24th/25th September 2005

The Round Norfolk Relay is a 191.19 mile continuous relay race around the circumference of Norfolk.  Probably the biggest relay event the Striders have done since the days of the Suffolk relay event years ago (before my time!).  Being continuous, the race goes through the night and aims to finish between 9 to 10am on the Sunday morning.  Each runner has a convoy of support with a cyclist each and a team support vehicle in attendance.  Through the night, this vehicle was required to stick with the runner complete with flashing orange light.  The logistics of getting the runners and cyclist to the start proved to be a tough challenge in itself.  Needless to say, the organisation went very well and the taking part and completion of this race was a very proud moment for the Striders. 

TEAM RESULTS

RACE REPORTS

Instead of me writing pages on my experiences of the Round Norfolk Relay (and I could!) it would be nice if each of the runners / cyclist / drivers could write just a paragraph on their leg/experiences for publication below and in the newsletter.  Here are those submitted below:-

Leg 1

It was an early start on a Saturday morning for my support cyclist and myself.  The traffic however was very clear and we made it to King's Lynn in good time.  There we met with Richard, Rose and some of the other Striders.  After a quick warm-up I was on the start line.  I felt pretty nervous, being the first Strider off and not having run this sort of distance since London back in April.  But as soon as I started the nerves disappeared and I settled into a good pace.  It was strange being part of such a big race but at the same time no other runners were in sight.  The route was a multi-terrain one, starting on a cycle path, then pavement, road, cycle path back to road.  All seemed to be going well, then around the 8 mile mark this lovely quiet farm track turned to grass, then over a rather uneven dike.  Things then get a little harder, going over shingle then turning to sandy-shingle then soft sand!  It was really hard on the legs, but it was even worse for Andrew, my support cyclist who ended up giving up trying to cycle and running with bike behind me.  Rose and Co. were at a view point and it was lovely to have some encouragement.  A little while after around the 14 mile point a runner from another club shot past me - it wasn't so much that I was being passed but that he had started 15 minutes after me!!  It was a little disheartning!  Eventually the ground turned to a lovely flat concrete promenade.  At the end it was a quick run up a cliff and along a grassy incline to the lighthouse where I handed over to John and tucked into some well deserved Jelly Babies!  I loved being a part of the team and taking part in a great team event, very different to any other team event I have done.  I hope to get the opportunity to take part in this next year, I have some sandy shingle to conquer again!

Bob

Leg 2

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Leg 3

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Leg 4

I arrived at Wells Next to the Sea with two hours to spare! I was paranoid I would be held up on the journey and miss my start. I sat in the car park watching support vehicles arrive, cheer through their runners and then head off to Salthouse. The excitement was infectious and caused my stomach to slowly become more and more knotted!  With 30 minutes before Jenny was due in, I decided to wake my legs up and settle my nerves by going for a little jog. Soon afterwards Rosie & team arrived and I heard how well everyone was doing and my stomach was in a knot again!  Jenny appeared right on time, the baton was mine and off we went! The first mile and half was along the side of the quay, it was beautiful and other than odd looks from the tourists enjoying the sun I felt great! Justin was keeping a mile check for me, the end of the first mile was right on course, but then the batteries in Navman died and so it was down to guesswork!  The course then left the road and continued on a footpath, underfoot it was slightly rough initially but then rapidly deteriorated to deep mud and puddles, and although I managed to keep hold of my trainers it did suck all the energy out of my muscles! By the time I reached Morston marsh to be greeted by an encouraging Nash family, even though the worse was over my fuel gauge was on empty!  Salthouse seemed nearer 50 than 5 miles, but Justin was a rock, egging me on all the way and pointing out the finish as soon as it was in sight.  As I came into the changeover point I tried to rally one last burst of energy and with a cheer from the supporting striders it was all over and Richard headed off into the distance.  It was an amazing experience to be involved in such a mammoth event, but I have learnt that off road training would have helped! Would I do it again…can’t wait!

Ella

Leg 5

Having been inspired by Tracey to take on a longer leg than my current ability, I blindly took on leg 5 (10.09 miles).  It turned out that this leg ended very close to the holiday cottage my family and I were staying at which was very handy.  However, it appears that I also took on the most hilliest leg too.  Driving the route in reverse to the start of my leg left me stunned with how hilly this leg really was.  Not that anyone believed me at the start!  But they agreed later.  So, daunted by this, and this race being the longest I had run since April 2003 and 4 months of no running over the summer...  (did I miss any excuses!?), I was very nervous at the start.  Ella finished her leg looking very tired and handed the baton over.  I began and the nerves settled immediately.  Keeping to a pace that felt comfortable, rather than to a time, I plodded through the hilly route with Justin Relf cycling behind using all his gears on the hills.  With a couple of water sips, a few cars coming too close for comfort and taking the the sights on route, the miles just slipped away.  Having worked up the last hill, I began the last descent into Cromer.  The cyclist could not follow me down the pedestrian streets and I was pleased to see the route was signposted.  I was even more pleased when I saw Chris and Tracey cheering me on a few hundred meters from the end on the sea front.  With the post box and Jan Starmer in sight, I ran with elation as a host of Striders and other supporters applauded and cheered me to my finish.  I was overwhelmed, though a little tired.  It hits home when Joe Mower (a senior name in the running community for East Anglia) said to me that this was the hardest leg.  If anyone says that Norfolk is flat, let me suggest they run from Salthouse to Cromer!  Even so, I loved it and would do it again... tomorrow!

Richard Nash

Leg 6

The weather was good and we arrived in Cromer with plenty of time before my 4pm start.  As all women I first checked out the toilets and then walked to the start to see a friendly face of Joe Mower the referee.  Then “the girls” arrived.  Jenny, Rose and Helen first then after lots of hooting and shouting Sue, Tracey and Peggy, followed by Katy and family.   I decided it was time for the toilet again and then pinned on my number.   Suddenly I heard Chris shouting that Richard was coming, I threw my sweatshirt off and ran like hell to the start only to be told that Chris had got it wrong.   After a few chosen words with my husband I managed to get my heart rate back to normal and was ready to start.   Richard appeared with a big smile and arms out definitely very pleased to be finishing.   I was off but no Jenny on the bike as Justin had got lost in Cromers one way system.   I knew my route was undulating so decided best not to look up to much and just keep going.   After 10 minutes Jenny caught me up and we continued to climb up and up, eventually I was unable to answer Jenny any more but she kept on encouraging.   Suddenly at the top of the cliffe I could see Sizewell power station but then decided we should be miles away from Sizewell and it was only an observatory but we were at the top.   The final mile was all down hill and I was feeling quite good and even managed to speed up a bit.   I could see the finish ahead and all the smiley faces of many striders.   It was a great feeling handing over to Tracey and I was very pleased to have been part of the team. 

Jan Starmer

Leg 7

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Leg 8

Tracey was due to finish her leg in approximately 1hr and 40 minutes, so time for one last wee... wrong!  Penny ran up the road screaming "She's coming Sue".  I ran out of the hall and sprinted down the road in a mad panic, not a good look, but it was a false alarm.  So off to the loo again and on my return I spotted Tracey approaching, 10 minutes quicker than expected.  She ran towards me, arms held high triumphantly, obviously delighted with her leg of the run.  We exchanged the somewhat sticky baton (only joking) and I ran off down the road feeling really pleased for Tracey and looking forward to the next 10.52 miles.  I had the perfect companion in Jan, my cyclist, chatting away mainly about Tracey's good time and I replied when I could.  It soon became dark and Chris was there to guide my way along the country lanes.  My route followed the coastal road and it was extremely flat, lucky me!  Jan guided me perfectly, she warned of any overtaking and checked on my pace if she felt I had to speed up.  We arrived at the start of leg 9 in 1hr 25 mins, much to my delight as I too had finished quicker.  In the distance was Tracey calling out "Is that you Sue?".  Unable to reply, I waved my arms.  Tracey was still not sure if it was me or someone with a strange running style, she called out again.  This time I replied and she ran off screaming at Penny that I had arrived.  I found Penny ready and waiting, handed her the baton and wished her luck.  It was great fun being part of such a large & well organised team.  I would recommend to any nutter, I mean runner.

Sue

Leg 9

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Leg 10

We were due to leave for Cromer at 1 o’clock so at 12 o’clock I decided it was time to fix the flashing beacon to the car ready for the nights legs, much to Jan’s annoyance.   Only 15 minuets late leaving (that’s not bad for me) got in the way of an ambulance complete with flashing lights but arrived in good time for Jan’s leg from Cromer.  After watching Jan start we drove to Mundesley from where I was on the bike for Tracy.   At the end of Tracy’s leg Jan took over on the bike for Sue’s leg, by which time it had started to get dark so the kids and myself followed in the car complete with flashing beacon.  At the end of Sue’s leg Daniel took over the bike duties, Jan followed in the car and I got a lift to Gt. Yarmouth with Colin Thomas who was to be my cyclist when I ran.   On the way to Gt. Yarmouth I received a phone call from a distraught Jan, I had forgotten to transfer the times from the stopwatch to the sheet which had to be handed in at the end of leg 9 (half way).   The problem was the stopwatch only went up to 10 hours but we were over 12 hours into the race.   Luckily the watch continues from 0 again so adding 10 hours solves the problem.  Arrived at Gt. Yarmouth with about 45 minutes to spare.   I hadn’t eaten much during the day what with the cycling and driving behind runner’s etc, so I was feeling hungry.   My warm up consisted of running to a chip shop to buy a bag of chips and cup of tea.   Standing on the start line I was happy that my training had been up to its usual standard and that I had tapered well. (3 runs in a month due to harvest and work commitments).   Penny hands over the baton at around 9pm and off we go, along the sea front past the docks to join the A143 to Beccles 15 miles away.   I enjoyed the run even though the last 6 miles rose steadily to the finish passing 3 runners before arriving at the change over (a McDonalds) at around 10.45pm.  Jan handed the watch and paperwork over to Jason, who was support car for Nick, while I took Joanne to the toilet in McDonalds (the poor girl had been waiting 3 hours to go).  Jan and the kids grabbed a burger before we took Colin and his bike back to Gt. Yarmouth to collect his car.  On the way home we managed to get to Scole just in time to see Nick hand over to Roger at about 1am arriving home at around 2am.  Sunday morning the alarm goes off at 6am, check the pigs, eat some breakfast then Daniel and I go to Kings Lynn to see the team finish at approx. 9.15am.  Many thanks to Colin for keeping me supplied with water at regular intervals and Daniel and Joanne for all their help throughout the day.

Chris Starmer

Leg 11

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Leg 12

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Leg 13

People are generally in one of two places at 2.15am on a Sunday morning – either in bed or in Jokers. But I was on the side of the A1066 in Thetford and bizarre it was to. I drove up from Stowmarket and didn’t see a soul until I crossed the roundabout on the A1066 and there, down both sides of the road were dozens of people in reflective tops and an assortment of vehicles with orange flashing lights on them.   Throughout he evening I had received phone calls and texts from other Striders telling me that we were 30 minutes ahead of schedule and to be early, so I was there, at the start of my leg 45 minutes early and had a chance to talk to some of the other clubs who all seemed to have at least two support vehicles, a team manager and various other supporters. All the runners from Biggleswade AC had been up two weeks before to run their legs and the woman doing my leg told me how horrible she had found it.  I looked at my watch it was 3.00am , too late to get to Jokers. Just then Roger galloped in to view, still looking frighteningly fresh after 19 miles and handed me the baton. After a quick well-done & good luck I was away.  John Wankowski was on the bike for my leg and Richard was in the “pace car”.  We headed out of Thetford on the A 134 towards King’s Lynn and John gave me a quick update on events; the team were 30 minutes ahead of schedule and Chris, Nick and Roger had, between them, passed 10 runners. “No pressure then” I said to John.  Every so often we passed lay-bys with usually, a few hardy souls politely clapping and offering encouragement – at 3.30 in the morning – how bizarre. After about six miles we turned left onto minor road and into Thetford Forest . When I volunteered for Leg 13 I didn’t actually check the route so I was a bit perturbed when I found out it went through the forest. I’m not particularly keen on the dark. Well it’s not he dark as such, more the savage wild animals, evil creatures and aliens that you always hear rustling about in the undergrowth.  We turned onto a soft, sandy, undulating, uneven and potholed track through the dark forest. I was glad John was with me on his bike. Just then I heard a thud and a curse, I looked behind and saw John spread-eagled across the track – his road bike couldn’t cope with the sandy track. I didn’t see John again until I was two miles out of the forest. I found out later he’s had to carry his bike because the sand was too soft to ride on. I thought my calf muscles were suffering but John’s must have been worse. Richard tried to stay close in the car but in places he had to weave around pot holes and obstacles.  After a few miles we left the forest – past a lay-by full of supporters and turned back on to the road and towards Weeting and then on the Hockwold where we were greeted by a bunch of clapping and cheering supporters. They were possibly the same one’s that we’d seen before but by now I was starting to suffer and the last three miles felt like the last three of a marathon.  Eventually the lights of RAF Feltwell came into view and I reached the changeover point just by the entrance to base. I handed the baton the baton over to Becky and after a quick well-done & good luck she was away. I will be back next year to run Stage 13 again and to run it quicker.  As Becky headed off into the darkness I was getting a lift with Frank and Rachel to meet Richard at Stage 15. Frank got a flask out of his boot. “Fancy a cup of tea Chris?” he asked. He’d read my mind.

Chris Gladwell

Leg 14

Rachael and I were really pleased that Frank offered to drive us; It took all the stress out of having to find the way and it was nice to doze on the journey. I soon woke up when we got there as the nerves kicked in and I started to ask myself “why am I doing this”. I felt a lot more confident when Andy turned up with his bike, all kitted out with map, light and something for every kind of emergency. Once we were through Feltwell the road was straight and flat to Southery. I quite liked running in the dark but found some of the flashing lights very bright. I really enjoyed being part of the team in such a big event. It is also the only race where I have managed to over take a car!

Becky

Leg 15

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Leg 16

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Leg 17

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Supporters

For 14 years I have been to races with Stowmarket Striders, 14 years! So it was great, after all this time, to be part of the team! I biked leg 9 with Penny. It was getting well into hours of the dark by then so we also had mum in the car following us with our amazing beacon light that blinded you every time you looked behind!  Penny did around an hour and 10 mins (I know runners like to be precise and I’ll probably be in trouble so here is her exact time… 1:08:42 !) pretty impressive if you ask me! I was in charge of the map (not my idea!) so I directed us along the course and we eventually made it onto the sea front at Great Yarmouth. This was the worst part of the leg as I was sure I was supposed to direct Penny off the road and onto a path and, well basically, the path never came! (goes to show how great my map work is!) Finally I could see the change over point. We had made it. I very much enjoyed the whole experience of the Round Norfolk relay and think that the club should enter the event again next year!

Daniel Starmer

RNR does this stand for Rose’s (and Helen’s) Nightmare Runaround?  Being the conscientious type, I decided to do a reccy the weekend before the race. Cue head gasket blow up in Lynnsport car park, £100 tow back home (having not seen anything of the actual route) followed by £400 repair.  Saturday arrived and at last I was on my way…..only to arrive at Helen’s at 6 a.m. to pick her up when my car decided it doesn’t like Norfolk and had to be abandoned. Hence, we arrived in King’s Lynn in Helen’s car, having stolen it from her husband for the weekend (he did not appreciate being woken at 6 a.m. to be told this!!).  Being such a big event we were expecting tent city and thousands of people at the start. In fact, we were underwhelmed by one man (Bob Grainger) and his baton at the start line! Never mind, he started off in style and it was great to cheer him on his way along the lovely shores of the first leg.  Watching the runners, Helen and I felt guilty that we weren’t running, but the comfort of our car, sweeties and drinks consoled us in our anguish.  Ace driver Helen kept us on track most of the way….except for missing one of the stops completely which we didn’t notice until we got to Holkham Hall – so quick dash back to greet John Wankowski (sorry about the spelling JW) and press the button on the timer at handover.  Having travelled right around from King’s Lynn to Cromer and beyond, we were genuinely in awe of the participating runners taking part in Striders first RNR. Each runner came in exhausted having put in at least 100% effort, over terrain which was sandy, hilly, rough and having had to run the gauntlet of THE TWITCHERS!!!!  With a sigh of relief at the end of a 192 mile journey, we decided to celebrate in the happening place that is King’s Lynn (not!) with a slap up meal and several glasses of wine. If you ever go, take a map and money for a taxi to get you out of King’s Lynn !  On the up side, we did get a good night’s sleep in a B&B with full English next morning only a stone’s throw from tent city, and were able to be there in time to witness Elvis cross the finish line.  What an experience – well done everyone. Next year……?

Rose & Helen

An enormous “thank you” to Riverside Running Club, St. Neots – for saving me from ignominy and other far more unpleasant words that might have been used about me.  Having agreed to ride a bicycle behind runners in the Round Norfolk Relay I was not really surprised when Richard Nash rang to ask me to be at Feltwell at 5.15am Sunday.   On Saturday, therefore, I spent nearly all day preparing my trusty touring bike: fitting a map holder, attaching enough lights to blind a football stadium and ensuring it carried tools and spares for every eventuality (so I thought)  Things began badly (getting up at 3.00am for a start) then got worse.   Reaching Brandon about ten minutes drive from Feltwell – if you know the way (I didn’t), I received a call to say the runners were nearly there.   They were 45 minutes earlier that expected!  A heart-pounding dash later, I was grabbing my bike from my abandoned car and racing to the checkpoint 200 yards away.   Within three minutes I was pursuing Becky Jack on her leg of the race.   Now I could calm down and relax while Becky gave it her all – overtaking at least three runners in the last two miles.  Things continued well as Rachel Toogood continued the good work began by Becky, the cold and darkness were over as dawn broke in Downham Market, where Martin Abblett was raring to go (despite running the Great North the previous Sunday)  Now I felt confidant enough to stop and turn the map to the right page, knowing I could soon catch Martin on my twenty four geared, 531 tubed tourer which had never let me down.   Until then!  As Martin disappeared round a corner 300 yards away, the gear changer disappeared into the spokes of the rear wheel and I ground to a halt.   I knew what to do, however: PANIC!  Then I wrenched the gear out of the wheel and disconnected the chain to allow it to run freely.   Unfortunately, in the next three hundred faltering yards the chain was also free to fall off the chain wheel four times.  Martin was by now a mile away I guessed.   Only two more legs of the 24-hour race to go – just sixteen miles.   All the gallant Striders who had been busting a gut running round Norfolk would be disqualified because I would not be able to catch up with the last two runners on my ******bike!  As I kicked my bike in despair, a car came round the corner with a bike on its rear carrier.   Years of practice as a trainee highwayman paid off.   Standing in the road, I brandished my bicycle pump at them.   Naturally they stopped.   Whether or not it was because I looked fearsome or pathetic, I’m not sure, but the lady and gentleman in the car lost no time getting out, donating the lady’s mountain bike and taking care of my wreck.  As I pedaled like a man possessed, with my knees hitting my chin, my mobile went.   Chris Gladwell was ringing to say Martin was a mile and a half ahead, where was I?   It’s not easy answering the phone, holding a map and pedaling at 20mph on an undersized mountain bike, but I think I said something, which was almost intelligible and not as rude as my thoughts at the time.  Anyway, I caught Martin up (doddle!) and met Alan Wells at Stowbridge as planned.   Eleven miles later Alan was overtaking runners in Kings Lynn and the Round Norfolk Relay was over – with hardly a hitch!  P.S. I intend to find out who my rescuers were and thank them properly.   I was still suffering from shock when I met them again in Kings Lynn.   However, I am told they were from Riverside Running Club.   So to that kind couple, once again, THANK YOU.  P.P.S. When I eventually got back to my car at Feltwell, thanks to Roger Aldis, it was unlocked, the windows were wide open and it had rained on the driver’s seat.   Still, you can’t expect to have it easy all the time, can you!

Andy Bond