coming back into Dursley (legs suffered again here) where you finish in the town centre.

Did I enjoy it? Funny enough I did.

Will I do it again? Maybe in another 17years time, I’ll only be 71.

Posted by Lynn Ferris at 15:06 GMT