Back in 2024 I attempted Dalby’s Inferno and managed 8 out of the 10 laps. The laps are now 5.5km around the beautiful Dalby forest and feature a mix of running conditions including some quite steep trail.
Training for Dalby is tough in Selby as we have no hills and this was definitely what I struggled with the first time around. At the end I resolved that I would try again but the following year the organisers upped the distance to 12 x 5k laps which I thought was too far.
This year Neil Ryan, my husband, turned 50 and so we though that as his birthday was in June it would be great to have another go.
This time I took the training more seriously and increased my miles and incorporated the Barff and Hough to get some gradients in.
On the day the weather was a bit rubbish with wind and lots of persistent rain.
Neil sailed around making it look easy and I felt OK up until lap 7 when I started to get very fatigued. Beverley turned up to offer encouragement, and she tried valiantly to persuade me I could manage lap 8 but I was hungry tired and convinced myself I couldn’t.
I sat out lap 8 and then managed laps 9 and 10 – completing 9 out of the 10 laps making a total distance of 50km.
I was pleased I did better than my first attempt but a little disappointed I didn’t do the whole race, maybe I’ll have another go in the future!
