Runners go further afield for some race-day action.

A number of the West Norfolk Athletics Club endurance team members went further afield for some race day action.Starting with the popular Manchester marathon, which serves as a great alternative to the famous London Marathon but by no means is a lesser event, self-proclaimed to be the flattest and friendliest marathon in the country.The event provided a great atmosphere all round for the 30,000 runners taking part on the day.The weather was almost perfect for the participants albeit a moderate breeze in some places of the course.First home for the club was Callum Stanforth, taking the distance on properly for the first time. Stanforth came home in a time of 2:36:46, finishing 41st overall and setting a new club record (the previous being set in 1986).Second home for the club was Arran Reeve, completing his third marathon and his first one since returning to the club, Reeve stormed home in a time of 2:56:10 setting himself a new PB.Lee Richardson was next in for Lynn-based club, completing his second marathon in a time of 3:23:29. Despite having some injury issues before his training block Richardson knocked off a massive 6 minutes of his existing PB John Castleton wasn’t far behind, completing his third marathon and his first in ten years, looking for a good for age time in his age category (Vet 60-64) for London next year. John came in in a time of 3:32:22, achieving his target earning a potential spot for London marathon next year whilst simultaneously setting a new club record in the distance for the Vet 60-64 category.The good times kept rolling in for WNAC as Matt Eldridge came in next, completing his second Manchester marathon and also setting himself a new PB in the process with a time of 3:41:13 knocking off a massive 14 minutes off his previous best. Matt put a large part of his improvement down to training with the club around the track on club nights.Rob Gosnell followed, with a great run on his marathon debut. Gosnell had been struggling with tendinitis in the weeks leading to the race but in typical fashion didn’t let that stop him, he took an impressive time of 3:48:56 back home to Norfolk with him. Michael Hadley finished the WNAC Manchester marathon contingent, another debut marathon for the club and a great time of 3:54:38 despite having to battle through the latter stages Hadley still beat the four-hour barrier on the first attempt which was worth the long trip up the M62The weekend’s running wasn’t just in Manchester.Four West Norfolk AC members found their race day experience a little closer to home at the popular Lincoln 10k.With a huge 3,800 participants, The Lincoln 10k provides a great atmosphere and a great standard of running, also boasting a fast and mostly flat course, making it a highlight for the racing calendar. First home for WNAC was the flying Mitchell Bunn who came home in a time of 33:31, fishing an impressive 14th overall and earning himself a new PB in the process.Bunn continues his development and proves his class as one of the area’s most promising distance runners.Second home for the club was Cassie Moden who continued her impressive form with a time of 38:44, finishing fifth in the women’s race. Cassie is also another promising young runner who continues to show the fruits of her excellent training and discipline. Ben Foxwell was next in for the club as he finished with a time of 43:35. After struggling with illness in the weeks leading up to the race to run a sub-50-minute 10k was very pleasing for Foxwell.Mark Garrett finished his first Lincoln 10k in a great time of 45:49 setting himself a brand new PB. After some injury issues and battling the infamous uphill final mile, a PB is an impressive feat. Away from the road racing scene, Wilf Gosnell took part in the only track event of the week at the Norwich open meet, performing fantastically to earn himself a new PB of 13.51 in the discus.The clubs’ performances over the weekend and recent months shows real growth across the board for West Norfolk AC, this is a testament to the coaching and the culture currently being cultivated at the club.