Stepping Into the Arena - The Round Norfolk Relay

I enjoy reading great speech quotes written by wordsmiths, and this quote has been on my heart this weekend:

“The credit belongs to those who step into the arena — who strive, who sometimes fall short, and who, even when they fail, have at least dared greatly.”

— Theodore Roosevelt, 1910

If I had written this, I would have added a little addendum:

“The credit belongs to those who step into the arena — who strive, who sometimes fall short, and who, even when they fail, get up and go again.”

Although the Amsterdam Marathon is 5 weeks away , the week has been structured around the Round Norfolk Relay.

For those reading unsure of what the Round Norfolk Relay is, it’s the premier event in my book in the Norfolk running calendar — and I might say beyond. Teams from outside the county do enter.

60 teams enter, with 17 stages to be covered over 199 miles in under 29 hours. It’s takes an epic effort. each runner sets a time they expect to run each leg within the overall time allowed , and running over and putting the team behind is to be avoided if possible. There are complications, reserves slotted into the team late are fixed to the original runners time estimations , not their own after a certain time expires.

Behind each runner is a support crew and a logistics crew who timekeep and provide vehicle and bike support to runners.

The planning starts weeks before, with team selections and projected times being set, recce runs taking place, as it is self-navigated over road, beach and trail in all weather conditions.

There is also the administration work done by the behind-the-scenes club stalwarts, who do all this in the background before the race and are out with us in a support role all night and day.

Running is mainly an individual, timed thing. Rarely do you get the opportunity to run as a team, and I love it for that reason more than anything else.

Through the weekend, non-running team-mates from the wider club light up social media with positive messages, and it’s a compelling watch as we track the runners across the county.

Sleep is grabbed where possible in small segments.

For myself, I was running the first leg, and each leg brings its own challenges and a deep desire not to let the team down. It’s 16.24 miles , across a combination of sand , road and gravel. My estmated time was 2 hrs 18 mins.

My club mates are special people — people who commit fully and contribute everything. That is something not universally found, and it’s a special thing.

In running, this is what you’re judged on. Not on what you do or who you are, not on your time but on your character and effort levels.

Did you give everything?

If the answer is yes, we love you fully.

Fast times are the icing on the cake.

I’m running Leg One — Kings Lynn to Hunstanton

A 5.15am start is a strange thing.

Before that It’s a 2am breakfast for me and a hope that the body’s natural functions kick in before the start.

Regular runners will need no further explanation, but for non-runners, let’s just say that from 30 minutes into the run things can get very stressful and emotional very quickly!

I arrived at Kings Lynn Sports Centre to set off on time. Head torch on, we set off into the night — the first wave, in any case — and through the streets before most had stirred.

It’s eerie, really. A quietness apart from the reassuring whirring sound of the pedal cycle and the odd reassuring words from Mark on my escort bike, who sits there like a guardian angel.

There is a sense of vulnerability on the dark, unlit roads, from traffic, and as I turn off-road onto the track at Castle Rising , the head torch starts to light up the eyes of deer and other living things in the wood. It’s an enthralling sight.

Through to the main A149 from Kings Lynn to Hunstanton, we are joined by an escort vehicle. An amazing sensation — the flashing amber strobe light intermittently lights up the road and, for a moment, I think I am entering Area 51!

Down the hill into Wolferton and across the Royal Lands to the coastal path.

The change of terrain disrupts rhythm .

“More power, Lord” is my prevailing thought.

Don’t let me let these people down - my second thought . Seven miles in.
I re- adjust and find my stride. I can see I am catching the runner in front. I have practised running on sand and shale — it matters.

We head through the Snettisham Bird Sanctuary - it’s gel time , fuel up and go.

The dawn rises.

It is beautiful.

So beautiful that I think, if my life journey was to end here, it would be enough.

A distracting and strange thought.

“But please, not today, Lord. More power.”

At Snettisham, a pleasant surprise. Mark, Carole and Garry are there.

It’s a lifting moment.

They give me a drink as I pass, words of encouragement.

It matters , it helps.

I am having the guy in front. The target is set.

I’ll do him on the sand. I can run on the sand , the HOKA X3 is a good shoe choice, carbon plated , but low slung, light and stable.

I pass him and offer sincere encouragement.

We’re all runners. It’s what we do.

Out of the sand onto the promenade. I can see for miles .

Under time, but time to put everything in

Cowboy time.!!!!

Helen is waiting for the baton at the Changeover - a 13.75 mile coastal path run to Burnham Overy Staithe where Maria will be waiting.

It means so much to H . Last year, on her leg, her Achilles heel went. In an ordinary race, she would have stopped, but on this day the baton has to reach the next runner , she kept going that’s the obligation.

It cost her three months of running, and I know she would do it again today if required.

I hit the ramp from the seafront to the cliff tops, it’s a brutal straight up — half a mile — and I can see her.

She’s shouting encouragement at me, but I know she’s also thinking:

“Please don’t let me let these people down.”

I’m ten feet away.

I am proud. So proud of her.

She looks like a machine, coiled and ready.

Baton handed over.

Off she goes.

My best friend of 37 years and the one true love of my life.

I’m under the time.

I have put the team in front.

Thank you, Lord.

Onto Thornham

No time to celebrate, we do that after 17 legs — not one.

In any case, I have to head to a point where I can give Helen a drink.

Thornham a place of outstanding natural beauty.

It’s a spring tide. The water is high, but the coastal path is passable. There is drama with cars trapped in the water, but not the team cars.

She comes into view.

I can see her ponytail bobbing as she runs along the path.

Running towards me, I hand her the drink.

Eye contact.

No words not needed.

She’s in warrior mode and I speak the language.

Mark is straight on with bike support as she sets off on the road section.

I head to Brancaster Staithe. The team head further up so we have all the points covered.

The unexpected is inevitable - deal with it.

When I arrive, the spring tide is high and the path is under water.

Wet feet followed by sand.

A problem to be solved.

H enters the staithe.

I shout:

“Don’t stop. Don’t think. Just go!”

She’s through the water, over the hedge line on the right and back onto the path at the other side by the boats.

Onwards to the handover point at Burnham Overy.

Maria is waiting and very calm , she strikes me as good under pressure. She has the personality type to keep everyone calm to . It feels good.

Maria warms up and, in no time, we hear:

“Team 3!”

Which means H is imminent.

Then she turns the corner and hands over.

Under time.

We have a moment.

A hug.

We didn’t let anyone down.

It matters.

Breakfast at Thornham

Breakfast at Thornham.

Refuelling needed , I’m really hungry concentration does that to me.

It was so good, drowning out the taste of the gels.

We look around.

The café is full of people our age — retired, grandparents like us , plenty of grey hair and smartly dressed people.

Then they look at us.

We are dirty, sweat-drenched, salt-marked and stiffening limbs.

And look at our chests.

The RNR medals are hanging there.

No regrets.

We do hard things.

Always have.

Always will, if grace is given.

We hoover the food and get back home.

Tracker on.

It’s now about the team-mates.

We’ll try and follow the guys.

Maria nails it.

Rob Last too.

JB puts in a Chairman’s performance. Leadership is everything.

We’re rooting for everyone, especially Lucy, who is running the Cromer leg.

We knew she’d nail it. Character always wins.

Then onto Adrian — a giant of a performance off the back of injuries. Terrific effort , we’re both really chuffed for Adrian we know how much this means.

Tisha too, like an unstoppable metronome.

And onto Wayne, who is outstanding on his leg.

At this point we’re at home - time to sleep - there’s a good reason .

We say a quick prayer for Laura, Vinnie and Lucy C running long legs in the night while we sleep . These legs bring another challenge , miles of darkness lit by head torch and car light. What’s worse it’s raining heavy - no one cares we get it done.

RAF Feltwell

2am.

The alarm rings.

We are up, breakfast down and off to the marshal point at RAF Feltwell, Stage 14.

We check the team is still on course. While we slept the guys have run well we’re still under time.

It’s dark.

We see two other lights on cars behind us.

It has to be Andy, Tony and Neville.

No one else is up at this time.

We arrive at the RAF base. It is staffed by the USAF.

After explaining we weren’t there to blockade the base, we set up and waited.

Then they came.

One by one.

Tired.

No — exhausted runners and teams.

We worked well as a team under Neville’s leadership to keep the changeover station efficient. We are soaked to the skin now , we don’t care. There’s no one complaining here.

Then in came Lucy and Adele, who, if you know them, have the ability to light up any environment.

It felt exciting.

It meant that Dan, our team-mate, was due.

Dan is a man for a big occasion and handles the pressure jobs well .

He swapped into this leg, perhaps not his choice, but rightly the selectors trusted him — and so do we.

Adele gets ready.

I hear from Lucy about her leg. So well run.

Lucy is a sensational runner, and I think she’s only getting started.

Mandy and Rachel arrive in the team van , they are calm and confident about how things are going.

It’s hard to explain the effect Mandie has on things , but you just know all’s well when Mandie’s on station.

Then we see the Hawk , flying down the road , pink tutu flapping as he runs. Yes you read that right.

Adele, a pocket battleship who would run through a wall if necessary, is ready.

I know this leg is sorted at this point, before a step is made.

Maximum confidence in this runner.

Changeover.

Adele’s gone off into the dark.

Dan is spent.

He gave every inch.

I knew he would.

It’s drained him, but I know in his heart he’s proud.

And under time.

Busy at the Changeover

Things get a little hectic for an hour as multiple teams hand over, but we cope well.

This is a good group of people for this task.

Maria is checking the teams in - always collected always calm

Andy, H and myself are organising the vehicles in order of changeover.

Tony is sorting out the parking.

An experienced cricket umpire and therefore permitted to use the finger when he needs it!

We get quick updates , Deli as expected breezes through , Neil nails it , so does Lucy.

And just like that, the last team was through check point 14 , time to break camp.

We shut down the changeover point and head home for dry clothes , a quick change and on to the Lynn Sports Centre to meet with others and cheer Stuart as he came over the line like Josh Kerr.

The Weekend

It was a special moment.

A memory that needed to be absorbed.

A great weekend.

I just need to do a 20-minute run today and to say thanks for a successful weekend .