Club News
Club announcements
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***NEW*** Shared Calendar
Shared Calendar now avalible to subscribe to.
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***NEW*** Parkrun dates and locations 2019
Norfolk Gazelles take part in many Park Runs across the county, being such a friendly club we also target Park Runs so that we can meet up and enjoy a post run coffee and cake. In some cases there is an option for a bike ride or an open water swim, all are welcome to join us. Whilst not an official race we do wear Norfolk Gazelle running tops.
In 2019 Norfolk is expecting a few new Park Runs to open, reserved dates are for these to be included in the tour once we know they are officially open. We've also added some Park Runs not previously included in the tour.
2019 dates
January
1st - 8.30am Brundall followed by Catton at 10.30am
19th - Handicap 10k or 5k with Tri Anglia details above
26th - Colney Lane Gazelles marshal take over
February
16th - Gorleston
23rd - Proposed Bushey Park Run (contribution to coach costs will be required)
March
9th - Sizewell (New in 2019 for the Gazelles On Tour)
23rd - Blickling (with possible bike ride following)
April
6th - Holkham
May
4th - Swaffham
25th - Watton
June
15th - Kings Lynn or Wimbledon Parkrun
22nd - Lingwood (with possible bike ride following)
July
13th - Sheringham (with possible bike ride following)
27th - Sloughbottom (New in 2019 for the Gazelles On Tour)
August
10th - Mulbarton parkrun
24th - Laura Richardson "Hen" parkrun at Blickling
September
7th - Lowestoft
21st - Thetford
October
5th - Brandon (with possible bike ride following)
November
2nd - Reserved TBC
December
21st - Colney Mob Match revisted
25th - Eaton
Race news
Race reports
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Wissey Half Marathon - 1st September
Results ...Wissey Half is advertised as fast and flat so it’s a shocker when you meet that long haul of a hill about mile 9, and the general undulations along the way can make you curse, but this is a lovely half marathon course, all along country lanes through fields and villages. The weather was kind, sunnier than expected but cooler than some of the recent summer races. Mile 10 is a treat of a downhill stretch through a shady narrow lane. Somehow sweeter when you can tell yourself there is also only a parkrun to go.... There is a friendly feel to the village hall start with the teas and coffees, cakes and snacks, and while there’s no great changing or even toilet facilities (start was delayed this year as people were still queuing...) it’s easy to park and Oxborough Hall is grandly on the doorstep. Marshalls were friendly and it all felt well organised with very little traffic. Some runners were complaining about lack of medals or goodies but everyone got a canvas bag and a buff, and the first hundred or so got last year’s leftover glasses. In previous years there has been beer on tap to fill these glasses so there were some disappointed looking people wandering around with empty glasses for a while... There was a small but strong team of 9 Gazelles there. Jason Black was 15 seconds off a PB and there were age category wins for John Moore, Lisa Bolton and Theresa Dooley. Roy Roberts was running as a Gazelle for the first time.
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Dartmoor Highground Marathon - 31st August
Hills, hills and more hills. The Dartmoor Highground Marathon takes in the highest peaks in southern England and it’s a toughie, with more than 5000 ft ascent. I’ve been doing some hilly Westcountry half-marathons in training, but knew that the marathon itself, my first trail marathon, would be a new challenge. This is the first race I’ve done with a kit-list, and the inclusion of a compass, hat, gloves and baselayer (for an August race) was ominous.
There were only 113 participants doing the marathon (with 50 others doing the 50-mile ultra) and the start in Okehampton was low-key. A few nervous glances among the back-packed runners, but looking around I thought, “We all seem to be up for this; let’s do it!” Today is not about time, but about the challenge. Complete, don’t compete.
The first few miles are in the rain, winding through the woods beside the East Okement River. In places we’re scrambling over slippery rocks. Before long though we’re on the desolate moor, ascending above the tree-line, and the wind picks up as the rain lashes down. This is going to be tough. I look at my watch and think, “Ooooh, I’m doing 12 minute miles…pretty good…” But I’ll soon learn that pacing on the moor takes on a completely different meaning.
In the distance the first misty Tor looms, and I see a long, trudging procession of runners being hoovered up by the cloud. Soon I’m joining them, run-walking over the springy moorland grass and sidestepping the many boulders en route to Row Tor, shrouded in mizzle. We pass the Tor and head down to the first checkpoint, where runners are in good spirits, stocking up on Jaffa cakes, flapjacks and squash. We know it’s a long way to the second checkpoint.
Next we climb to West Mill Tor, then head to the big two: Yes Tor and High Willhays, the highest points in southern England. The rain means we can only glimpse the peaks. There’s no path as such; we’re slow-jogging or walking over rocks and thick grass, following a trail of little red race flags spaced about thirty metres apart. The ground becomes boggy and we’re scrambling over boulders to cross a stream. Then, with the wind whipping around us, faintly through the mist I see the huge, flat slabs of weathered granite at Yes Tor’s peak. Suddenly I’m down the other side, then on my way up to a very windy High Willhays. I’m relieved to reach the course’s highest point. It’s a wild and barren landscape all around, and I love it.
But as the miles go on, we realise this race is going to be a relentless, rollercoaster ride of climbs to lesser Tors, followed by sharp descents. At mile eight, there’s a long, gradual downhill section with stunning views to the West Okement River valley, and before long, we’re wading across that river, and climbing sharply again past a solitary tree on route to Kitty Tor. By this point most people are walking, with growing gaps between us.
At one point my ankle seems to give way on a boggy sheep track and I scream in pain, “F*************ck!” But when Dartmoor’s windy, no one can hear you scream…And my ankle seems to be okay. I calm my nerves and get a grip: this is tough, but it’s not going to be another ‘Touching the Void’. Unlike Joe Simpson, I have a ‘phone.
A few miles over springy grass on flattish moorland and then, as we approach Great Links Tor, I see my brother, Neil, who has hiked to that peak. He’s waiting with his camera, so I think of my best race pose: ‘Shoulders back, knees up, arms out, big smile…’ I get a real boost from seeing him, and he reassures me I’m well on my way to the next checkpoint. It’s a long winding descent to checkpoint two, for refuelling and encouraging words from the friendly marshals.
The next section is tough. The sun’s shining and the climbs seem relentless. I can feel blisters on my heels. We’re over half-way now, but people’s shoulders are dropping as they run-walk. This is tough. The only consolation is the colourful yellow and purple heather all around us and the occasional bemused sheep looking on.
I say to myself, “Okay, I’m still feeling good.” And I know deep down I’m loving the experience, every step of the way.
The descent from Shelstone Tor is the steepest I’ve ever encountered: it’s thirty percent in places. I’m running in tiny steps to keep my brakes on, through boggy moorland and over boulders, every step hammering through my knees. I know there are speedy Westcountry runners way ahead of me who will have bounded down these descents, but I’m running with the confidence of a new-born lamb.
The terrain changes as we run the length of the Meldon Reservoir. The trail path is fairly level here and I’m relieved knowing I can chalk up a few easy miles. Neil’s waiting again before checkpoint three, with more encouragement and, importantly, fresh socks. At checkpoint three (mile 20), I refuel and change my soggy socks; that’s a great relief.
“Nearly there,” I say to a fellow runner. I know that the final six miles is mostly downhill.“Nearly…but Yes Tor’s still to come…” she replies, with grim foreboding, which I soon understand. The climb back up Yes Tor is two relentless miles uphill over boggy, boulder-strewn moorland with gradients of twenty, twenty-five, in places thirty percent. But I know that this is the hardest part, and I’m going to do it.
And then I’m at the top, where I pause to take in the breathtaking views all around. With a huge sense of relief, I know I’m on my way back to Okehampton, retracing my steps back to the woods by the East Okement River. For the last three miles I can see no runners ahead and only distant glimpses of runners behind. This is a race for people comfortable in their own company!
The finish is a welcome sight, but I’ve enjoyed the experience so much that I’d be happy to keep going. I finish in just over six and a half hours, more than two hours slower than my previous slowest marathon, in 80th place. And straight away I think, “I’m doing this again next year!” Quite incredibly, I learn that the winning time was 3:43, and twenty people completed the race in under five hours. Amazing.
Dartmoor is stunningly beautiful place and if you’re looking for a different type of running challenge, I highly recommend it.
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Worsted 5 Mile - 26th July
Worstead 5 Mile 26th July 7pm
Michelle and I arrived in good time, looking forward to the race as we missed it last year. Collected our numbers and chatted to fellow Gazelles, all saying how warm it was, but not as hot as the record the previous day of 38.7.......... I went to warm up after wishing Shell Good Luck. I've been running with Shell everyday keeping her company running her rainbow . I did a 2 mile warm up which brought me to a total of 999 miles for the year so far!! This would mean my first race mile would hit 1000 which is a record for me, as I've never reached that goal in a whole year, let alone 7 months. Managed to get to the start at the very last minute, saying hello to club members supporting from the side. On the gun, we all set off down the hill like bats out of hell....this is always a fast start!!! Looking at my split for the first mile, 5:58, I thought, OH, that's a little quick! The next was 6:34, I was finding it a struggle with the heat and humidity, along with everyone else. I enjoyed the race despite the conditions, and finished in 32:42. Not bad for an old boy of 52, who had spent the week working outside in the furnace of summer..... I don't think I've ever dripped so much sweat in a race, and whilst I was chatting to Pete Thompson and Steve Sadd, a dubious puddle had formed on the hall floor from Steve .....LOL There were 31 Gazelles.... James Fowler Jason Brunt Adrian Waters Mark Fowler Derek Bye Jason Black Tom Townsend Louise Hurr Stephen Sadd Chris Moore Pete Thompson Steve Cook Anne Ellen Helen Terry Andrew Hammond David Goodwin Debbie Powles Stephen Terry Graham Hardingham Neil Staveley Hannah Monteverde PB Justine Davenport Callum Davenport Estelle Corner Mark Drysdale Susan Moore Elaine Hudson Sally Black Michelle Waters Tracey Goodrum Nigel Bullen Well done to everyone. Great turnout from runners and many thanks to supporters.
Ady Waters
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Great Yarmouth 5 mile race 3 - 22nd May
Results ...Great Yarmouth 5 mile race 3
Wednesday, 22 May 2019
39 Gazelles took on Race 3 of the Great Yarmouth 5 mile series. A warm evening with a gentle breeze and several Gazelles were hoping to beat their previous times from races 1 and 2. This was my first 5 mile race and I was hoping to get my silver standard to pair up with my Wroxham 5k time from the week before.
Ady made a clean sweep for the men’s 50-54 age category coming 1st in all 3 races of the 2019 series. Other age category wins for John, David and Theresa plus a Senior Ladies team win. John Moore was the first Gazelle across the line in 29:23 and Rowena the first female Gazelle at 33:49.
Lots of PB’s and I managed my silver standard, so lots of happy faces all round. Chips on the seafront as a reward for some!
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Wroxham 5k Race Series - 1 - 15th May
Results ...Wroxham 5k Race 1
Wednesday, 15 May 2019
There were 750 runners in total and a big turnout for the first race of the Wroxham 5k series with 58 Gazelles lining up at the start. This was my first 5k race and my goal was to beat my current park run time. A dry, still sunny evening giving near perfect race conditions. A loop with a very gradual slight incline at the start which rewarded you with a gradual decline for your final sprint to the finish line.
A plethora of PB’s were earnt and I knocked a whole minute of my park run time giving me my first silver standard. John Moore was the first Gazelle to cross the line with a time of 17:17 with Rowena being the first female over line at 19:36.
Fantastic results for all the Gazelles, well done!
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Peterborough Marathon - 14th April
Results ...This was Peterborough's first foray into hosting a Marathon. The parent company (Sublime Racing) wanted to keep the number of entrants small (c.200) to ensure the support staffs were not overwhelmed. If Sublime racing wants to boost numbers for next year, try not to clash with Brighton or Paris Marathons!
The race HQ was situated at the Marriott Hotel. Free car parking was available at the adjacent Thomas Cook call centre. In the hotel you could register and collect your race number, use designated changing rooms and use the free baggage drop off. If supporters were interested in watching the athletes but did not want to leave their lattés and croissants, the hotel had live race streaming.
The race itself was run mostly on a flat traffic free course. The scenery was great and showed the city’s best features. There were lots of water points all offering gel as well if required. The race was well marshalled. I have since learnt a flat course usually implies wind (head wind, side wind, tail wind) will affect you at some point. There were some sections along the river where this was evident. However, it did not slow my progress much.
I was going well until the mile 23 and had to slow down as a race marshall helpfully said” just over a Parkrun left!” the thought of running a Parkrun did not encourage me! However, I picked up the pace again on mile 25 and managed a PB! After collecting my medal and tee-shirt, the Marriott offered free sports massage and discount meals.
The race was well organised and planned. I would do it again next year! -
Bungay Festival of Running - 14th April
Results ...The Bungay Festival of Running took place on Sunday 14th April and consisted of 4 races ( full marathon, half marathon, 10K & 5K), all starting at different times allowing the possibility of doing more than one race.
I decided to run the 10K race starting at 9.30 followed by the half marathon starting at 11.00. What seemed like a good idea when I entered the races by race day I was starting to wish I was only doing the one race!
It was a cold morning but thankfully dry in Bungay and when I arrived was able to see the start of the marathon at 9.00. Well done to Phil Whiting, Jason Brunt and Hugh Woolfenden for completing a race which has a quite a few undulations!
When the 10K race started I found it difficult to decide what pace to ran at, I did not want to get too competitive as I had another race afterwards but luckily there were a number of other gazelles in the race, so it helped that I was able to run with Steph Evans in the early part of the race and Jonathan Brighton in the later part of the race. Thanks to them the race went by fairly quickly and I could then get ready for the next one. Other gazelles taking part in the 10K were Alun Hume (finished 9th), James Fowler (finished 11th), Mark Fowler, John Digby, Tim Woods and Nicky Galwey-Woolston.
I then had over 30 minutes to wait before the start of the half marathon, so after re-fuelling I went and stood inside a marquee to keep warm before going out to doing some stretching. I don’t think this was the best of preparations as when the half marathon started I felt really stiff. When I passed Mark and James who were watching the race in Bungay I felt like I had aged by about 20 years since running the 10K. The section of the race between Bungay and Beccles involves running through a series of hills but the further I went along this part of the race the better I was feeling so by the time I ran through Beccles I was thinking perhaps running 2 races in a day was not such a bad idea after all. After leaving Beccles the course the course is fairly flat as you run through countryside. However although the course was easier I was finding I was having to work harder to maintain the same pace but what helped me to keep going was I was now catching some of the runners from the marathon ( the marathon is 2 laps of the half marathon course), and the thought they were running much further than me helped push me on. At mile 11 of the half marathon you go off road and run along a trail through the woods, I had gone along this section in the 10K and what had seemed easy in the earlier race now appeared to never ending! When it did end the finish was in sight and after one final loop the race was over. Ian Edwards was also in the race and completed the latest in his series of half marathons.
Would I do it again? Perhaps not but I have got a year to change my mind!
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Manchester Marathon - 7th April
Results ...Sunday 7th April - the day had finally arrived. The day we had been training for, the day Charlotte, Mark and myself were running a marathon for the first time, Emma for the second and Helen, her first marathon as a Gazelle!
The morning started off pretty cold, but the sun broke through the clouds later in the day. I managed to see Helen and Mark just before the start so that was fantastic. Good luck hugs and wishes and they went off to find their starting areas. A good luck hug from my boy Ryan and I got ready. I was buzzing to get going, and finally we were off and over the start line.
I took it steady, making sure I didn't get caught up in the excitement. Julie had messaged me and said she was watching ....... I didn't want to get told off on Monday! From mile 3 I settled into a nice even, comfortable pace. From then on I ran the race from water station to water station, I ran from cheery marshal to a little child wanting high 5's. I ran to points that I knew Ryan would be cheering from (thanks to the tram system he got to cheer me 6 times during the race) I kept checking my pace, making sure I was keeping it steady and that I felt comfortable. At one point on the course the runners pass each other, so at miles 11 and 13 I got to see Charlotte and Emma and we gave each other cheery shouts of encouragement and high 5's, Fabulous! The entertainment along the route was varied and plentiful and it really helps to keep you going, as does the incredible support from the crowd.
Before I knew it I was at Mile 23! I then tried to up the pace but my legs were having none of it! I felt that I was going faster, I thought I was going faster, but my watch told me I was at exactly the same pace! Oh well, I just kept on trying! Then I heard the marshals and supporters calling out "nearly there" and "last push" and I turned the corner to see the finish line about 500 metres ahead. I dug in and then broke into a huge smile - I had done it, I had run a marathon!
So proud of myself for acheiving this, and also extremely proud of all my Gazelle friends. Mark smashed his first marathon and the others had superb, battling runs where they dug in and completed them in style. The course is great, the organisation fab, the whole day was just a fantastic experience! I would definitely recommend Manchester Marathon, so much so that guess who has signed up for next year...... Shhhh, just don't tell the kids!
Results: Helen Terry - 3:37:11, Mark Drysdale - 3:41:18, Justine Davenport - 4:35:25, Charlotte MacDonald - 6:06:10, Emma Cluett - 6:06:11
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Larking Gowen Norwich Half - 7th April
CITY OF NORWICH HALF MARATHON – 7th April 2019
Jessica Parker, Andrea Flint, Vicky Rallison
It was quite foggy when we arrived at Norwich Showground – not the weather that was forecast at all. There was a great atmosphere and all the areas were clearly marked. We even bought some race shirts from previous years for bargain prices ….. Wearing them will make it seem we have run for years! As we stood in the pens, the heavens opened and it poured with rain, the sort of big drops that bounce off the ground and we soon got soaked through. The rain continued for most of the race. The first part of the course wended its way through the Showground, and it seemed never ending to get out on the open roads. Pace was good and steady and we managed not to shoot off. When we are running a long distance we ‘jeff’ it and our timings are 3minute run and 1 minute walk. The rain continued and we were soaked through to the bone but it wasn’t too cold and no wind, so it was just wet and not wet and cold. Eventually out on the roads and we were spurred on by the people outside their houses cheering us on, despite the foul weather. Coming up to about mile 4, we were greeted by Andrew Hammond who had run 7 miles from his house and was running the course to cheer people on, what a lovely guy. We had a little chat (still running) and then he ran off to find some more people. By this time Vicky was behind us, but it was fine as she had someone to talk to and at one point we could see her over the field.
The halfway cut off point was on our minds, we got there with 8 minutes to spare, which was a great relief. We knew then that we would soon be seeing Julie at the mile 7 water station, she greeted us with a massive hug and a Percy Pig sweet. We were over half way! The first part of the course was flat and some of it was downhill, but the second half was a lot more undulating and we had to dig in and just do it, luckily our timings helped, on more than one occasion the walk came at the bottom of a hill. Yet again, when we were flagging Andrew Hammond popped up again and cheered us up and gave us the impetus to carry on. It was so lovely to see him. Andrea and I were worried that Vicky hadn’t made the cut off point so Andrew ran off to try and find her. At this point we started to notice strange things like how big the worms were on the ground (no, we were not hallucinating, they really were) We had been warned about a big hill near the end which led back into the Showground. That hill seemed like Everest and went on and on, but at the top we knew we were nearly there. We entered back into the Showground and could hear the tannoy, this spurred us on but we had to run through the showground again, left turn, right turn, left turn ……would we ever get back? Suddenly we both heard ‘come on Jess ‘being shouted and that spurred both of us to do a sprint finish.
What a great race! Atmosphere, course, support were superb. All three of us completed it, and can not wait for the next half marathon, but maybe give ourselves a rest first….
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Diss Duathlon - 31st March
Results ...Waking up at 6am on a weekend after losing an hour to British Summertime was a bit of a shock. I consumed my usual pre-race breakfast and whilst my breakfast was normal, the race I was undertaking today seemed everything but. I have completed a number of running races, however, the Diss Duathlon which comprises a 5k run, 30k cycle ride and a final 5k run, was unfamiliar. Everything seemed strangely alien including the fact I had two numbers to pin to my jersey which was swiftly resolved after a sneaky purchase of a race belt which could be spun round for each stage of the race.
Despite the glorious sunshine the day before, the weather was distinctly chilly today and reminded me, we are still in March. Fortunately, the race briefing was inside the school which kept us out of the wind. I was soon joined by fellow Gazelles Paul Cottrell, Hugh Woolfenden and Karen Rix who were also moonlighting away from the purist running into this new type of challenge. I was reassured that I wasn’t the only one a little uneasy after Paul coughed up that we had only ridden his road bike on four previous occasions.
The race started in three waves. Firstly, the men 45 and over departed closely followed by the women. By some miracle I ended up in the younger men wave (44 and under) which whilst flattering, meant I was the only Gazelle in that group. Looking around at all the young men in professional looking tri-suits and that fact that Joe Skipper (Ironman UK 2018 Champion) was also joining us, I felt pretty daunted. But after we were set off in a pretty small group, I settled into what I am most comfortable doing…running. Well at least that’s what I thought until my Garmin bleeped after the first kilometre that I completed in 4:20. (Way quicker than I wanted to be going). I slowed myself to a more comfortable pace and gradually started to catch a few of the group, including some of the ladies who had set off 5 minutes earlier. I started to feel more confident and enjoy the run.
The first 5k completed I headed into transition to pick up the bike. Making sure that my helmet was in place before I touched the bike (a DQ offence in this format) I slipped on my bike shoes and made my way out back onto the course. I settled into the ride pretty well and continued to overtake people on the course. Towards the end of lap one I heard a whirring noise that resembled a space ship. It was only Joe Skipper eating up the kilometres and pointing out that I am unlikely to be troubling him for the podium places.
The course had a good number of friendly marshals and supporters not to mention Sharon giving me encouragement (despite today being Mother’s Day). I managed to complete the 30km ride in just over an hour which I was pleased with. Back into transition again to leave the bike and get back into the trainers. I wasn’t looking forward to this bit and nearly went back into transition after the first few hundred meters as I had clearly left my running legs somewhere. Getting off a bike and running was a strange sensation, but I soon settled into a rhythm. The final leg of the race was pretty hard. By this time the sun was in the sky, but the wind had also increased making a lot of the course pretty hard work. I was very pleased to see the finish line and a few friendly Gazelles waiting with Sharon. All in all, it was a great event and I would definitely recommend it. So, if you fancy doing something a little different from just running why not give it a “tri” next year.
By Ceri Thoebald
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Nelson Knee Knobber - Race 1 - 30th March
#Timetogetsomesandybits
On the morning of the 30th March 2019 Myself and Yvonne Plenderleith and our dog
Bailey headed over to compete in the first of the Nelson Knee Nobbler beach race series in Caister on sea on a beautifully sunny morning. I was doing the Long course 10Kish and Yvonne was doing the 5Kish Canicross. I knew from previous experience that this race was a tough one, especially the first half which is all on soft sand. We got there in enough time and got all registered then it was time for Yvonne to set off. I had to wait another 8 mins then it was time for the Human race to go. Basically you run onto the beach turn left, run 2.5k, turn and come back, short course complete. I however had another 5k out and back to Great Yarmouth as well which felt so much easier than the first as its on dunes and hard sand. I managed to get into 2nd place and held that for the entire race, passing a few Canicross on the way round to keep me going. Yvonne and Bailey completed their race too and had a really good time running through the sea and sand although Yvonne assured me it’s the toughest race she has ever done. Well done to Tim Woods as well who completed the long course human race. As it was such a nice day we managed to have a nice relaxing seat on the grass and wait for the prize giving, chance for a bacon roll and a cup of tea.
Once the prize giving was done and I received a nice bottle of IPA. We decided to have a nice walk to Great Yarmouth and back to loosen the legs off.
I would really recommend this race series, it is really hard work but is a pleasant change away from the normal road races and you receive a nice eco-friendly medal which doubles as a coaster. Roll on Winterton on Sunday 28th July for the next one.
By Alan Hume
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Oakley 20 - 24th March
Oakley 20 Results ...While the majority of Gazelles were running the Wymondham 20 I fancied a change of Scenery. Picked up this flyer at the Bedford Half. Left the house at 7am to arrive eventually at 9.30 for 10am start at the school.
Sold out with 870 runners. I spotted one Conac from my age group.
Started in bright sunshine & a tad warm. My aim for this race was to keep it steady & consistent & enjoy it.The race consisted of 2 laps the first being 12 miles & the 2nd being shorter at 8. It was pretty tough running past the start of the race at the start of the second lap knowing that we were only just over half way. I felt some cramp in my right calf(twinge). So took it easy . When I reached mile 19 cramp set in Big time. Stopped at lamp post. Female Marshall came running to my aid. (Excellent marshalling throughout).
Gave me a rub down & offered me her home made flapjack & some water. Off I went again for the last big mile back home to the school. Finished in 672 position. 3.30:45. Marshall's checked I was alright at the finish with a high 5. Brilliant!!
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Wymondham 20 - 24th March
Arrived in good time with near perfect weather. Nice to see a small group of fellow Gazelles getting ready talking about the usual things, like expectations of times, fueling and general chat.
My good form continued on Sunday at Wym 20 with a PB by 16 minutes and 18 seconds, following my quickest 10k the weekend before at Coltishall, for 6 years, and the half marathon at Ringland, quickest for 7 an 1/2 years! (only missing that PB by 5 seconds!)
I had intended to stick to a 7:50 mm pace, knowing the risks of going off too quickly, suffering badly at two previous Wym20, especially on that last HILL!! I felt good Sunday, and well up for it. Steve and Jason Brunt egged me on, to up my game!! I knew 7:50 would give me a good PB, so that was my initial plan. I didn't stick to the plan.......
The race started and I found myself going through the first mile in 7:19, still felt I was holding back and feeling comfortable.
Mile 2. 7:25
Mile 3. 7:30
Mile 4. 7:29
Mile 5. 7:16
I was into my stride and relaxed. There was good support from other GAZELLES out on the course cheering us on. By the time I got to Mile 16, my pace was still good at 7:21. I thought about the time I wanted which was a sub 2:40:00, and knew at this stage that if I kept going I would be a sub 2:30:00! I dug deep and ran...
Mile17. 7:24
Mile18. 7:27
Mile 19. 7:25
Mile 20. 7:23 with a last little 0.11 on my watch of 6:24.
I could see and hear Mimi at the end screaming me over the line for my 2:29:28 finish averaging 7:26mm. This year Wym20 will be remembered for the right reasons. It feels good when everything comes together. There were a lot of very good results, PB's and first 20's for a number of Gazelles.
Jeremy Rogers
Oli Jones
Jason Brunt
Matt Collier
Jason Black
Ian Edwards
Chris Moore
Steve Sadd
Hugh Woolfenden
Nigel Bullen
Julie London
Katherine Trehane
Sue Moore
Well done to everyone who raced. There is always a real feel good factor when you put on your Gazelles vest and interact with the herd. Once again, we ran with special thoughts of Sarah continuing with her recovery.
Ady Waters
Gazelles! We're always looking for simple reports of races (e.g., how many Gazelles were there, who did well), or fuller first-person accounts. If you've taken part in a race, please let us know! We need to know the date and name of the race, and the URL for any results. Please submit to manager@norfolkgazelles.co.uk.