Stage 10 - 2007 Round Norfolk Relay

Runner's Comments

I scare myself sometimes. As I was standing at the start waiting for the stage 9 runner to hand me the baton I was thinking why would I volunteer for a 15 mile night stage when the furthest I have ran in 18mths is 10 miles! I was not alone in thinking I was under prepared, my brother Mark who had kindly accepted to be my cycle support for the stage was also thinking he was slightly under dressed for the occasion, when looking at the other cycle support people and how fresh it was feeling with the wind blowing!

I figured the best way was to blast off at the start, purely for show and so I wouldn’t look all slow, then settle down up the seafront and break the run down into small chunks. First marker was to get off the seafront and onto South Denes Rd, when we got there the wind had pretty much died off which was very welcome as it was in my face all the way up the seafront. The next point of the petrol station before heading off into Bradwell also came round very quickly and again hitting the Dual Carriageway section just after Bradwell came round very quickly, this also marked 5 miles in roughly and I was still feeling very good, apart from the fact we were now heading into the unlit darkness which was a little unnerving. 

Just as we got past Cherry Lane Garden Centre, the support vehicle caught up to follow me so didn’t have to spend much time being all scared! Fritton quickly appeared and disappeared and it was when I hit St Olaves that I had my only rough part on the run. This was caused by the Haddiscoe bends, never has less than 2 miles felt so bad, really thought they were never going to end. When I checked my mile splits after the run this pain showed up by me posting times almost 30 seconds per mile slower than the rest of the run!

After Haddiscoe I had Toft Monks as my next target and this also arrived very swiftly and with my arrival here, I had the added motivation of seeing the flashing orange light of another runners support vehicle in the distance, I would say they were around ¼ mile ahead of me so set about trying as hard as possible to chase them down as it was only around 3 miles to the finish. 

Trouble was that although when driving it seems quite flat, when running after having done over 10 miles and slight incline feels like a mountain and try as I might I couldn’t quite catch them before we saw the bright lights of Mcdonalds and the last evil piece of the run which was to make us go all the way round the building before handing the baton over and wishing the next runner good luck as they disappeared off into the night.

Really enjoyed the run and event and would just like to say thanks to my brother for helping out and also the never ending patience of those in the support vehicle following me in first gear for that distance. Roll on next year!!

Pete Aldred

Driver's + Support Comments

I am hungry now (Rob managed to get Chips at Cromer, but I was out on the bike and missed out – not that I am telling everyone that you had two lots of chips Rob….) We watch Pete and Mark off and know that we have enough time to get food (chips) and catch Pete up before he leaves Great Yarmouth and we have to support him in the van. We did not count on Pete being that fast – we leave Yarmouth and the street lights, but where is our runner? I am starting to get concerned that we have missed him and am about to suggest that we need to turn around and re-trace our steps and a red t-shirt appears in the headlights – flashing light on, we are in business.

Comment made that Mark might not have cycled that long in a while – he seemed to spend quite a lot of time out of the saddle!

Ring Sue to check she is in place and she mentions Tim Morton is with her – Tim is coerced into providing support for Sue in his car whilst we sort van out/change cyclists/drivers. Thanks Tim.

Kerry Davis

Pete had got a surprisingly long way by the time we caught him and his brother.  Pete looked strong the whole way. In fact at some points I was more concerned about his brother Mark on the bike.

This was my first experience at driving between 1st and 2nd gears at a runners pace at night with a flashing orange light.  A very surreal experience.  I was pleased that the bus had a tacho fitted that displayed the speed digitally in kmh as it was far more accurate and easier to read than the analogue needle on the dashboard's speedo.

Rob Lines

Stage 9
Index
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Stage 11

Runner:

Pete Aldred

Cycle Support:

Mark Aldred