close
close
darbo

Runners compete in the marathon in the former prison

Posted on by Nargang
Runners compete in the marathon in the former prison

David Andrewartha. He has short brown hair, wears purple glasses, a black tracksuit top and a pumpkin-shaped medal around his neck. Behind him is a red brick building with metal grills on the window

David Andrewartha wins morning race (BBC)

Hundreds of runners took part in a marathon in a former prison.

Dorchester Prison is hosting two races, one on Saturday morning and the second after dark, where competitors will run around 60 laps across four floors.

Up to 115 people have signed up for the morning race and around 100 have signed up for the night race – some are set to tackle both.

Runner David Andrewartha from Cornwall said he “cried a bit” after winning the morning race in a time of four hours and 24 minutes, adding: “It’s the first thing I’ve ever won.”

Before the race, Mr Andrewartha told BBC Radio Solent: “I don’t know what kind of training you have to do for this sort of thing. I did a lot of step training, a lot of hills.”

The Green Mile, named after the Stephen King novel and American film about a death row inmate, is organized by Sussex Trail Events, which hosts marathons in unusual locations including Southend Pier and a multi-storey car park in Worthing.

A large L-shaped red brick structure. One side of the building is shaped like an entrance to a chapel and has large windows at the top. There are doors where five or so people are standing on the steps.A large L-shaped red brick structure. One side of the building is shaped like an entrance to a chapel and has large windows at the top. There are doors where five or so people are standing on the steps.

The event took place at Dorchester Prison (BBC)

Mr Andrewartha competed in both the wharf and car park races, along with the Shepton Mallet Prison Marathon, which he ran twice.

He said: “There are lots of corridors and the beauty of it is when you get to one of the floors you can see other prisoners, I mean runners.

“You can always see people while running. You won’t know where you are in the pack because there are so many people around you.

“It confuses you a bit and I like the mental challenge of it.

Interior of Dorchester Gaol. It is composed of three levels, with metal grating covering each balcony floor.Interior of Dorchester Gaol. It is composed of three levels, with metal grating covering each balcony floor.

Dorchester Prison was closed in 2013 (BBC)

“The mental challenge of going in circles and trying not to get bored is a challenge in itself.

“I’ve done so many different events that running from A to B seems boring now.”

Sussex Trail Events recently asked runners for their “craziest marathon” ideas, such as “on a roundabout, block, football field or track” for an April Fools Day race in 2025.

Chris Ette, one of the race organizers, said: “We’re always looking for new places and we’re always asking runners for ideas and trying to make it happen.”

Dorchester Prison closed in 2013 and was bought by City and Country for £3.25 million, but plans to convert it into homes have stalled.

Since then the prison has been used as an Airsoft venue, film location and has hosted slumber parties, ghost tours and comedy nights.

You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter)or Instagram.

More on this story

Related links