DPR December Newsletter
It’s time to embrace the inevitable. It’s here… Grab your holly and eggnog and let’s go!! DPR December Tuesdays look like this:
2nd December – the final Dash of the year, who will win the coveted trophy?! There’ll be our usual pub visit afterwards.
9th December – the infamous Christmas Lights Run where we search and vote for our fave decorated house and award them a sought after certificate. Will it be a win for Tasteful or Tacky this year?! Drinks in the Crown and Greyhound afterwards.
16th December – the Turkey Trot – the Dash course run backwards with the winner being whoever is most accurate in guessing their time! Followed by pizza in the clubhouse and medals!!
23rd December and 30th December – there will be club runs but keep an eye on what’s app for the meeting point as the clubhouse may be shut.
And if you’re worried that you might get in a slump during the festivities why not get in now and book ahead for an early 2026 race. It’s also your last chance to use your 2025 £20 race subsidy – get those applications in!
4th Jan – Tadworth 10 – A DPR fave to see in the New Year – nice mix of road and off-road with a warm race HQ with lots of porcelain toilets
1st Feb – Dash for the Splash – a generally excellent and muddy run around Wimbledon Common finishing with a traverse of the brook and a sticky toffee pudding
8th March – Paddock Wood – December is the last chance to get entry at a reduced rate and it’s our 2026 Half Marathon Club Champs so get entering!
There’s also cross country galore with Surrey League fixtures on 10 January and 7 February, as well as the Southern Cross Country Championships at Beckenham Place Park on 24 January – more details on how to enter shortly. And of course there’s our Parkrun Ladder – Winter 2025 throughout December and January culminating in the advantageous Home Mob Match on 31st January – let’s take those Crystal Palace Fun Runners down…. Finally for your diary please mark 24th February for our AGM, and our most well-dressed night of the year – the Annual Dinner on 14th March!
Race Achievements
57 DPR members ran the sunny 5km champs earlier in the month with James A and Amanda coming top, Zach and Charlotte second and Tim and Ib third.
Alex Barclay ran 15.5km in Istanbul on 2nd November. Alison, Ali, Charlotte, Katia, Jess, Alan, Paul, James H and Tim all ran the London Cross Country Champs at Parliament Hill. Lucy R, Gin, Blanche, Ilaria, Ib and Jess ran the Beckenham Trail 10k. A week later and the conditions had changed from dust to squelch but we still got a great turn-out (you might note from the pics below especially from the women…) at the Hurst Green Cross Country (and our 2025 championships). Amanda and Nat took first spots, Sara and Zach both took second which meant no one-upmanship on the journey home, and Sara Barman and Tim took third.
IB ran the St Neots Half with a PB, Helen MB and Ilaria both were chuffed with their sub-hour 10k times and Lucy, Chris, Clare and Alan made us all jealous and mark the dates in our calendars for next year taking part in the Beaujolais Half in Ville Franche, just North of Lyon.
Lucy will soon be totting up the results of our 2025 Marathon Championship and those in with a chance next year having won ballot places with the club are Nicole, Darren and Susie.
Sussex and Malaga
We have 28 DPR members heading out to Sussex on 5-7 December for our club weekend away for the Sussex Downs Trail Run. While our group booking at our youth hostel is now full, it is still possible to join us at the race as a day trip from London – you can enter here https://www.ukrunningevents.co.uk/events/trail-runs/sussex-downs-trail-run-2025 and use discount code DulwichRunners_15 for 15% off. You can also still enter the Malaga Marathon or Half Marathon on 14th December where an unknown number of DPR members are running – will the same number come back as go?!
Presents?!
Why not put some merch on your list for Santa? The range includes underlayers, sweatshirts, hoodies, training tops, shorts, jackets and hats – all of which you can get personalised! Order here – the merch complements our official club t-shirts and vests which we like you to wear for events when you’re representing DPR (and which you can order more of via Mark!)
You could also check out our amazing list of partners for a pressie – lots of good discounts in there including a new one from Solomon Canevaro Physiotherapy (10% off your first session) and a free first yoga session from Hotpod Dulwich.
Remember if you want to join Improvers on a Thursday we are on the track every week at 715pm – get in touch with Susan for more info and for any coaching advice!
We are also looking for Sunday Social Run Volunteers to join our 2026 scheduled list of people who might like to lead a 5 mile run. Suggesting longer routes is welcome but it would be good to include transport points along the way so people can drop in and out, and ideally somewhere for coffee afterwards. Get in touch with Darren if you’ve got an idea! This week’s route begins at the Dulwich Park cafe at 930 – all speeds and levels of fitness welcome, no one runs on their own. Join the what’s app to find out more!
Finally don’t let working late on a Tuesday stop you coming for a run – remember there’s changing rooms in the clubhouse and if you need to store anything there are lockers in the women’s changing room (just bring a lock) and we also have some space in our (new, exciting!) locked cupboard.
Meet a Member
Our Parkrun Ladder King, who is the real Chris Ince?
What got you into DPR?
Clare was running with DPR and I used to tag along to the picnics with the kids and then joined myself and haven’t looked back.
What do you like about it?
It’s a great pickup place to prey on the weak and insecure like ****** and ****** (editorial decision to redact…..)
What do you most enjoy listening to when you run?
Darren, or casual chats with people. In general I don’t talk and run at the same time!
What is your next running goal?
As I type the Beaujolais wine half marathon in 2 days. Then the horror of the south downs half in December. I have also got a place for Valencia Half next year!
What is your fave post-run meal?
Ketamine and cocaine. Oh, sorry post-run not during. Pizza xx.