GY Half This was my first time running the Great Yarmouth Half Marathon. It was a very well organised event with good facilities available at the Ormiston Venture Academy school prior to the start of the race – lots of room in the sports hall, food available in the canteen and toilets available within the school. With the race taking place in mid-August the temperature was warm as expected, what was less expected was the strong winds which made the conditions very challenging for running! Six Jaguars took part with everyone achieving great times in the conditions and Emma Penfold completing her first half marathon. The race was very well marshalled with a nice section running past Somerleyton Hall and it is certainly a race I would like to do again in the future.
RN19 – race report
It was the fifth year of RN19 and its grown again, 7500 spaces up for grabs this year and they sold out fast.
On the morning of 21st July the sun was shining on Chapelfield gardens, by 8.45 the gardens were packed full of runners and our gazebo stood out like an orange beacon, giving us a brilliant meeting place amongst the crowds. The gardens were buzzing, some excited, some nervous, with the occasional whiff of deep heat permeating the air.
After, as many Jags as possible, had gathered for the group photo. It was time to head off to the start pens, the toilet queues were long, but then that’s to be expected in a race of this size and allowing some time to wait in queue, but sharing some banter with those around you, keeping an eye out for friends in the crowds, soon helped the time pass quickly.
I was in blue start and true to Run Norwich organisation, the race was underway on time, moving 6200 runners through a start line cannot be an easy task, but the organisers have ensured the start went smoothly and soon we were underway.
Prepared for a very hot run, it was pleasantly cool and breezy at half nine in the morning. After the climb towards Chapelfield gardens, it is mainly flat or downhill as you make your way onto Carrow Road. The first few kilometres sailed by, with lots of support from the crowds and Jag crews along the way. The choir singing ‘I’m still standing’ at Riverside put a smile on my face as did many of the signs and excellent marshals along the way.
The first main challenge of the race is Rose lane, yes it is steep, but not too long and once over and around the top, you can enjoy a nice downhill to recover from the climb. By now though, it was getting very warm and a few runners were starting to walk or ease off the pace.
A good flat stretch is then had, between Prince of Wales road and around the cathedral. Between kilometres 8 & 9 its tough, you are nearly there, but you turn off away from the direction of the finish, and can see runners the other side of the road, they would be a kilometre ahead of you.
They are climbing up through Tombland, and I think, that section is harder than Rose Lane, you are tired, very hot by then, and it is time to dig in and get that last kilometre done, (giving Gaynor’s son a high five at kilometre 9, if you can get near him as he had a queue of people waiting to high five him when I was there!).
Turning the corner towards Castle Meadow, was the biggest shout out from the jag support crew, it was perfect and very much needed!
Home stretch now, right turn at Debenhams (I apologise to anyone running near me, but I swore loudly, as I had forgotten about that last hill). One final climb and a sprint to the finish if your legs can handle it!
What an event, it was well organised – I hear some people were left without a goody bag, but they are being sorted, brilliantly supported and everywhere you looked there was a member of the Coltishall Jags. My first Run Norwich as a Jag and will definitely not be my last
I felt nervous as we got to the Race headquarters, This was going to be a record of how far I had come over the year ( the Humpty Dumpty 2018 was my 1st official race let alone 10K!) so I had a mixture of feelings about the race.
We got there in plenty of time, had a few hello’s with the congregating Jags and then got in the loo Q and then bag drop and suddenly there were calls for the 1st wave (I was in the last wave so knew I had time). Made my way to the starting penwhile making sure my bib number was secure and that my Jeffing sign on my back was in place, I got to my pen and got near the back. Lots of chatter and good lucks from fellow Jags and other runners and the 1st wave started and we moved forward waiting forour turn. We got to the start had a quick safety briefing and we were off. The crowds were great though the town and as we thinned out a bit I turned on my beeper, 40:20 was the ratio I had decided to Jeff to. When the 1st beep sounded I called out ‘walkbreak’ and checked behind me to make sure no one was directly behind me, there was a large group who hadn’t heard me and I nearly fell over the curb getting out of there way. Then the beep again and I could get into my race rhythm. Lots of cheering and lotsof keep going when I was on a walk Emoji butI kept focused and into the countryside we ran.
At about 1st K there was the lovely Mr T sending us up the 1st if small incline with another lovelyJag marshalling at the top sending us on the right road. It was about this time (usually the same distance most races) that the other runnersnear me notice I’m Jeffing and small conversations start as we keep passing each other (this happens towards the end of races as well) I have meet lots of runners this way, it breaks up the race and it adds to the whole experience.
Before I knew it the sign for Reedham was in front of me and then it was on into the village with extra water being offered by the marshals and shouts of encouragement from the public, I then turned onto Riverside where there was more Jag supportwhich always encourages me and lifts me up that little bit more. Then it was a left turn onto Mill Rd (the hill) which I decided because of the heat to Power Walk with a capital P as I didn’t want to zap all my energy. It was at that moment I rememberedmy ice towel so wetted it shook it and enjoyed the coolness with a quick wipe over, bliss. Onwards though the roadworks then right up Church Rd (another hill) then the lovely site of 2 Jags on bikes shouting support at the top of the hill, just where we neededit. Then it was the long slog of Halvergate Rd which always seems to have a headwind no matter what the weather!!! It was here I caught up with a fellow Jag running who was feeling the heat so Ice towel again and we set off Jeffing together for the last1.5K ish. It was lovely turning into the last Rd and hearing the crowd then seeing loads of Jags and runners cheering us down the road and then over the finish line. Medal, Water, Banana and Mars bar and a big smile, I knew I had given my all in that heat.
The result was HD 2019- 1:09:20, HD 2018- 1:21:31. So 12 mins faster than last year and an improvement in how I ran as well as my recovery. And I Loved it.
Emily
The usual great turnout of Jaguars for this series brought plenty of orange to this event! The heavy rain during the day probably put a few people off but it eased away for the start of the race, and in fact conditions were perfect for running.I have it on good authority that there is more oxygen available in the air when the weather is damp, so there were quite a few PBS on the night and some owners of orange vests going up for awards. It was a shame the junior race had to be cancelled due to thegrass track being slippery. The new car parking arrangements worked well, with a few clubs being allocated the playground at St John’s Primary on the Horning Road. All in all it was a good event with a great atmosphere, and most people seemed to come awaywith a smile on their faces!
Name
Time
PBs
Standard
Andy Mulligan
16.58
YES
DIAMOND
Daniel Smith
27.55
YES
GOLD
Jack Stuttle
18.00
GOLD
Neil Button
18.44
Shared Age Group Record
DIAMOND
Darren Tubby
18.52
YES
GOLD
Lee Emmett
18.53
YES
GOLD
Mel Porter
18.55
DIAMOND
Graham Johnson
19.09
DIAMOND
Chris Johnson
19.48
YES
SILVER
Rod Bye
19.53
DIAMOND
Ben Gaskins
20.11
SILVER
Julian Smith
20.02
YES
GOLD
Thomas Lincoln-Kemp
20.17
GOLD
Nicholas Eley
20.20
YES & Bronze CC Medal
DIAMOND
Ken Bowman
20.32
1st In Age Group & Silver CC Medal
PLATINUM
Stuart Aldous
20.44
SILVER
Elly Young
20.52
YES First In Age Group, Gold CC Medal & New Age Group Record
PLATINUM
Barry Halkyard
20.56
YES
SILVER
Franklyn Plume
20.57
YES
SILVER
Phil Henry
21.09
GOLD
Charlotte Reed
21.21
YES
GOLD
Stuart Kenrick
21.57
FT
SILVER
Vicky Tovell
22.08
GOLD
Nouha Tate
22.26
YES
SILVER
Andrew Jarvis
22.42
BRONZE
Richard Peters
2245
YES
BRONZE
Sonja White
22.47
SILVER
Ruth Steele
22.48
FT
GOLD
Robert Dye
23.27
Luke Townsend
23.34
Ruth Gainsford
23.48
YES
GOLD
Keith Brighty
23.49
Rosemary Jackson
23.41
YES 2nd In Age Group & Silver CC Medal
DIAMOND
Jackie Bye
23.43
3rd In Age Group, Bronze CC Medal & New Age Group Record
GY Race 3 There was a great turnout of 40 Jaguars for the final race in the Great Yarmouth 5 mile series for 2019. Runners again had to contend with a headwind in the home straight but this did not stop twelve Jags achieving PBs including Shane Bidle for three out of three in the series, Nick Eley who achieved first place in his age group and Nicola Lambert-John who claimed second place in her age group with a new age group record. Neil Button and Elly Young also gained second places in their respective age groups with Elly improving her age group record from race 2. Yet again the great support from Jaguars around the course, a well-organised event and good marshalling led to an enjoyable race and overall a great series of races.
