Hardy Half Marathon
12th May 2024
A Family Orientated Running Event
in Dorset's County Town of Dorchester
THE BACKGROUND
We were thrilled that the inaugural "Hardy Half" was a huge success, with 259 runners racing across farmland in a loop of the iconic Hardy Monument.
We're excited to announce that Dorchester will be hosting it's Hardy Half Trail running event again next year, raising more money for local good causes.
Entries are now open for 2024!
We couldn't run such an awesome event without volunteers. If you're interested in helping at the event, marshalling or at the event village, then please contact us.
The race is a joint venture between Dorchester RIOT running club, Dorchester Lions, Dorchester Rugby Football Club and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club. All the money raised goes to local charities. We hope this event will be a regular in the running and fund-raising calendar for years to come.
'' I would love to give a massive thumbs up for the race you held!
Absolutely loved event and will be back and also will recommend to others!''
Esther (flyingfeetrunning)
'' I ran/walked the inaugural Hardy Half with fellow Littledown Harriers and what a lovely race it is.
- Very well organised event with plenty of communication before the day.
- Great atmosphere, especially with the pre-event atmosphere.
- Friendly and welcoming locals, so many came out to cheer us on and there was even a couple of bands on the route.
- Marshals a plenty and again all so friendly and supportive. So much encouragement all the way round.
- A finishers medal of Hardys Monument, T-shirt and half a pint of beer at the end
- Wonderful, glorious scenery and many a hill.
Highly recommend this event''
Amy F - Littledown Harriers, Bournemouth
The 2023 event raised £1900 for Farming Community Network. The main beneficiary for the 2024 event will be Dorset Search & Rescue (DorSAR).
Dorset Search & Rescue is a team of highly trained volunteers who work with the Police, Coastguard and other emergency services in the search, rescue or recovery of missing and often vulnerable people. They also provide vital assistance such as flood water rescue, searching for significant objects (including crime-based) and support the statutory agencies at major incidents.
You can find out more about Dorset Search & Rescue here.
We're encouraging runners of all abilities and experience to take part, with a generous cut off time, plenty of aid stations and trophies for the winners in various categories.
About the route….
Running through a landscape immortalised by the famous writer Thomas Hardy, the inaugural Hardy Half takes you on tour of this fantastic area of Dorset countryside. The majority of the course is trail with some challenging terrain and around 1400 feet of elevation to climb. The road sections will be on closed roads. During the run you will pass through the picturesque village of Martinstown, circle a monument dedicated to another famous Hardy, Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, a man made famous for being at the side of Nelson at the point of his untimely death on HMS Victory at the battle of Trafalger. The route heads down into Hells Bottom, appropriately named as you then turn to climb back towards Dorchester. Finally you will climb the western side of Britain's largest Iron Age fort, Maiden Castle, before finishing back at the rugby club for a well earned refreshment or two.
Kindly sponsored by:
