Zoe Takes on the Duchy an Dinas 5 Miler
What do you get when you mix 5 miles, 1,000ft of elevation, Cornish countryside, and a dash of Bon Jovi? A race that’s anything but “little”. This weekend, Carn Runner Zoe took on the Duchy an Dinas 5 Miler, a small but mighty event starting and finishing at the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery in Lostwithiel.
With fewer than 100 runners lining up, it had all the hallmarks of a classic Cornish challenge: hilly, scenic, friendly, and slightly sadistic in places.
A Fast Start with a Catch
The race begins innocently enough with a rapid downhill through the valley — the kind of start that tricks you into thinking, “this is going to be great.” But as every Cornish runner knows, what goes down must come back up. And in this case, the uphill stretch to Restormel Castle came sooner rather than later.
Zoe described it perfectly: a tough climb that rewards you with incredible views and a loop around the castle itself. Once at the top, runners enjoy a brief reprieve — a downhill stretch into Restormel Woods where legs can recover, if only temporarily.
Hill. After Hill. After Hill.
As Zoe soon found out, that downhill calm is short-lived. The course throws in hill after hill — three in quick succession that test every ounce of strength (and humour). By the third climb, her face apparently said everything (photo evidence pending 🙃).
Just as she was finding her rhythm, a momentary distraction from some dog walkers led to an unexpected detour — a quick wrong turn followed by, of course, another uphill correction. Classic Cornish chaos.
Still, Zoe powered on, fuelled by determination, grit, and the promise of the finish line.
Bon Jovi, Marshals, and the Final Sting
True to form, Cornish races know how to lift spirits. With “Livin’ on a Prayer” blasting halfway round, Zoe found the perfect anthem to keep her going. Friendly marshals lined the route, offering smiles and encouragement just when runners needed it most.
As the nursery came back into view, one cheerful marshal called out “last one now!” — a phrase that, in hindsight, should have come with a disclaimer. Zoe powered up the hill, expecting a glorious downhill finish… only to be sent out the back and up another bloomin’ climb.
Running purely on stubbornness and humour, she found one last surge, overtook two runners on the final hill, and finally enjoyed the well-earned descent to the finish.
Crossing the Line
Zoe crossed the line completely spent but grinning from ear to ear — because no matter how steep the climbs or how many “last hills” appear, there’s nothing quite like earning that medal at the end.
Her takeaway? The Duchy an Dinas 5 Miler might be small in numbers, but it’s huge in character — tough, scenic, brilliantly organised, and full of local charm.
Huge congratulations, Zoe — you conquered every hill, every twist, every unexpected detour, and you did it with humour and heart. That’s what being a Carn Runner is all about. 💛💙
