A Family Orientated Running Event
in Dorset's County Town of Dorchester
Hardy Half Returns on the 11th May 2025!
We were thrilled that the 2024 event which was the second "Hardy Half" was a huge success, with 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, with a new addition to the weekend the Half Hardy Half (ish).
Going on feedback from our first two years, this year we are also bringing you a shorter route full of the same character as the full but with less hills!
This will be great for those that want a taste of the Hardy Half race experience but over a shorter distance. So, what's stopping you joining us on the day on what is becoming a major date in the local running calendar.
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 was Dorset Search & Rescue (DorSAR) who received £1600.
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 routes….
Running through a landscape immortalised by the famous writer Thomas Hardy, the Hardy Halfs will take you on tour of this fantastic area of Dorset countryside. The majority of the courses are trail with some challenging terrain and the longer route gives around 1400 feet of elevation to climb. The road sections will be on closed roads. During the longer 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. Both routes will include a final climb of 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:
