Eleven Dursley runners cast caution to the wind using up their precious fuel to travel to the Forest to participate in the annual Forest of Dean half marathon. They were rewarded in the words of Zoe Johnson with a “a lovely day and great scenic route” the route is challenging however and Zoe Johnson’s views on the hilly section at the end of the event were probably shared by quite a few of the 2219 runners who took part.

This did not stop a number of Dursley runners producing excellent, and in some cases, PB runs on the day. Mark Waller led the team in a achieved his seasons aim of a sub 01:30 Half, an objective which was only a matter of time as Waller continues to build stamina and strength, he was also rewarded with a PB. He was followed home by Tony Freer who achieved a PB.  Given that the course is not super fast it bodes well for faster times later in the season for both. Alice Lewis continues to impress, running ran under the one hour fifty mark putting her in the top 20 for her age and achieving a PB, Richard Hensman within spitting distance and Ian Hobbs not that far in front.

The closest competition was between Sue Peachy and Zoe Johnson both coming in comfortably under two hours with Peachy managing to finish just 42 seconds in front of Johnson. The “famille lanterne rouge” for Dursley were the Fowlers, Zoe Fowler was looking to go under 2 hours but the final hills put paid to this ambition, despite this she achieved a huge personal best knocking four minutes off her Stroud Half Time, another run that bodes well for later on in the season and suggests a sub two hour time at Stroud. 

Mark Waller 107^th 01:29:58;Tony Freer  183^rd 01:33:55; Richard Clarke 458^th  01:42:49; Ian Hobbs 637^th 01:45:41; Richard Hensman 679^th 01:48:21; Alice Lewis 797 01:49:34; Neil Malpass 925^th 01:53:47; Susan Peachey 962^nd 01:53;01; Zoe Johnson 996^th 01:53:43; Zoe Fowler 1471^st 02:04:35 Jerry Fowler 1472^nd 02:04:35. (All times chip/net times)