It’s Sunday 22nd September, 07.00hrs and my alarm brings me out of my slumber. As I gather myself it is then that I remember the significance of the day. Suddenly I am overcome with a degree of fear and trepidation as to what was about to follow. What have I done ? What possessed me ? Why did I agree to do this ? Step forward 3 hours and there I am standing on the start line at Coltishall Jaguars 10k along with Angie, Tasha, Chris L, Teresa, Marie, Shirley, Claire & Lucy M with all of us being supported by Mark & Emma. For most, if not all, reading this it was just another Sunday and just another race but for me it was something very special – my first 10k. Perhaps I should just mention for those that don’t know me that I only started running earlier this year with the RNTS C25K so to now be running a 10k race is almost unbelievable for me. But I DID IT I guess it’s customary to give a weather report for the day (that being fine & sunny with a light breeze) but to be honest I was more concentrated on what was about to come. The race director gave the countdown to start and we were off, no turning back, no chickening out, put those “I can’t do this” thoughts out of my head and GO. I DID IT Mo Farah can rest easy, he won’t need to be looking over his shoulder to see where I am ! I am just so pleased that I managed to complete the distance without stopping or walking. The time wasn’t at all important to me, it was all about completion. Have I mentioned that I DID IT ? I know I DID IT but a huge amount of thanks must go to all those responsible for organising the C25K and all those members who were there week in week out giving us all so much support and encouragement leading up to the graduation run in July and that support continues to this day. THANK YOU I was coerced into running by Angie & Tasha and to be honest I didn’t foresee it being something that would continue beyond the C25K but I can now say that I am bitten by the bug, I enjoy the training (well some of it) and actually look forward to the park runs. Long may it all continue. Oh and as for running my first 10K – just to be clear – I DID IT ???♂️?♂️
Kevin B
Official Times: Chris L – 1:00:45.8 Tasha – 1:06:03.7 Lucy Mc – 1:06:56.7 Kevin B – 1:13:52.9 Claire – 1:24:25.3 Angie – 1:24:26.3 Teresa – 1:24:27.5 Shirley – 1:33:02.6 Marie – 1:33:03.2
Just before 9.00, bright, sunny and surprisingly warm, and
Ceri has dropped us off in Burnham Overy Staithe. She sets off back to Wells to
open up the Sailing Club, where there will be a feed station, before she heads
off to the Beach Café to marshal.
We are some of the first to get there so there’s no queue
for registration so we soon have our race numbers pinned on, not quite straight
as usual. We wait outside and soon others start arriving until there’s enough
for a team photograph – and already there are a few RntS supporters with us.
Then it’s off to the car park for Kevin’s race briefing –
keep the sea on your left and you can’t go wrong, go whatever way you like
through the dunes, and follow the acorn signs (wherever they may be).
And then the countdown and a couple of hundred runners wind
their way down to the coast path and along the quite narrow hardcore track to
the dunes. Some people choose to follow the fence, but that’s a bit too much
like running through a links golf course for my liking, so I head through the
dunes. I think a few even head onto the beach! Fools, I think, do they know
what that’s like?
But soon we are in Holkham Bay and pause for a drink at the
Lookout before heading on to the beach café for hugs with Ceri and Angie and
high fives from Tasha. Then it’s on to East Quay past Niall and Abbi – and then
we have to think about our form because that’s Teresa and Becky ahead with a
camera. Another drink at the feed station and then on to Stiffkey. The strong
easterly wind is now really strong in our faces and at the same time it’s
feeling hotter.
More friendly faces await us – Amanda and Suzie are at the
entrance to the car park and Mark, Cat and Keith are ready to give us more water
and more hugs!
And then we are on to the last stretch to Morston Quay –
including a short walk because my left calf hurts. Oh, and my right knee too.
My toe feels sore to – in fact what doesn’t hurt right now. “No sprint finish
today”, my running partner says, but still we do manage to accelerate towards
the finish line, our medals, and our shirts.
And of course, there are RntS there to cheer us and offer
more hugs – and then we wait for Kerrie and Lynne’s daughter Emma to come in
just after us. The marathon folk arrive a while later. For Shane it’s his first
marathon, for Lorraine and Hayley it’s their first trail marathon, while for
Lucy it’s just the first event of a weekend of running! Meanwhile, of course,
Paula has set off much too fast again, somehow managed to sustain it and is
already eating cake.
How will I ever manage the marathon I have booked for April? Still it was such a beautiful run that only a cool and still day with perhaps an occasional gentle drizzle could have improved!
Chris P
Official Times: Marathon: Lorraine – 4:33:20 Hayley M – 4:33:19 Shane – 4:52:47 Lucy Mc – 5:19:50
Half Marathon: Paula – 2:01:48 Chris P – 2:44:14 Robert – 2:44:14 Kerrie -2:46:24
Extra shout to Glyn for tail running/walking – 8:21:48 (time as that of final finisher)
Well done to Kerrie, Lucy Mc and Nita who took part in the Simplyhealth Great North Run today. Well done guys. ?
Lucy’s report: “What a weekend. My third time taking part in this iconic race. But for me it’s not a race, it’s all about the charities and soaking up the atmosphere. Myself, Kerrie and Alan camped at Souter lighthouse on the Saturday night,which was freezing. The beautiful sunrise on Sunday morning more than made up for our chilly night. We got on the shuttle bus at 7.30 and were dropped near the start where we had about a mile walk through some fields of cows to get down onto the motorway. Time went very quickly here even though we had a while until our 10.40 start. After bag drops, celebrity spotting and checking out the great costumes people were attempting to run in 10.15 came and we headed to the pens for our warm up. It took nearly 30 mins to cross the start line but there were massive TV screens to watch everyone on which made time go quick. I’d made sure we were on the left side of the motorway for us to head into the tunnels to experience the ,’oggy oggy oggy’. I’ve always started on this side missing out on seeing the red arrows flying over in previous years but it’s good fun.
I was expecting it to be cooler than previous years but it was very warm. We started well and got into a really comfortable pace, but by mile 8 the heat was taking its toll and the steady long inclines mixed with dodging other runners was tiring us. We eased back and just kept our legs steadily ticking over. The last straight is a welcome sight, and coming to the top of the last hill and seeing the sea is the best feeling. The last mile is always emotional for me. The amount of support all the way round is amazing, there are literally people every step of the way offering food and drink,but the last stretch is very special. People just watching the race, people from other charity support groups are just all shouting your name. When the
Race clock came into sight and I could see it said 2 hours 58 mins I grabbed Kerrie’s hand and we ran over the line together. A great feeling and even better with my running buddy. We had hoped for about 2hours 30 and we came in at 2hours 30 and 56 seconds. A great experience and one I recommend for anyone. Yes it’s not a pb course although many do get one it is a race that is just so special and worth doing even just once.”
Official Times: Kerrie – 2:30:57 Lucy Mc – 2:30:57 Nita – 2:37:40
A very enjoyable night (blessed with some warm and sunny weather) for the first time the Runners-next-the-Sea have been invited to take part in the Bintree Relay Challenge.
An invite only event, it’s a fun event made up of teams from local running clubs. This year we had 5 (well, 4.75) teams from RntS, racing alongside 2 from Reepham Runners, 1 from NNBR and 8 from Dereham Runners.
The setup sounds more complicated than it is: 4 members of each team, each tun a 2.5km (approx) lap passing on a baton at the start/finish line. After each persons lap, the runners then distribute themselves at quarter lap points around the track. So the fourth runner finishes the full lap, then passes the baton to a runner waiting a the start who runs the first quarter, to meet with someone who runs to half, who then passes to the next person who runs to the three quarter mark and the person there then finishes the race.
This way, there is a final ‘dash’ section for each runner.
RntS teams came 8, 10, 12, 15 and 16, but due our great turnout and number of attendees, we came Second as a club.
Hopefully we’ll be able to go back next year as it was a very enjoyable evening.
Click the below for the full size image of the results:
My time was 46.24. 14th male over 40, 85th over all. Nita did it in 58.31. 14th female over 40, 174th overall. 209 competitors, winning time 29.56. Regards Rob and Nita
