Round Norfolk Relay – 19/20th September 2009
The Round Norfolk Relay first took place on the weekend of 1st/2nd August 1987 and the idea was to run, near as possible, the Norfolk county boundary. The whole course has had a few changes over the years, attempting to stay clear of busy roads, and the distance currently stands at 193.97 miles (using GPS accuracy these days I guess). This event is getting stronger each year, where 55 teams from around the country took part on 19/20th September 2009.
The course is broken down into 17 stages, starting and finishing at Lynnsport, Kings Lynn. Distances are different on each leg, ranging from 5.39 to 19.67 miles. The running under foot can be on-road and off-road, especially on the coastal legs. Where it is on-road, each runner is escorted by a cyclist by day and a car by night. The night runners must wear a high viz vest and the cars display a flashing amber light for safety. The escorts are providing essential backup all the way, including water, directions and handover timing (thanks to mobile phones), without them this event wouldn’t be possible.
To throw a spanner in the works each team must also predict their finishing time. The idea is to get all teams over the finishing line around 9:30 am Sunday, which means staggered starts. The first start time is 5:30am Saturday and then at 30 min intervals. Getting 17 team members together (20 allowing for injuries etc) and each predicting their time shows the sort of planning required. And finally, since this is a relay, every runner must carry a baton in the palm of the hand (that’s including the 19 mile legs).
Check the buttons below for RNR results and photos:
Check All 17 RNR Stages (Word Required)
