Broadland Half Marathon – 12 March 2017
I only sent my membership form to the Coltishall Jaguars about two weeks prior to Broadland ½ and had not entered as a Jag or bought a Jags vest, so it has been lovely to be welcomed into the fold so soon and to be asked to write this report.
I arrived at South Walsham Village Hall with my husband Howard and I saw a lot of orange Jags vests and thought I might have recognised a few people from the training sessions I had tried since the new year (you all look different in daylight!).
The weather was perfect: mild, no wind, not too bright and not raining. The race was well organised and the marshals were brilliant, the route was really lovely and I can see why this race is so popular and sells out so quickly.
Brundall parkrunners (including Jags Nick Eley and Paul Taylor) were popping up along the route cheering and taking photos, which was wonderful! The route went from South Walsham Village Hall through Woodbastwick, Ranworth and Salhouse and back to South Walsham. There were three loops where we occasionally saw the faster or slower runners on the other side and I noticed Neil Button and Phil were doing really well and gave them a cheer (I think Neil briefly stopped chatting to wave back). I’d practiced the Woodbastwick and Ranworth part of the route a few weeks ago and thought it was “undulating” (that deceptive word!) but not unmanageable so I was therefore not expecting the hills towards the end of the route back to South Walsham which were hard work and very tiring. At one point during the final hills I was doing a little bit of the “overtaking dance” with another Jag (who may have been Paul Gerber) we had a bit of a chat and he complimented me on my running; he also called me “young lady” so he will forever be endeared to me.
When my TomTom buzzed 20km I saw I had 9 minutes to run the last km if I wanted my sub-two and as I was running at an average of 5:30 m/km I started to feel confident despite the hills and tiredness and pain! As I turned the final corner I saw the Finish line and the time on the clock was 1:57, I ran over the timing mats at 1:57:17 absolutely beaming.
Other Jag First timers For this race were Stuart Kenrick, Sonja White, Ivan Westley, John Windham and Barbara Button sprinting over the finish line with Jackie Gooch.
The First Jaguar home was Ellie Bye with a amazing time of 1.35.19 Followed closely by Graham Johnson & Neil Button both getting Pbs. Mel porter was on their heels and next in. ‘ansome’ Paul Emery, ‘Smiley’ Nicola L-J, ‘Elated’ Emma Blake, ‘well chuffed’ Ruth Pilch, And ‘giving it every thing’ Ruth Gainsford all gained Pbs on this tough course.
Unfortunately the prize giving had to be abandoned twice until times were verified. Eventually The results came in 2nd Senior Female: Ellie Bye. 2nd 60-40 Female: Rosemary Jackson. 1st 65+ Female: Heather Hollister.
The lovely coffee and cakes in the village hall had helped towards some recovery, and all received a lovely medal and technical t-shirt; we actually received the t-shirt at registration and as it has the word “Finisher” printed on the back, I thought this might be bad luck given that we hadn’t actually run the race. I now realise that “Finisher” doesn’t mean I finished the race, but after those hills, the Broadland half marathon finished me!
I would do it all again though.
Vikki Harper
| Name | Time | PB | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellie bye | 1.35.19 | GOLD | |
| Graham Johnson | 1.36.34 | YES | GOLD |
| Neil Button | 1.36.40 | YES | GOLD |
| Mel Porter | 1.36.43 | SILVER | |
| Paul Emery | 1.40.21 | YES | SILVER |
| Stewart Marden | 1.41.20 | SILVER | |
| Nicola Lambert-John | 1.42.08 | YES | SILVER |
| Emma Blake | 1.47.01 | YES | SILVER |
| Dean Blake | 1.47.01 | ||
| James Lambert | 1.46.48 | ||
| Ruth Pilch | 1.50.31 | YES | SILVER |
| Emma Jordan | 1.55.19 | SILVER | |
| Stuart Kenrick | 1.55.41 | FT | |
| Sonja White | 1.56.56 | FT | Bronze |
| Vikki Harper | 1.57.17 | FT | Bronze |
| Paul Gerber | 1.57.45 | ||
| Heather Hollister | 1.59.44 | Diamond | |
| Rosemarie Jackson | 2.00.03 | Diamond | |
| Ruth Gainsford | 2.00.10 | YES | SILVER |
| Ivan Westley | 2.05.23 | FT | |
| John Windham | 2.05.26 | FT | SILVER |
| Owie Barber | 2.10.24 | ||
| Barbara Button | 2.13.33 | FT | |
| Jackie Gooch | 2.13.33 | Bronze |