Stage 1 - 2007 RNR

Stage 1 - 2007 Round Norfolk Relay

From:	Kings Lynn	To:	Hunstanton
Distance:	16.5 miles	Duration:	2:21:12
Start:	06:00 Sat 15th	Finished:	08:21 Sat 15th

Runner's Comments

Running 16.5 miles isn't necessarily easy. Running it at 6am in the morning is a little strange for one not prone to early mornings. Running it with a baton in your hand following a marked course with no-one else around is a little odd. But that's exactly what I was doing in opening up the 2007 edition of the Round Norfolk for Tri-Anglia. For the first half of the course I had cycle support for company and made reasonable time on road surfaces.

Well, I say reasonable time - I made good time for a long training run and got to 7miles in the hour. I had been warned that the second half was tough. In fact when we registered the evening before I was asked who from our team was doing the hardest stage, with the reference being to Stage 1.

The picturesque village of Wolferton is so pretty it's unnatural. Like a false village that Disney might have built rather than somewhere you can believe that independent house owners live. It was also the end of the road for my cycle support as from that point on I had shingle beaches, sandy paths, bracken strewn trails and grassy banks to wend my way through before hitting the concrete promenade of Hunstanton. I completed my stage in 2hours 21mins which worked out to 8:40mpm pace. Wasn't too pleased with this as it is 20s per mile down on my marathon PB pace. Was left thinking that perhaps I'd let my team down, but it was only 6 minutes down on the time predicted for our first choice runner who'd then dislocated his shoulder. I then took solace from Mark Betts of NRR who was 25s per mile off his marathon PB pace and he's a far better runner than I.

Rob Lines

Driver's + Support Comments

As Stewart and I watch Rob and Will go off into the distance we head for the bus and I’ve lost my mobile phone (first of many occasions over the weekend, sorry Stewart) it’s the main phone for the organisers to contact the team on. Eventually found in my sleeping bag… where else do you keep your phone?

We head off in the bus and find a nice spot for a brew-up. Another team pulls in next to us and the support stands in the middle of the road offers their passing running water, sports drink from outstretched hands – Stewart and I are leaning on the minibus, drinking mugs of tea watch Rob and Will pass “alright boys?…..”

Kerry Davis

Other Runner's Comments

I found stage 1 difficult - I think it was the heat, but everyone else had to put up with the same. I felt really drained coming off of the bank / shingle before getting back on the promenade - I think that took a lot out of my legs. I was disappointed to find my min/mile pace was 7.04.

Got on the bus, then stayed on the bus for the rest of the time. Think I only drove Cromer to Mundesley, then cycled Yarmouth to Geldeston, Scole to Thetford and the last 2 legs.

A good weekend, but as always very very tiring.