The race is a joint venture between Dorchester RIOT running club, Dorchester Lions, Dorchester Rugby Football Club and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club. All the money raised goes to local charities. We hope this event will be a regular in the running and fund-raising calendar for years to come.

We encourage runners of all abilities and experience to take part, with a choice of two distances, a generous cut off time, plenty of aid stations and trophies for the winners in various categories.

About the routes….

Running through the stunning landscape immortalised by the famous writer Thomas Hardy, the Hardy Half's will take you on a tour of this fantastic area of Dorset countryside.

The majority of both the longer and shorter courses are trail, with some challenging terrain. The longer route gives around 1400 feet of elevation to climb. Road sections will be on closed for your safety, with generous cut off times.  During the longer run you will pass through the picturesque village of Martinstown and circle Hardys Monument where you will be treated to far reaching views. This monument is dedicated to another famous Hardy, Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, a man made famous for being at the side of Nelson at the point of his untimely death on HMS Victory at the battle of Trafalger. The route heads down into Hells Bottom, appropriately named as you then turn to climb back towards Dorchester.  Both routes will include a final climb of the western side of Britain's largest Iron Age fort, Maiden Castle, before finishing back at the rugby club for a well earned refreshment or two.