Stage 14 - 2007 RNR

Stage 14 - 2007 Round Norfolk Relay

From:	Feltwell	To:	Wissington
Distance:	8.8 miles	Duration:	0:58:54
Start:	05:06 Sun 16th	Finished:	06:05 Sun 16th

Runner's Comments

Having dropped off Mark Philo at his Thetford stage start I raced over to Kings Lynn to collect Jonathan and then we headed for my own stage start at Feltwell. My journey across country was thwarted by a bunch of idiots running in the road, each with a cyclist and accompanying minibus and orange flashing light.....honestly the things that some people do in the middle of the night! No sooner had we parked near the giant golf ball when Rob phoned to say that they were about 4 miles away, I figured that I had 30 minutes to have a cup of tea and chill out. Ten minutes later Rob phones again to say that they are about 1 mile away, that Mark Philo can't half run. Mark sprints in at 05.06 and removes his number and vest for me to wear (Mark forgot to mention in his report that he had forgotten one vital thing.....his own race team and stage number!) After what must have looked like some strange party game, I ended up (just about) wearing Mark's vest complete with number and off I ran, knowing that my vest was ill-fitting and that people were laughing behind my back - or was that just Jonathan on his bike?

My section was nice and flat and we settled into a good ryhthm, although I was running too fast to engage in more than one word responses to Jonathan's gallant attempts at conversation - thanks for trying though Briggsey, it was appreciated. This section is quite flat and straight and I could set my sights on several orange flashing lights in the distance. Unfortunately someone behind was doing the same to me and after about three miles a whippet from CONAC overtook me. I considered drafting him but thought better of it - my one word conversation would have reverted to grunts only which would not have been fair on Jonathan.

We caught one female runner just after that, which gave me no pleasure at all......obviously, and then just as we turned right towards Wissington I caught a male runner. I could now see the sugar beet plant at Wissington straight ahead and thought I was nearly at the end so I maintained pace and caught another female runner - this one did give me pleasure but that is another story (needless to say it was a wrench to overtake!). Sadly the road turned away from the sugar beet plant before it wound its way back towards it and so to the end of my stage. I handed over the baton to Andrew Bolden and it was a great relief to be met by the friendly minibus crew who offered drinks, food and conversation (which I could join in with by then!).

Thanks to Jonathan for turning out in the middle of the night to accompany me on his bike, and thanks to Kerry, Rob and Stewart for sticking with it all day and all night. The breakfast at Tescos was also worth a mention.

Oddly enough I enjoyed it and would recommend it to all members for next year.

Gary Wooton

Cycle Supports Comments

On Gary ’s stage it has to be worth mentioning one of the female runners he passed. Once he had passed her I could hear her footsteps quickening – her cycle support said (to her runner) sorry, but I will see you at the end of the leg… and a cry from their official support van said “follow the arse”. Naturally, I thought this meant me in my silly hat… but on reflection I think they might have been talking about Gary – and not about looking silly!!!!!

Jonathan Briggs

Driver's + Support Comments

Any apparent discrepancies in estimated remaining distances and arrival times are purely due to nerves on behalf of the awaiting runner and the unprecedented speed of the approaching runner and nothing what so ever to do with the tiredness or inaccuracy of the prediction maker. That said, Mark was flying.