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D.R.A.M (DUNDEE RUNNING ADVENTURE MARATHON)

SATURDAY, 20TH SEPTEMBER 2008

An excellent turnout at this event allowed two ERN relay teams and two individual runners to take part. This was a genuinely different race but very enjoyable being on trails, paths, pavements and roads and going through woods, urban and rural areas, beach front and docks. Well marshalled and supported, everyone had an excellent day out with the relay teams in under 4.30 and Phil Humphries winning a prize for first male veteran and third overall – congratulations and well done to all.

Murdo wrote: "Everyone met up around 9am at Camperdown Country Park, just to the North of Dundee where you had to sign on and collect your race number and pins. There was a short delay waiting for marshals and first-aiders before we got a short briefing from the race organiser and headed to the start beside the mansion house. The first few miles were through Camperdown firstly on roads then on trails as we crossed the main road into Templeton woods and on to Clatto Country Park. Fi and Gillian kept me company on this leg, Phil having long disappeared into the distance – he’s some machine at the moment. This was a lovely section, mostly uphill but the legs were still fresh. We passed a lovely pond with swans and ducks at Trottick Mill Ponds Local Nature Reserve but as I didn’t take a photo, Fi suggested that we draw it later. All the junctions were marshalled by Police, Air Training Corps cadets or motorcycle riders with stewarded waterstops every 4 miles or so. The later ones had Haribo sweeties as well (nice touch). We continued on a variety of paths and cycle-paths past Mitchelin windmills (8 miles) to the changeover at Sainsbury’s car park where Fiona and Jo were waiting.

Following the hand-over of the key rings (instead of a baton), we left following mostly on pavements through some nice areas of urban Dundee to Broughty Ferry, nice area with some lovely seaside architecture, crossing over a railway bridge and down onto the shore side walkway. This was particularly attractive part of the route with the Tay on our left as we ran back to Dundee via Broughty Ferry. We reached the halfway point at the “Glass Pavilion” restaurant in just over two hours and then on to Broughty Castle (obligatory photo stop) then on past the Tay Yacht Club towards the dock area and the next changeover. Jo and Fiona were wondering where the next-leg runners were but they’d only moved on to get a better parking and changeover point although that didn’t stop Jo having a shout!

Elaine and Ely took over at this point and on we went through the redeveloped dock area past new flats, H.M Frigate Unicorn and R.R.S Discovery (obligatory photo stop) on to the waterfront and past the Tay bridges, onto pavements and past the University playing fields, Dundee Airport and Riverside Nature Park (21 miles) before turning inland (and upwards!) towards the Technology Park and following paths beside the Kingsway city bypass before turning into Camperdown Country Park (25 miles) and again through the trees to the finish at Camperdown House. As we approached, we heard the cheers of the other runners in the ERN teams who joined us for the last 50 metres – brilliant. We all finished under the four and a half hour mark which was the aim and we found out that Phil had finished around the 3.13 mark which is a fantastic but ridiculously fast time given the varied terrain and the (humply) nature of the course.

We stayed behind for the prize giving but this was delayed as the organizer was also taking finishing times. Fi gave me a Caramel Wafer – yummy – as we waited. Eventually, he went into the event caravan to pore over the results and emerged to hand out the prizes. Phil was awarded the first male veteran prize, although not until after the results were subject to a steward enquiry, and received a nice engraved cube memento. Fantastic achievement and well deserved. God only knows what time he’ll do in Amsterdam!

Many thanks to the D.R.A.M organizers for an excellent and different event; we all enjoyed it and hopefully will be back next year. Also thanks to all the marshals; Police, Cadets, stewards and motorcyclists as well as the many people out on the road (some with jelly-babies!) who supported and cheered the runners."

Some photos below:

Sign on here

The marshals had some excellent transport

Fiona and Jo

Elaine, Fi and Jo

Ely, Fiona and Gillian

Murdo, Phil and Donald

Waiting to go

The start and finish point

We're away and Phil takes an early lead

All gone

Fi and Gillian with Dundee windmills in the distance

Change over at Sainsbury's

The shore

Jo and Fiona at Broughty Castle photo-stop

Phil, cruising at mile 17ish

The second change over (eventually)

Ely and Elaine by the Tay

Thought this was a race? Elaine and Ely at RRS Discovery

Couldn't resist. Who said that there were no poets in Dundee (apart from McGonagall)

Meanwhile, Phil is in the Park heading for the finish

Phil finishing

Phil's just crossed the line. Wow!

Some time later, back in the woods at Camperdown Country Park, not far to go now

Elaine and Ely at 26 miles

Ely, Elaine and Murdo joined at the finish by Fi, Gillian and Jo

The finish

Jo, Fi and Elaine at the finish with medals

Gillian, Fiona and Ely at the finish

Gillian and Ely

Phil and Murdo with medals

Prize giving

Congratulations as Phil gets his award for first male veteran finisher -well deserved.

Phil's Award

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