Stuart Mugridge reports: A trip to the in-laws in Norfolk at Easter provided me with a chance to run the Trowse 10k organised by the City of Norwich Athletics Club. Easter egg hunting kept the children amused while I slipped out for an hour or so.
It was well-organised event around two laps and a bit extra of a pleasant course on the rural fringe of Norwich. The race started ‘backwards’ to take in a kilometre alongside Whitlingham Great Broad before heading onto the course the right way round. There was a modest climb of 30metres through Trowse village at 3 and 7kms which was compensated for by the equivalent loss of height soon afterwards.
The weather for race day was almost ideal with the rain from the previous day or so clearing away for the morning and even the odd glimpse of sun. Temperatures were low at around 5˚C at breakfast and not much more for the 9am start – plenty warm enough when running though.
The race attracted 500 entrants and 442 finishers and I was really pleased to place 67th with a time of 42:32 and seventh in the M40-44 category. I had been a bit unwell following the XC Champs in Bath so was pleased to have recovered and run a pb (in my running history of two 10ks!).
Top three in the event were: Nick Earl (CONAC) 32:21; Steven Robinson (St Edmund Pacers) 32:42; and John Battrick (Aberystwyth UAC) 35:15.
Full results (PDF)
Race website
Thanks Barrie.
I’d like to say that my time included 2km running backwards… but no! It was the first km clockwise along the course, then a scenic 1km by the broad (doubling back) and then onto the course ‘proper’ running it anti-clockwise twice. Not sure that makes any more sense…
Congratulations Stuart on `a good day at the office!` Clearly you have made a good recovery post the Bath XC;finishing 67th in a time of 42:32 is a most commendable effort.Congratulations on your PB. (I am still trying to visualise the `backward` Start! are you referring to the direction of the Course,or did you have to all run backwards .)
Good luck for the Season ahead.
Barrie Roberts