15 Gazelles ran the Wissey Half Marathon on Sunday 2nd September, setting out from the village of Oxborough and looping around country lanes through little villages and returning back along Oxborough Hall to finish at the slightly less grand village hall. The course was relatively flat albeit with an unwelcome long, gradual hill around mile 9.  The morning was very hot and sunny.  Shade was hard to find so it wasn’t the easiest of race conditions. But the route was well marshalled and there was lots of encouragement along the way. It was a relatively small race with 255 finishers. John Moore was first Gazelle home, in 6th place overall 1:22:36 and winning his age category. Theresa Dooley was 2nd femalein 1:36:36 and Elizabeth Barnard got a half marathon PB - 2:24:49 - despite the heat. Gazelle women came 2nd in the overall club team results. Finishers all got a commemorative glass and the chance to fill it with beer! 

The evening of Friday 31 August saw three Gazelles, drawn by the novelty of running in the dark, competing in the Night Trail’s chip-timed Half-Marathon run from Whitlingham Country Park to Langley School. The route followed the Wherryman’s Way trail along tracks, riverside paths (complete with wobbling duck-boards) and country lanes. The going was multi-surface but flattish, though the uphill gradient heading up the Langley School was personally unwelcome at the 11-mile mark, as were the nettles along and across the riverside path in the middle of the race. The occasional gates and stiles also tended to break one’s running rhythm, especially if you were caught behind a group of runners at those points.

Having started at 8pm, by the time we had passed the sewage works and off Whitlingham lane, we needed our mandatory head torches to see where we were putting our feet as dusk swiftly wore on to moonless pitch-black night. (A bright harvest moon did rise as we drove home from Langley.) The conditions otherwise were perfect for running; cool, calm, quiet with very little traffic on the roads and with Mars shining in the east to follow. A feeling of isolation from the rest of the world engendered a sense of camaraderie among the competitors and I felt the whole event was a friendlier experience than many daytime events often are. The scones and cake at the finish in the school were very welcome too!  I finished in a time of 1.48 in 17^th place and Helen Mian was 30^th  in 1.55. We were both 2^nd in our respective age categories, with Tim Woods finishing 44^th just a few minutes afterwards in 2.02. Not a fast race, given the terrain, obstacles and darkness, but definitely one I shall repeat, albeit next time with leggings rather than shorts!

Dudley Garner and Mark Drysdale made the trip to South Norfolk on a nice, cool evening to take on the first running of BBDRC's 5 mile 'Wortwell Sizzler'.

With only 200 entrants - there was space for up to 700 - this was run over a rolling course through some gorgeous countryside. (only spoilt by one or two vicious uphills and an equally vicious downhill!)

Mainly set on clear, well marshalled country back lanes and with almost no traffic at all to contend with, this was a lovely race over a great course and is sure to be a much busier race next year once word gets out.  Even the non-alcoholic beer from the pop up pub afterwards was good! Definitely one for the diary.

A group of Gazelles arrived in Reepham looking forward to a cool summer's evening run. We were disappointed to see the rain had decided to visit and at first, dampened our spirits. However when the race was started the sun came out to give us that dry, cool summer evening we were all craving. The course starts off in a residential road, which after a couple of rather embarrassed residents had parted the sea of runners to squeeze through, the race was started.
The route itself was lovely, rolling through the country lanes, passing by so much beautiful scenery and heading to the Marriot's Way track. The route was undulating but very manageable. Runners of all abilities and from various clubs were in attendance, some with tired legs from the previous weekend's Run Norwich.
I personally really enjoyed the run. Despite not feeling overly enthusiastic I felt surprisingly strong. Being a slower runner, I can often find myself near the back and fighting to keep up with others. At one point I was running on my own, which at times hampers my motivation and enthusiasm. I was able to eventually catch up with some other runners and found myself catching up with more and more people in front. The end of the course finishes along Marriot's Way. I somehow managed to miss the 9k sign, which is probably why the last 2k felt like it was going on forever. Eventually I turned into the finishing field and hearing the cheers of my ever supportive Gazelle buddies.
I may have been last Gazelle home but that doesn't bother me.
I am proud to be a Gazelle, proud to be part of a fantastic and supportive running club and proud to be a runner.

12 weeks ago I had the privilege and opportunity to start to work alongside Dudley, Alan and others in helping deliver support and training to a group of people with mental health issues. Initiated by MIND the idea was encouraging people to improve their emotional wellbeing by exercising.

It was aimed at people in the Tuckswood/Lakenham part of the city as this was where the funding was meant to be spent.

We were fortunate to have Paul Evans as the lead trainer. And the target was to get people to be able to do the Run Norwich 10K at the end of the 12 weeks if they wanted to. Which when you think about it is a massive step for people to take when you realise some of them were very self- conscious and scared of running in view of others.

We had 2 training sessions a week, daytime/evening to give all interested parties the opportunity to take part be they working/full time parents with young children

The training sessions were great fun, including the warm up/cool down exercises where a certain persons’ lack of co-ordination entertained the group immensely. But at least he never got lost!

We were able to keep in touch/encourage etc. by using WhatsApp.

Paul was very good at involving the experienced runners and letting us contribute, including myself successfully making one of the ladies cry when I said to the group how well they had done and what a privilege and how fulfilling it was to see how far they had come in such a short time.

We started right at the back on the day, which was incredibly hot again. I was supposed to be pacing a small group, two of whom sprinted off after 2K and I couldn’t get back to them. It was a bit disconcerting running along Castle Meadow and seeing the first two men coming in the opposite direction with about .5K to go. It was incredibly tiring weaving a way through a constant sea of runners and by halfway I decided to look after myself as the heat was affecting me and Rose Lane was still to be conquered.

I’m pleased to say that everyone who entered safely completed the race and seemed to enjoy themselves. And Dudley tells me 2 of them are in the process of joining us as Gazelles.

Seeing a race from the back of the field and trying to improve my starting position was a totally new experience, and was enjoyable.

A few of us went from the park to the Bell for a celebration pint, and I won’t embarrass the culprit by naming him, but one of us managed to polish off two meals as well.

I’ve also managed to persuade some to enter the Trowse 10K. And some of them are regulars @ Eaton Park parkrun.

I’m a shocker for putting names to faces, sometimes this is good! One of the ladies (don’t know who), said on WhatsApp that although the exercise was good, what she enjoyed the most was the sitting round having refreshments and a chat afterwards.

Some of us feel we can’t now abandon these people so are intending on keeping the sessions going.

Is it the Asics philosophy-A healthy mind in a healthy body? I think the last 12 weeks experience answers this.

Run Norwich: Race report. Race won by Nick Earl from CONAC in 30:49, a new course record. First Lady was Danielle Nimmock also of CONAC in 35:03. First Gazelle home was Ed Whiting in 37:18, a pb, but Ed is only second claim for us and was running in CONAC colours, so first home honours should go to John Moore in 37:39, who also won his age category. First Gazelle Lady home was Theresa Dooley in 44:56. Other notable results: Age category wins for Nigel Arnold and Anne Ellen, and a second place for Kevin Youngs. First ever 10k by Craig Smithernan. PBs by Jo Ross and Amelia Whiting. Sarah Knapp missed a PB by 6 seconds and Jason Black missed by 4! Amelia Whiting won the prize for most overtaking : passing approximately 3000 runners as she battled her way round from the pink pen. Lee Oxbury was first person dressed as Forest Gump and Mark Fitch first Elvis. In the battle of the tutu Phil beat Jason, so expect to see Mr Brunt at Monday Club nights in the red skirt. Thank you also to Lou, Emma, Julie, Steve, Kevin and Andy (and anyone else) who helped to Marshall. All in all a great race.