Report By Trevor Brown
Jason and I did the Dovedale Dash on Sunday 4th November. Its the first time we've entered and is quite a different race to what we're used to. There were over 1,100 runners of all ages at the start. The course was a mix of cross country, fell and a little bit of road, (well a bit of Tarmac. It started at the top of a hill and within about a quarter of a mile everyone has to squeeze though a gully about 15 meters wide. Then over the famous stepping stones, although easier though the river (Izaak Walton, 17 century writer of "The Complete Angler" must have turned in his grave as 1,100 trampled though his beloved river Dove). There were runners from far and wide, the furthest travelled were from Germany and a group of 20 from the Stowmarket Striders. The course they said was unusually dry, but you did get wet as running through the river was necessary and I did leave one of my shoes behind in some mud on one section. The race 4.75 miles in length, was won in a time of 26.39 with the first lady 30.33 and the first over 60, 35.01. The under 14 winning time was 33.59. (makes you think, oh to be young, again).
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