DPR August Newsletter
With the joy and jubilation of Summer League over – gorge pic above of our winning women’s relay team – we are now into proper peaceful and languid days – you’re probably either planning fun foreign running routes on Strava avoiding rabid dogs, or looking forward to a quieter London and lots of DPR activities – read on for ideas!
August Antics
4th August – It’s the Monthly Dash in the park, and then our coaching surgery at the Crown and Greyhound – sign up here and message IB with any questions
11th August – we are meeting at the Cricket Pavilion (SE21 7EX) before and after our regular Tuesday 630 and 730 runs to check out the space – if you didn’t manage to make it last time, come and have a look at what the Pavilion might be able to offer us as a club – David W will be conducting tours from 615!
Until the 13th August there is the opportunity to join Improvers Sessions on a Thursday even if you aren’t running more than ten miles a week. 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 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.
15th August – if you fancy a non-running activity some of us are going to South London Theatre to see the Summer Shorts – get your ticket here!
29th August – is our next Parkrun Mob Match versus Crystal Palace Fun Runners, let’s beat those reprobates!
30th August – Dominic Collard is leading our next member designed run – Secret Streatham. Dominic writes: “promising runners some of the finest view of South London…starting at Streatham Station, the route takes in roads less travelled up to Streatham Common and into the first of our forests, from where we escape onto the plains of Norwood Grove and stunning views across South London and beyond. Biggin Wood is our second visit into woodland, before the lush green of Norbury Park leads us back to Streatham Common via the iconic Rookery Gardens – with a well-earned post-run invitation for refreshment at the Rookery Café…”. More details about this and all Sunday runs on the WhatsApp group – make sure you’ve joined the DPR Sunday Social Run group!
New Term, New Shoes
No need for back to school fear, plenty coming up to keep you amused! First off, our Autumn Beginners Courses start Saturday 5th September, 8 week course for Beginners, 5 week course for 5k-5milers. Full info on our website. Please think about encouraging your friends, neighbours, colleagues, and sharing our poster below on your local groups.
Of course we also need your help in supporting these new runners at 8am and 9am each Saturday morning, and 5k-5milers at 10am. There’s a briefing and route plan immediately prior to each session (which lasts 45-60mins), so all you need to do is run gently, chat and encourage. Come for as many or as few sessions as you can, and besides the opportunity to ‘give back’, you also get free breakfast on week 8. You don’t need to commit in advance, but if you’d like to register your help, or just want more onfo, please chat with Susan or Di or email us Beginners@Dulwichparkrunners.com
6th September – The Big Half. We have 30 plus people running and there is a WhatsApp group for anyone who wishes to join to chat re training, travel or the pub afterwards. There’ll also be a Big Half social at the Clubhouse on Tuesday 8th September to celebrate our runners AND we’ll be giving out long overdue medals for the 5k, 1 mile and 10k Club Championships.
Lots of runners are participating in the Vitality 10k on 27th September. And if you didn’t get a place the Eridge 10 is on the same day for anyone who likes a bit of trail. It’s a great race, sometimes gloriously muddy (possibly not this year but who knows?)
Our remaining Club Championships are the 5 miler in Dulwich Park at 930am on 4th October, the 10 mile Cabbage Patch on 18th October and the cross country at Morden Park on 11th November. We also have cross country races on 10th October at Reigate, 9th January at Oxshott and 13th February at Lloyd Park. And a heads up that our Half Marathon Club Championship for 2027 will be Paddock Wood on Sunday 14th March. Enter here with early bird discount until the end of this year.
And a reminder that we have decided to repeat last year’s super successful Away Weekend to the Sussex Downs later this year. 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.
July Achievements
Loads of great achievements last month! Alan did the Luna Trail Half Marathon at Eridge Park. Head and hand torches necessary. Beth ran the Gold Coast Marathon which was a fantastic achievement considering that she had been on crutches only the week before. Jamie Gibbs ran the Brixton Half and Ib did the Great North 10k. Helen Branch was the proud recipient of the ‘biggest medal ever’ for her efforts in the SheRaces 25km race that started at Denbies Vineyard. Will B ran the Battersea Chase the Sun 5k and got a PB.
A fun time was had by all at the Crystal Palace Dinodash. We put out a magnificent 9 teams and everyone made it in time to run! Congratulations to Ben, Evie and James H who were our first team home and 17th overall.
And then it was the third and fourth events of the Summer League where we outdid ourselves once again as hostesses with the mostess at Dulwich Park, and then got a record number of 40 runners out to Regent’s Park for our 10k Club Championship. Congrats to Zach, Nat, James BA and Evie, Charlotte and Amber who got first, second and third places in the races. Zach got an amazing 82.23% age grading. Overall as a club we came an impressive fourth – thanks to everyone who participated and especially those relay runners! Medals will be awarded at our 8th September Social.
And with Summer League now over, there’s no excuse not to join the DPR Sunday Social Runs – these weekly gentle and social Sunday jaunts are a great way 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, or as speedily, as required – nobody runs on their own!
Un immense merci à Di Sutar – who led our July members designed run – Tour de Sud-Southwark. This gorgeous route took us on some brilliant hill-tastic adventures, with servings of sensational views, and a good quantity of fascinating historical (and gossipy) snacks enroute – pics below!
Finally, welcome to all our new members – Deborah Bruce, Rebecca Garvey, Deborah Goodwin, Gregory Kolokouris, Xavier Martin-Simon, Nasreen Moini, Curtis Ouma and Indre Rusyte!
Meet a Member
This month we meet Rachel Jones!
Tell us about your running journey and how you joined DPR
I took up running relatively late in life (early fifties) and it was towards the end of the COVID malarkey! Having stopped drinking alcohol, I was looking for something positive to keep me busy (and out of the pub!) and running quickly became that outlet.
In autumn 2021, I completed the DPR Beginners course, which helped build my confidence and introduced me to this brilliant running community. I joined DPR at the end of the course. Since then, running has become a regular part of my life – I never would have thought that I would be that person who takes their running shoes on holiday, but I am!
What’s your fave thing about DPR?
My fave thing about DPR is the totally eclectic bunch of people I have met. You are all so different, in a good way of course. You learn all sorts when chatting on a run. Second to that is the support you get from everyone, there’s no ego’s flying about, just good people encouraging each other to do well.
What’s your fave running tune?
Too hard to pick one favourite tune as it totally depends on the run. On a slower run it would probably be a bit of yacht rock Hall & Oates – I can’t go for That. On faster days it would be Talking Heads – Slippery People. The last half a mile on race day would definitely be Skepta – Shutdown!
What’s your next running goal?
My next running target is to stay injury free for at least the next 3 months and run The Big Half, Vitally 10k and the Cabbage Patch in good form. Since I’ve started running I’ve had a stress fracture, a sprained ankle, cracked ribs and a broken wrist!! Take up running they told me, it will keep you fit and strong!!
What’s your fave post-run snack?
A Latte and my guilty pleasure, a Greggs sausage roll – a girl’s gotta have some vices!
What do you get up to when you’re not running?
When I’m not running I’m trying to prevent more injuries, so weights and lots of mobility stuff. There’s work, 5 days a week (I have worked in social housing for over 30 years) and I volunteer once a week for a suicide intervention charity which involves a lot of walking. I love a good concert, am a sucker for a west end musical and absolutely love a kitchen disco 🪩 😘
