ROUND NORFOLK RELAY 1999

by Maggie Moran

This year was the first time Serpentine had entered this race. So what is it all about? It's a continuous relay that has been run for the last thirteen years and this year saw a record entry of 26 teams. Seventeen stages loop the county of Norfolk that, before this weekend, had largely been thought to be flat.

Stage 1 King's Lynn to Hunstanton 15.18m

Sepanta Dorri – Place 11^th– Distance 15.18m – Time 1:44:04

Saturday morning we all met at the King's Lynn Leisure Centre. The Serpie team was going off in the first batch at 9.30 am. Hilary was due to ride shot gun for the first 6 legs and she duly caught up with Ros and Grethe et al who had come up by train. As Serpie Chairman and Runner Chaperone, she had felt that she should dress (up) accordingly. For her pains, her fetching kit of matching lycra shorts and top with Serpie vest and Serpie cap under helmet earned her the description of "an overweight jockey" from Ros. Complete success – OTT Serpie dress sense.

However serious riding was ahead. First off was Sepanta who had asked whether there were any hills as she didn't like them. Hilary, quite blithely, said no, there aren't many in Norfolk. How wrong she was. Her 15 mile leg was strewn with hills – even in the last mile into Hunstanton where she finished a magnificent 3rd overall from the 9.30 am starters.

Stage 2 Hunstanton to Burnham 11.05m

Richard Holloway – Place 9^th– Distance 11.05m – Time 1:13:26

Some of those travelling up from London on the Saturday morning, joined the race at this point, including yours truly, just in time to see Richard finish a grand ninth for Serpentine. Initially I had the feeling I had joined a party half way through, which of course I had. Perhaps I'll join the crowd who came up Friday evening if I can stand the traffic jam queuing to get out of London. I might even get to see in person the Italian waiter described by one Serpie as a dead ringer for Victor Meldrew.

Stage 3 Burnham to Wells

Leigh Kenney – Place 23^rd– Distance 5.83m –Time 0:57:05

Well I didn't see her run, but I know she was grinning and happy when I saw her afterwards. But when isn't she!

Stage 4 Wells to Cley Next the Sea

Katy Williams – Place 24^th – Distance 10.76m – Time 1:31:09

At about 1.00 pm and sporting plait ribbons in club colours Katy, full of bubbly chatter as usual, could see Leigh coming down the hill ready to pass the baton. Panic! Her memory flicked back to school when she used to run in the relay. "How do I hold the baton, what happens if I drop it, is it heavy?" Leigh obviously had a good run, she had a huge smile on her face as she passed the baton. A huge Serpie cheer went up and Katy was on her way. She was very excited about this race for a number of reasons. Firstly, she had recently moved to Norfolk and was missing her friends in the club and secondly was really excited about taking part in the Round Norfolk Relay.

However, as she came to her first turn, a quick glance over her shoulder showed no Hilary (cycle support). Right or left? Left or right? She didn't know which way to go. A quick memory flashback to her instructions (and a bit of a gamble) she chose left and a few minutes later could hear Hilary behind her. Katy admitted she was very nervous with Hilary cycling beside her. She had the uttermost respect for her and I knew she worked hard in all she has achieved. She had fears that she might think she wasn't working hard enough and she'd be pushing her and making her work harder. So Hilary cycles up to and she says "Well, you obviously knew where you are going" and I replied confidently that yes, of course, I had read my instructions. Phew that was lucky! The first mile marker showed she was running way to fast having completed the first mile in under 7 minutes. It's amazing what the pressures of Hilary can do to a runner! Beep, beep the rest of the Serpie crew were passing in their cars yelling and hooting their good luck going ahead to feed her water. The sun was shining and it was relatively warm but every now and then the wind pushing against her, never behind. (Nor for any of us Katy). The roads were quite windy which, in a way, was a good thing as she couldn't see the hills that were coming up. At the top of one of the hills, there was a lovely village pub serving hot food. She was beginning to feel quite hungry and a pint of Stella wouldn't have gone amiss. She asked Hilary if they could stop for a swift one and was promptly told no! Farther on (and taking water trying to imagine that it was lager) she spotted another sign. Boat cruise to see the seals. She felt like a tourist and, in auto-pilot didn't notice that she was running (can understand that?) asked Hilary can we go? NO! This wasn't fair so, when signs for ice cream and fudge appeared, she kept silent. Every now and then, to bring her back to reality, a passing car would give them a beep and a bunch of Serpies would be waiting to feed her water.

The last mile was excellent. She put all her reserves in that last stretch but couldn't see the finish until the final point. She kept running the curves of the road until the last one where there was a cluster of red and yellow shirts and a huge Serpie cheer went up. Feeling proud to be a Serpie, she lengthened her stride and saw an eager Grethe waiting, hand out stretched to take the faithful baton (which she didn't drop once!). Her time was just over 1hr 30min and she thoroughly enjoyed the race and the support from everyone. Katy adds "For those who were slightly hesitant about running this race, don't be. It is an excellent fun weekend with everybody in high spirits. The supporters make the race just as much as the runners do. Next year come and join in the fun. I will."

Stage 5 Cley to Cromer 10.09m

Grethe Petersen – Place 17^th– Distance 10.09m – Time 1:19:14

Whoever told you Norfolk was flat was lying Grethe. Ah! You know that now do you? Still, you were looking very strong when you passed me. Remember, the table full of Serpies outside the pub raising their glasses to you? We were with you in spirit! The most difficult bit for Hilary, accompanying on the bike, was negotiating Cromer, trying to protect and shout directions at the runner through the Saturday afternoon traffic whilst trying to stop getting mown down herself!

Stage 6 Cromer to Mundesley

Chris McNeill – Place 20^th – Distance 5.89m – Time 0:50:20

As this was Chris's first Serpie race, Beate had kindly given her the shortest leg (5.89 miles); the most straightforward route (just one straight road all the way); and a civilised time of day (4.00 pm).

Having spent the last nine months in Holland, Chris thought she had done some ideal training for Norfolk. Ha! Imagine her shock to find more than one gentle incline en-route. Getting a bit of height was no bad thing though as she had a magnificent view out to sea on more than one occasion and the uphills provided some shelter from the wind.

The Norfolk countryside was very pretty and, with the stage going through three small villages, it was all very typical of the area - flints in the walls of houses and Norman churches.

Hilary supported on the bike with good water stations provided by the Serpie support wagon. After taking the baton from Grethe in Cromer, Chris was pleased to pass it on to me when she reached Mundesley, so she could return to the trailer park (via the pub) to shower and change.

Plenty of pasta, kindly prepared by Sally and Ros, set her up for the nightshift supporting Jean-Luc, Kathleen and Ros on legs 11, 12 and 13 in the car. This was harder work than the run earlier in the day, but they managed to keep each other awake and have some fun despite time of night.

Stage 7 Mundesley to Lessingham

Maggie Moran – Place 22^nd – Distance 9.95m – Time 1:23:49

Running with a baton is great! I'm sure it makes you go faster. It must be something to do with the OMO effect (thanks, Andy Blackford) There was another novelty for me and that was having a cyclist at my side. Now there's something I could get used to. As long as they behave like Owen Barder - calls out the miles, doesn't natter too much, shuts up when I'm having a hard time and hands out the water bottle to perfectly synchronise with my right, outstretched hand - what a team.

Have you ever contemplated mugging for a bag of chips? No? Well don't sound so shocked. If you had run past the groups tucking into bags of fish and chips at the seaside while cheering you on, you too may have come close. And they were runners! How could they be so cruel?

Stage 8 Lessingham to Winterton on Sea

Sami Mohamed – Place 4th – Distance 10.62m – Time 1:09:27

Despite the rest of the country having gales, we were treated kindly with sunshine and not a drop of rain. However, I had had enough of running into a fairly forceful wind for the best part of nine miles and I was glad to hand the baton onto the every-smiling Sami. I cadged a lift back to the start of stage 7 with Beate, covering the route I had just run. It never ceases to amaze me just how far the routes look when you drive them. I would have thought it would be the other way around but, no. Every time I find myself amazed at just how far ten miles (or whatever) is.

Stage 9 Winterton to Great Yarmouth

Sue Ellen Horrocks – Place 18^th – distance 8.58m – Time 1:09:31

That illiotibial band whatsit seems to be better than Sue Ellen?

Stage 10 Great Yarmouth to Geldeston

Franziska Lewinski – Place 20th – Distance 14.52m – Time 1:55:00

Franziska thought the Norfolk relay was great fun and an amazing experience to run through the night with a biker who provided drinks and squeezies whenever needed. Apparently Owen also provided entertainment but details weren't included in the note she sent me. Should we book him for the Christmas party?

Stage 11 Geldeston to Scole

Jean Luc Hoetz – Place 25^th – Distance 19.81m – Time 2:58:48

Running at night can be pretty tough going, but an old hamstring injury took its toll on Jean Luc. Not the happiest run he has had, but he bravely finished his stage. Still, the Hoetz family had a fun weekend in Norfolk and the children loved staying in the trailer. Runners with young families - take note - next time, come and bring the family for a weekend.

Stage 12 Scole to Thetford

Kathleen Healy – Place 26^th – Distance 17.77m – Time 2:56:23

With the Dublin marathon coming up, the need for long runs induced (American) Kathleen to taken on one of the longer stages. She found the last few miles pretty tough, but this was the middle of the night. Many of our runners found their times tended to slip with night running. Kathleen's adventure didn't start with her stage however. Along with (Canada) Kathleen , she came up to Norfolk by train that afternoon. They had been instructed to take a taxi to the trailer park at Wells. However the driver took them to the wrong trailer park and Hilary and Beate got a plaintive phone call for help. Like knights in shining armour they were on their way. However Hilary and Beate were on the A149 but K2's were on the A148. They might never have met but for another phone call which left them with a dark assignation at a church gateway outside Sheringham. Spooky stuff.

Stage 13 Thetford to Feltwell

Ros Young – Place 26^th – Distance 13.98m – Time 2:01:07

Chip eaters note, I too can be cruel. There I was, dawn breaking, with my passenger and next runner Dave, waiting in the chilly air for Ros to finish her stage. And what was I doing? Eating. Hot, egg and bacon buttie with brown sauce. Ah yes!

Unfortunately it looked like the last thing Ros wanted to see when she finished her stage. I thought she was going to be sick.

Stage 14 Feltwell to Southery

David Lipscomb – Place 19^th – Distance 7.7m – Time 1:01:32

Getting up at 3.50 am to get Dave to his stage has its compensations. Tiptoeing around trying to get dressed with the minimum noise, I heard an almighty crash as our Ladies Captain knocked half a dozen beer bottles over! Now, I know us Serpies like a drink or two. In fact, it has been said, we are a running club with a drinking problem, but beer at that time in the morning? I'll never let her forget it. (Beate's explanation was that she was getting up to make me a cup of coffee and knocked empty bottles over while trying to do this in the dark). Umm.

Despite intensive baton changing practice in King's Lynn car park, Dave nearly fluffs the change over - and we thought England had overcome this problem. Starting too fast meant much suffering, but Dave's time was good. (He was probably trying to get away from me as I had blasted him for his navigating skills. "How far is it to Feltwell Dave?". "About a page".

Stage 15 Southery to Downham Market

Kathleen Broekhof – Place 23^rd – Distance 6.76m – Time 0:58:19

An early start for Kathleen and Sally driven by Beate from the trailer park at some unearthly hour. (On review, that last sentence could be read two ways). At least they were given an extra hour in bed after an update by mobile from me. (How did we used to manage on relays without mobiles?). At least the sun was well up when she started. A good time from Kathleen from a run largely on a busy main road.

Stage 16 Downham Market to Smeeth

Sally MacKay – Place 22^nd – Distance 12.36m – Time 1:40:49

Running gets considerably more lonely now, as most of the caravan have hiked it back to King's Lynn to the Lynnsport Centre to be there for the finish. They missed some pretty countryside and our Sal' had a great run that she thoroughly enjoyed. Sally's contribution to the Relay included chef duty the previous night at our trailer, preparing a pasta dinner that was heartily scoffed in due Serpie fashion. Our thanks go also to Bev who had done the food shopping - we'll definitely rope her in again, beer and a delicious Chianti Classico went in her trolley! She knows her customers.

Stage 17 Smeeth to King's Lynn

Hilary Walker – Place 18^th – Distance 15.06m – Time 1:43:02

Stage Record (LV)

Having volunteered to run, navigate or support on a bike, Hilary found herself doing all three! She came up to Kings Lynn the evening before and spent a very enjoyable evening looking round the fascinating old bits of the town.

Bev drove Hilary from the trailer park to the start. (I never knew we had so many shepherd's in the club). A long wait, sustained by coffee from the thermos but spent cheering on runners from other teams, brought the realisation that the dubious honour of the wooden spoon was well and truly Serpentine's and that was before Hilary's race even started.

She set off into the wind accompanied by Richard giving helpful mile splits. (though she wasn't sure whether she wanted them as it showed that the head wind was winning – even though the terrain was very flat, there was no shelter from the wind until we got to the outskirts of King's Lynn). But there was continual encouragement. She had tried to learn and memorise the rather tortuous route but needn't have done so, as Richard was a very competent navigator.

So it was on into King's Lynn, with full support from a couple of cars which meant she didn't feel alone, but by then she was. The presentations were due at 11.00 am but Hilary was still nine miles from the end. She duly came onto the finish at the track just after midday to full support from the Serpentine crowd and our old friend John Barrow – ex-Straggler and one of the organisers of the race. Well done the Serpentine Team. We completed the event in style. Though we won the Wooden Spoon, we ran 195 miles without dropping the baton (more than some of our international relay teams have done!). Also, in the Senior Ladies category, thirteen new stage records were set with Serpentine runners claimed four of them. Hilary Walker also set a stage record in the Lady Veteran category. Out of seventeen runners, our team had no less than fourteen women. Beate sums up our performance well: "We can be happy to have completed such a hard course in only a minute a mile slower than most male competitors over such a tough course. We will be back next year with a promise that we will not retain the Wooden Spoon".

I sadly missed the finale as I was driving around King's Lynn with one runner trying to find the petrol station where she had left her car. One Shell station looks much like another, or was it an Esso? Don't ask!

Most of us then retired to a pub for a late lunch before the long trek home. Having, in the last two days, driven 460-odd miles (and some of them were very odd indeed), I was nearly falling asleep at the wheel. Slugs of coffee at the service station perked me up until I could crawl into my own bed desperate for a good night's sleep. Last thought? When's the next relay?

Thanks from all the team to:

Beate for organising everything
Bike supporters – Richard, Owen and Hilary
All other supporters
Bev for shopping
Sally for cooking
Everyone who contributed to this article (especially Hilary)
Anyone I've forgotten

Maggie Moran