Category: Race Report

This year, due to the strange situation the planet finds itself in, the RntS 5 Mile Beach Run needed to be handled a little differently.

To allow for social distancing and to adhere to EA rules, the participants set off in groups of no more than 6 runners, based on their speed, at timed intervals.  This meant, with the fastest runners heading off first, there would be as little overtaking and grouping as possible.

Following a Saturday of high winds and heavy rain, the RntS God was smiling upon us and delivered a blue sky, sunshine and a bit of a breeze.  Recent weather meant parts of the course were muddy and slippery, but the majority was OK (if you can call sand, water and sand dunes OK!).

As with last year, entrants were asked to donate to the Royal British Legion seeing as we’re once again close to remembrance weekend and that the poppy collectors will be far and few between this year.

The total collection amount raised was £183.  Great work everyone. 👍

Official Times:
Daniel – 1:25:06.4
Rob – 1:49:50.4
Katie – 1:52:58.3
David H – 2:00:01.1
Nita – 2:12:10.9

“It was great to be back at an event…morning butterflies!!.. I really enjoyed it!!  I think they did a really good job too as we didn’t really make contact with anyone…was kinda surreal!!.. I think I saw about 3 other runners all day!!.. good fun though!!..”
Daniel (Bib 12)

“On arriving they had 3 designated car parks all free of charge so plenty of spaces for all. On walking to the event you had to be masked and hand sanitise on arrival to the start line.. ID was checked randomly- I was one of the people who was checked. Numbers were ticked off.  As you prepared to set off. Rolling start meant you could start at any point within your 20min time frame – this was actually quite nice as you could take your time and not feel rushed or pressured!  I only actually overtook 4 people in the whole race and only had 2 people overtake me. It was well organised.  Drinks station half way around with bottles of water.  Marshal’s were good but few and far between so although it was a race it was quite mentally draining as you pretty much did the whole half marathon alone with no music and very few people to motivate you around the course.  On finishing you collected your medal and water and then had to head straight back to your car.”
Katie (Bib 284)

“I had wondered what the atmosphere would be like, how this would work in a covid-safe way, and how if would ‘feel’. My first, and only, problem was toilet facilities prior to running (arrived early, and Rob was 2 waves ahead if me..) as I didn’t want to go down to the start early, and wasn’t sure what public facilities were open. Start was awesome, felt very safe, good to do a few zig zags on the field as probably wasnt fully warmed up… But set off well, loved having no queues for the loo, and a clean start, no issues being mixed up with runners who don’t end up in the ‘right’ time wave. Marshaling was great, all friendly, and helpful . Loved the run, was good running in space at the start, this made up for not having close runners later on to use as unofficial pacers Water bottle bins were great… Virtually no litter… Awesome for the environment and the clean up teams… Runs should always do this…? The course was awesome, had i known what it was like in terms of hilly-for-norfolk I wouldn’t have even tried for a PB….as it was I shaved a minute off my previous so was v. happy. The clean start helped but so did my improved running with my fellow RntS. I’d be very happy to run again under similar rules, there are advantages, and the happy marshaling teams made up for the lack of cheering crowds, spectators were sensible and i never felt it was too crowded or ‘unsafe’ Massive well done to the organisers, and thanks to the marshaling teams. I’m not sure my legs will recover for a week… I’ve not run uphill like that, that often, in a race before, and particularly for the finish!!”
Nita (Bib 496)

First handicap back in the park for the year that won’t be forgotten!

A fantastic turnout by the RntS for the virtual Ekiden relay. With no less than 8 teams entering 47 members of the club took part.

Each team consisted of 6 runners (3 x 5km, 1 x 7.2km and 2 x 10km) who combined ran 42.2km (26.2 miles).

Here are the results from our entries:

RntS Team 1 – (Mixed Class)
Lynne, Nikki, Alex M, Denise, Julie & Robert Mc – 4:08:12

RntS Team 2 – Ant’s in your pants (Mixed Class)
Alex C, Hayley M, Daniel, Shane, Ant & Paula – 2:50:48

RntS Team 3 – Are we there yet? (Mixed class)
Paul, Lorraine, Cam, Amanda, Kevin & Katie – 3:11:18

RntS Team 4 – (Ladies Open Class)
Kerrie, Tasha, Sophie, Kirsty, Jodie H & Chloe – 4:27:47

RntS Team 5 – (Over 60s Class)
Chris P, Chris L, Bob H, Bob L, Seb & Keith – 4:02:26

RntS Team 6 – (Ladies Super Vet Class)
Alison, Teresa, Angie, Lucy, Susie & Evette – 4:44:13

RntS Team 7 – (Mixed class)
Cat, Steve, Glyn, Kel, Jodie Mc & Kevin S – 3:26:40

RntS Team 8 – (Mixed Class)
Hayley J, Lisa, John, Mark, Kevin S & Libby – 3:46:31

A note from Robin Belsom the organiser:
Many thanks to those who have already sent in their results. Please understand that a colleague and I had to type in all the results in to a spreadsheet, so with such a large entry it took us some time. All those sent in  emails have now been updated. Whilst the results can be viewed they are NOT complete

• If you spot any errors then please email results@ipswichekiden.co.uk and state the team name and number, runner name and the correct time
• If you have results to send in then please send them in as soon as you can. Do not delay waiting for evidence of times, we just want the times so we can finalise the results.
• Several people have queried the leg order in the results display.  This follows the format of the race, ie leg 1 is 7.2km, legs 2 4 and 6 are any 5km leg and 3 and 5 are any 10km. We will publish fastest leg times but for all the 5km legs combined and all the 10km legs combined. To repeat it doesn’t matter which way round the 5km runners appear in your results, as long as they completed a 5km, and the same for a 10km.
• The provisional results can be viewed via this link: https://1drv.ms/x/s!AmLc15MAfOxWjntHchGJBsReSQev?e=6dJ513

I must confess as having completely underestimated the potential entry for this race. I expected 100 teams, and we finished with nearly 450 including the juniors. Our results team, of Gav Davies and I were rather overwhelmed by the enormous number of emails, hence the delay in responding to you.

Please pass on my thanks to all those who took part. The idea was to provide a motivation in these difficult times to get out there and simulate a race and it has been incredibly rewarding to hear how many of you have embraced the event. Lets hope that we can get back out there and stage the event for real in 2021. Thanks to all those who have made a donation to the East Anglia Air Ambulance and to any other local charities and to Ellisons Solicitors of Ipswich and Colchester for their sponsorship. Once again the running community has demonstrated its commitment to our sport and support for charities.

Best wishes

Robin.