Licence no for 2025 race : ARC/25/0400
To all Hardy Half and Half Half Runners,
Thank you for signing up to the third Hardy Half marathon trail race and our inaugural Half Hardy Half, we hope your training is going well.
This year your entries are supporting the Yeovil Freewheelers (Blood Bikes) along with other local good causes. We are incredibly grateful to this year's sponsors; Parkers Property, Dorset Brewing Company and the National Farmers Union. With their support we are able to divert more of the race funds to these good causes.
With entries remaining open until the 10th May, there is still plenty of time to encourage your friends and fellow club members along and help us to raise more money.
Please find your race instructions below, there is a lot of information but do take the time to read through it. In the run up to the race keep an eye out on our social media feeds for further updates, but be reassured that any significant changes will be communicated by email.
Please note, the last date for deferrals and transfers has now passed (two weeks before the event).
The Race
Here are the timings for the day:
08:00 - Registration Open
09:30 - Registration Closed
09:45 - Race Brief and Warm Up
10:00 - Race Start
12:30 - Presentations
13:30 - 11 mile Road Closure Cut Off
The event registration and finish is at Dorchester Rugby Football Club (DT1 2HX).
Registration opens at 8am and will be based in the bright orange Dorchester RIOT marquee. Please collect your number and fill out the back with your details. If possible, please do bring your own safety pins or race clips, though we will have a small number available on the day.
This year the toilets and the bag drop will be housed in the Rugby Club.
The race briefing will be held at 9:45am with a warm up by ForFit Fitness. This is at the Centenary Field approximately five minutes walk away from the Rugby Club, you will be directed there by marshals.
The cut off time for the 11 mile point is 3.5 hours. Beyond that time the roads reopen and you would need to navigate them independently. However, we have tail runners and the finish will remain open until the final runner has crossed the line.
If, for any reason, you wish to withdraw on the day then please let the tail runner or a marshal know your name and race number so we know not to expect you at the finish. This is really important so we don't then spend time trying to account for missing runners after the race finish.
First aid is available at the start and finish area and we have a roaming vehicle on the course, please notify a marshal if this is required. Defibrillators are situated at the Rugby Club and at aid stations one and two.
There will be live results available on the day from Timing Monkey who will be providing our race timing.
We will present male and female prizes to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd runners in the Hardy Half marathon and 1st male and female in the Half Hardy Half race. These will be awarded at 12:30.
Parking
The event is hosted by Dorchester Rugby Football Club and we have limited parking a short walk away (see map below). Please note, vehicles are left at the owners own risk.
Parking Postcode: DT1 2EP
Parking What3Words: ///tilts.slumped.mimic
Parking instructions: Please drive to the end of Queen’s Avenue where a marshal will direct you to the car park. Once parked, take the path to Coburg Road. Walk past 1610 sports centre, turn left and you will see the rugby club gates and the event village.
Please do try to park in our designated area so we reduce the impact on local residents. As there is limited parking, we suggest car sharing or public transport.
The Route
The route will be fully signed and marshalled but if you wish to download it in advance then you can do so here:
The Original Hardy Half - https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1812751.
Half Hardy Half - https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2763677
Really important bit, for those taking part in the Half Hardy Half, at around 2.2 miles or 3.5 km, the route splits from the full half. Please look out for marshal guidance or at this point or you may find yourself taking on more miles than you bargained for.
The Hardy Half is a trail event and the route takes you across farmland, so don't be surprised if you come across cows, sheep and crop fields. Please be mindful not to stray off the marked route and if you go through a gate that should be shut then please do close it after you, if you're not sure then close it and notify the nearest marshal as they will be briefed. We are grateful to the local farmers for their support and would like it to continue.
Though we have road closures there may still be local traffic, especially around Martinstown. Please keep left, listen out for traffic and follow marshal instructions.
We will have three aid stations where a small selection of food and water is available and bin bags provided for rubbish. Please make sure no litter is left on the route, if you see any litter please do pick it up, used gel wrappers in particular can be fatal to livestock.
As this is a trail event you can expect the terrain to be uneven under foot and trail shoes are recommended. In the run up to the race please do keep an eye on the weather and dress appropriately. There is not much shade on the route if it is a sunny day but there are amazing views!
Spectators
If you have people with you who wish to spectate en route then here are some suggested spectator points.
Location 1: Clandon Farm
Spectators will need to park no later than 0930 in Maiden Castle carpark (///pointer.constrain.craft), the access road to the carpark will close ten minutes before the runners set off. Spectators can walk up to the farm (///ballots.clerics.daydream) where we will have live music from Dorset Wrecks.
Location 2: Martinstown
Parking is available at the Brewers Arms pub (please enter via Winterbourne Steepleton due to road closures). From the pub it is a short walk to the village green (///processes.guesswork.filed) where we will have music by the Rock Choir.
Location 3: Hardy Monument
To gain access to the car park at Hardy’s you’ll need to route via Coombe Valley Road and enter from the western side (///increases.sprinting.slumped). There is plenty of parking here and we expect the first runners to pass here at around 1040am.
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If you have any questions please do get in touch with us on hardyhalf@gmail.com.
For now, we are so excited to see you on the 11th May!
Thanks,
Team Hardy Half
Sustainability
It is important to us to consider how we minimise the impact of the event and Dorchester RIOT is aligned with the Green Runners.
The event will be cupless so please bring your own hydration pack, flask or cup for water.
We also ask you to consider how you travel to the event, perhaps by lift sharing with others coming from the same direction. Alternatively, there are two train stations around a mile away from Dorchester Rugby Club, that would make a good warm up and we will have a bag drop available. You would also be able to leave a bike with us at your own risk.
We have also tried to consider sustainability in our race medals, trophies and prizes and have not purchased additional T-shirts for the 2025 events.
Event Village
Those who have taken part in the event before might remember the supportive finish atmosphere and event village we hope that this year will be similar.
The event village will have a pizza van, beer and soft drinks, plus the incredible Jen’s Icecreams. We are planning live music supported by Keep 106 who assisting again this year. Feel free to bring friends and family and stay after your race to soak up the atmosphere and cheer on the runners.
Our sponsors, Dorset Brewing Company, will also be providing you with a free half pint of our own ‘Hardy Half’ beer (3.9%) at the finish. There of course will be more to purchase along with other refreshments, if you wish, at the bar in the rugby club.
If your legs are in need of a refresh then local company ForFit will also be on site providing pre or post race massage. We ask for a minimum donation of £5 for at least 5 minutes and this donation will further support YFW Blood Bikes and other good causes.