Whenever I run in Great Yarmouth, I can guarantee that it will be windy in at least one of the directions, and today was no exception. Particularly the 5 mile stretch back towards the Pleasure Beach, I was starting to wonder if we would ever turn! Added to the wind today as well was a delightful splattering of rain, but at least it held off properly pelting down until the finish. Starting and finishing from near the pier, the East Cost 10K is 1.5 laps along the promenade, taking in the glorious sandy beach that Great Yarmouth boasts. Race HQ was the new Marina centre which definitely looks worth a visit in the future, climbing walls looked like a lot of fun. Please indulge me for a few moments as I explain I was running with my 68-year-old Father in his first 10k race. He unfortunately had a stress induced stroke at 55 and lost quite a lot of sensation on the left-hand side of his body. He decided during lockdown that he would like to join me and my husband at parkrun. Since then, I can only say he is absolutely flying and completing today in 1.07.27 just goes to show what is achievable. The Great Yarmouth Road Runners put on an incredibly welcoming race, one which had sold out a couple of weeks beforehand. With so many runners on the sea front it always makes for quite a spectacle and it was great to see people out on the course cheering and encouraging the runners on. The marshals were all so encouraging and there was lots of support on a fairly miserable day. From my own personal point of view, it was just amazing to run next to my father and watch him get his huge PB (although obviously I’m taking double credit as not only was I obviously the inspiration behind taking up running but my perfect pacing got him his PB today!) Definitely one to be remembered. Amazing to see so many Jags not only out on the course but also PBs and finish positions.
Seeing a trail Race on the calendar which sounded a bit different, I felt yes let’s try it out, I suggested it to Ben Letzer and Elly Young and we all busy entered also to enter from the Jaguars was Nigel Stallard-Mulford. None of us knew what to expect!. Its a 3 lap course set on a private estate with two pit drops each lap which climbed and dropped multi times. Firstly they put on junior Races for All ages starting/distance/age varying times. The weather looked horrendous travelling there, however turned out to be an almost dry Race! Although a small attended Race, I highly recommend this to you all as this event is held every year and very enjoyable.
Finishing Times;
Mel Porter 37-02 Elly Young 41-33 Ben Letzer 42-22 Nigel Stallard-Mulford 45-32
