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A response from Kerrie who helped co-ordinate the club’s first ever entry into the Round Norfolk Relay.
17 Stages – 198 Miles
Cycle Support – Car Support
Time Keepers – Awesome Team Organisers
“A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the Round Norfolk Relay a big success. To all those who came out and watched at various stages and changeover points, the support crew of cyclists and car drivers for keeping all the runners safe, not an easy job on the Norfolk roads with some impatient drivers and to all the runners who had nerves to start with, excitement and the willing to run some crazy distances and at various times of the day. Each stage had its challenges and you all did such an amazing job.
Without each and every one of you Lucy and I could never have been able to pull off such a successful event.
I love seeing all the photos, the emotion, happiness and exhaustion – such great memories for the club of our first RNR.
We should be so proud, I see us as a small club (compared to many of the Norwich clubs) and we managed to not only put together a team of 17 runners, but a vast support crew too, not easy when you are asking somebody to drive for 2 1/2 hours during the night at a runners pace.
Lucy and I are very grateful to you all.
Shall we do it all again next year – 100% YES”
Official Results:
Stage 1: Kings Lynn to Hunstanton – Ana – 2:15:16
Stage 2: Hunstanton to Burnham Overy – Lorrain – 1:54:33
Stage 3: Burnham Overy to Wells-next-the-Sea – Cam – 50:59
Stage 4: Wells-next-the-Sea to Cley – Shane – 1:38:20
Stage 5: Cley to Cromer – Kyle – 1:29:03
Stage 6: Cromer to Mundesley – Will – 1:04:15
Stage 7: Mundesley to Lessingham – Stuart – 1:14:05
Stage 8: Lessingham to Horsey – Kevin S – 59:17
Stage 9: Horsey to Belton – And – 2:07:36
Stage 10: Belton to Earsham – Andy – 2:58:53
Stage 11: Earsham to Scole – Kevin H – 1:34:05
Stage 12: Scole to Thetford – David C – 2:24:17
Stage 13: Thetford to Feltwell – Tara – 1:44:27
Stage 14: Feltwell to Wissington – Alex – Stage cancelled due to police incident
Stage 15: Wissington to Downham Market – Gemma – 1:37:45
Stage 16: Downham Market to Stowbridge – Anna – 47:13
Stage 17: Stowbridge to Kings Lynn – Rob – 1:38:04
Total Time: 26:18:08

Stockholm Half Marathon

Unofficial result (Strava)
Stuart W – 1:57:12

Great North Run

Official Results:
Cat C – 2:33:25
Lynne – 2:52:55
Angie – 3:28:14

Gritstone Grind 35 miles

On Sunday 3rd September I took on “Gritstone Grind”, a  35-mile race on the Gritstone Trail from Kidsgrove to Disley. The race name is very appropriate as you really have to grind your way through very long and very steep hills and often on adverse camber. Just as you think you’ve reached the top, there’s another hill around the corner waiting to be tackled! I like running on hills including uphills but didn’t find any during this race that I could manage so I hiked up those parts. The hiking itself especially over rocky terrain felt like doing creative lunges! The spectacular views of Cheshire made some of the climbs all worthwhile. The downhills helped me catch up with myself and attempt to meet all the 4 cutoffs. Lucky for me, the cutoffs were generous!

What made the race additionally tough was how hot it was on the day. Full sunshine all day was not easy to contend with. I managed my hydration quite well with water, Tailwind, coke, and some espresso and a Calippo that Tim got ready for me at a time when I was flagging mainly because of the heat. Tim was there to crew me at the points crew were allowed and knowing that I would be seeing him en route and of course at the end, was a great feeling.

Nutritionwise I could have done better. I couldn’t eat much on the uphills as I had to often ensure that I didn’t lose my balance. I was running the downhills at a fast-ish pace so eating was not preferred during these stretches either. I opted to eat on the flattish parts. Quavers, cheese biscuits and cheese blocks which I was carrying with me were the right choice.

My shoe choice for the race worked marvels. I was wearing my inov8 xtalon. It was the first time I had them in a race. They were excellent on rocky terrain and gravel and narrow paths near waterways as the grip on them were excellent making some of the more difficult downhills actually easy to run on.

I had some difficult moments during the race where I questioned what I was doing and why I was doing it especially when I saw people relaxing in their gardens and even in their private jacuzzis! But here I was on a mission to conquer the Gritstone Trail.  And conquer it I did 🏃🏻‍♀️

11:34:53

Harling 10k

Official Result:
Michelle – 1:02:21.4

Wissey Half Marathon

Unofficial Results (Strava):
Marie P – 2:13.0
Hayley – 2:26.0
Karrie – 2:26.0

Official Results:
Ant – 19:28.2
David C – 20:00.0
Kevin H – 20:33.9
Rob – 22:40.2
Paul – 22:56.7
Will – 23:53.8
Nita – 26:56.7
Michelle – 28:53.2

Official Results:
Rob – 24:42.7
Will – 25:55.1
Nita – 29:14.4
Michelle – 30:43.1
Debbie – 32:12.3

Worstead 5

Official Results:
David C – 00:32:37.3
Ant – 33:33.9
Rob – 37:55.2
Paul – 38:55.5
Will – 39:33.1
Paula – 39:44.0
Lucy Mc – 44:35.0
Hayley – 45:48.6
Marie P – 46:38.2
Nita – 46:43.4
Kerrie – 48:00.7
Michelle – 49:43.1
Deb – 51:37.6

Norwich Pride 5k

Unofficial Result:
David R – 19:25 – 1st place

Thanks to Nur for her report this weekend:

This event will always remain special to me as it was the first ever race my son participated in. We each ran at our own pace. I was very happy to meet my target of finishing in under 29 mins but I was even happier to see my son pacing himself all the way and finishing well before me. Above everything else his participation in the event made me very proud.

The course was spectacular, especially at the start when the course took us under the Sydney Harbour bridge and in the second half when we ran along the promenade in Barangaroo, with the Opera House coming into full view as the course took us back under the harbour bridge for a second time as we approached the finish line. So glad the event coincided with our visit to Sydney.

Gun time 28:46

Thanks to Chris & Ceri for a parkrun report from Singapore:

Bishan Park parkrun, Singapore
A parkrun in Singapore was not what Ceri and I had originally planned – that was supposed to be the Singapore Masters International Track and Field event in which I was entered for the 100m, 200m and 400m and Ceri had entered for the 400m and 800m. But Singapore weather can be extreme and 82% of an expected month’s rainfall in a morning puts paid to lots of things!

So, instead, it was an early start on Saturday at the beautiful Bishan Park because parkrun in Singapore – and there are three of them – starts at 7.30am while the temperature is still in the low 30s. However, it’s the 85% humidity, rather than just the heat, that finishes you off. And for me, I don’t do distance anymore, just sprinting and never more than 400m – so 5k is well out of my comfort zone even when it’s cool. So the two laps were tough. Nevertheless, we got round, with our son Owain – who lives in Singapore – finishing 3rd overall while Ceri was first in her age group and I was second.

And then it was hydration, hydration, hydration and a cab back to Owain’s apartment to lie down!