DPR July Newsletter
DPR Summer has got off to a firecracking start with record-breaking Summer Leagues, glorious runs in shady woods, fun and games in the summer relays and social hydration breaks whilst watching the footie. And we’ve only just begun! If you haven’t been to a Summer League event yet – the next one is the best one – Dulwich on Sunday 12th July. We are famed for hosting the best picnic and we need as many runners and volunteers as possible to make it brilliant once again. Sign up your friends, family, neighbours here to help and make sure you’re on the start line, all paces welcome! 36 of us were at Harrow (above) and 26 in Perivale – reckon we can get to 100 in Dulwich! And then Sunday 26th July is the final event at Regent’s Park which is also our 10k Club Championship. Susan is expert at getting us as many points as possible from our relay teams – but there’s still opportunity for us to get more glory. If you haven’t sent her your 400m time please do and experience similar joy to our mixed team from Sunday!
There was still time in June for loads of members to get races under their belts. Debbie Simons ran the Spitsbergen Marathon in Norway – the World’s Northernmost marathon on permanent ground, in the Arctic Circle. Chris Ince ran what sounds like a race even worse than the much talked about Ikea Marathon – 10k made up of 13.5 laps of the Greenwich foot tunnel. With Clare D and Rachit he also ran the Forza Wine Maratona combining winetasting and running which sounds far more fun. A belated congrats to Adam Jones for a PB at the 10k Great Manchester Run at the end of May. Ilaria ran her first 10 miler at Brighton. Adrian Frost ran in the Showground relays up in Stafford and the DOCRS Fell Race from Speedwell Caverns. And Ben and Darren ran the Ranelagh 10k in crazy heat. Congratulations all!
Thanks to everyone who made it to the cricket pavilion last week for our trial run and (frustrating) footie watching. As a reminder at the AGM earlier in the year we agreed that the committee should explore the possibility of a move from the Trevor Bailey clubhouse to the cricket pavilion. We plan to organise one more trial run for anyone else who wants to check out the pavilion. Next steps will then be to set out the options which could be staying in Trevor Bailey or moving to the cricket pavilion with the pros and cons along with the costs of each. We will then put those options to the membership for a vote. Full details and timeline to follow, but if you have questions or thoughts in the meantime please let the committee know.
Upcoming Races and Events
As well as the Summer Leagues on July 12th and 26th, we also have the Dinodash Relays on 8th July in Crystal Palace Park. We’ve got 9 teams entered and would love people to come and support – the races start on the athletics tract at 730pm which can be accessed from the lower part of the park and we’ll be heading to the Bridge House for refreshments afterwards! After The Big Half on Sunday 6th September where we have over 30 people signed up we will have a Greenwich Pub meet up and then a pizza social after our usual club night on Tuesday 8th September. And remember our 5 mile club championship will be on 4th October in Dulwich Park. Please let Lucy Ross know (if you haven’t done so already) if you are entered for a Marathon this year.
Can’t think about mud at the moment but we now have the cross-country dates for your diaries – Saturday 10th October at Reigate, Saturday 14th November at Morden Park which will be our Cross Country Championship, Saturday 9th January at Oxshott and Saturday 13th February at Lloyd Park.
Early notice that we have decided to repeat last year’s super successful Away Weekend to the Sussex Downs later this year (with fingers crossed for better weather!). We will be staying at the South Downs YHA from Friday 27th – Sunday 29th November and participating in the multi-distance RunRebel Sussex Downs Trail Runs on Saturday 28th November. The accommodation will be in dorms exclusively for DPR use. The plan is to arrive Friday evening (public transport is very easy as Southease train station is only 300m from the hostel) with dinner available at the hostel for those who want it. On Saturday morning, after our hostel breakfast, we travel the short distance to Plumpton Racecourse for the trail runs. On Saturday evening we will have a celebratory dinner out in Lewes. The hostel sits on the South Downs Way so is perfect for a walk on Sunday morning for those who wish to partake. The cost of the accommodation per person will be approximately £100 which includes one dinner and two breakfasts. Please email Lucy Ross to express an interest in going or with any further questions, or thumbs up to the imminent WhatsApp.
Sunday Runs
If the heat has been getting to you, there is no better way to chill out than our DPR Sunday Social runs – a great chance to get some miles in and to meet and run with other members of the club. We meet each week at 9.30am at Dulwich Park Café with an invitation for coffee after. We have a rota of 8k – 10k route suggestions, and whatever route we choose each week, shorter or longer versions are also available. All speeds & levels of fitness are catered for & equally welcome – we always have at a least a couple of people who will very happily run / jog / trot as gently as required – nobody runs on their own!
With thanks to Rosemary and Dave Harris who led our June members designed run – which took us on a gently-glamorous route through the back streets of Saaaarf London – all the way towards the spectacular Stave Hill panoramic view! Photos below!
On Sunday 19th July Di Suter will lead our next member designed and led run Tour de Sud-Southwark. Di writes: “Grande depart, 9:30am Dulwich Park Café with a summit finish at the Horniman Museum café. About 9k taking in Chateau de Dawson Heights, Chapel du Nunhead Cemetery and Parc de Brenchley Gardens. There will be QOM/KOM points awarded at the summit of Col de Donkey Alley, Col de Brockley Footpath, Alpd’OneTreeHill, and Mont Ringwayrise. A couple of Sunday run regulars will be performing domestique duties to ensure that the peloton runs at an easy pace to accommodate all paces. There will be opportunities for breakaway groups to form to take on the classified climbs. Sheep dogging rules will be strictly enforced! Expect sensational views and a couple of history snacks enroute….” More details about this, and all Sunday runs, are published each week on WhatsApp – so check you’re added to the DPR Sunday Social Run group!
Your Club Needs You!
Thank you to all of those who have volunteered in the past, the club only survives because of your contributions. Lots of you have said the club allows members to experience the joy of giving back. We have many such opportunities on the horizon for you! So first sign up a friend to help at Dulwich Summer League and then consider the below!
Social Secretary x2
The amazing Lynne and Alex are handing over the baton. If you like organising parties, this could be a perfect role for you. If you prefer to organise much quieter fun, also perfect! You see what we did there? Our club is very broad and we are keen to reflect that on our committee. If you want to talk to someone informally first, Lynne (socials@dulwichparkrunners.co.uk) or David/Ib (chair@dulwichparkrunners.co.uk) or any of the committee are very happy to have a chat.
The Dash
We’re putting together a brilliant team of organisers. We are looking for two to three members to join Dom and Lucy to learn and steer the mystery that is The Dash. Let us know if you’re interested. Please do also submit suggested new names for the new team (submissions so far are Dash Divas, Timetrial Taskmasters). This could be your DPR legacy…!
Other roles
While we have a more urgent need for the above roles, if you are interested in any of the club roles (committee roles or otherwise) do please reach out to Ib and David to find out more. We really want to share out opportunities across all of our growing membership.
Improvers and Coaching
Remember that as well as our social Tuesday runs our coaches run free Thursday Improvers Sessions if you’ve been running more than 10 miles per week over the last couple of months. From July 9th throughout the summer until the end of August, we’ll be undertaking technical exercises on the track. There will be a small amount of running to practice each point, and the opportunity to run more if you need to for training plans or just to keep up your weekly mile target.
All the sessions are good for anyone looking for increased speed over any distance; good technique means better running! From 23rd July – 13th August there is a one-off opportunity for those on fewer miles to join the Improvers sessions. If you have any questions, would like to join us, or would like general coaching advice from any of the Coaches or Run Leaders, please email Susan, Tom, Katia or Zach at coach@dulwichparkrunners.co.uk We also have a Coaching Surgery planned for 4th August after the Dash, location TBC so get that in your diaries!
Meet a Member
This month in honour of our Summer League achievements we meet the King of the Relays – he only runs the 5 mile races so he is eligible for the sprints – Andrew Wells. Come and join him on July 12th and 26th if you think you might have this quirk too!
Tell us about your running journey and why you joined DPR
I started running 13 years ago. I’d moved to London and felt extremely unfit. Coming home from work on the tube one freezing December evening, I made a spur of the moment decision to jump off, buy some kit and go for a run. I haven’t looked back although it took years and years to build mileage and consistency. I joined DPR in 2023. For three years all my energy had been focused on helping my wife through a serious illness. I needed an outlet, something just for me, and to make new social connections.
What is your favourite thing about DPR?
I was going to say the friendly competition with my fellow Cheeky Boys/BAD runners Darren and Ben, but I’ve fallen well behind those two reprobates so I’ll say the Summer League relays.
What is your favourite tune to run to?
I’ve stopped listening to music while I run, preferring the sounds of the parakeets. Prior to that it would be deep house tunes.
What is your next running target?
I’m running the Big Half in September, for which Susan has kindly provided me with a plan to get me round in one piece. Did I mention I like the Summer League relays?
When you’re not running what are you doing?
I recently got into fermenting foods. You can ferment anything. It’s great fun experimenting with all kinds of random stuff. Sometimes it tastes good. (Ed: Please bring a jar to the next pizza social)
What is your favourite pre-race meal?
Nuts, banana and chocolate.
Why do you love relays so much?
What gave you that idea?! Running is mostly individual, so it’s nice to be part of a team effort. I like the buzz, excitement and dopamine hit of the quick win – it’s a minute or so of flat out effort and then it’s all over. Much more enjoyable than slogging for five miles in the scorching heat with David M and Paul Conway breathing down my neck!