Story added: 19th July 2018

Last year's race winner Michael Kallenberg talks training, injury and defending his title

On entering…

A friend of mine living in Norwich had competed in Run Norwich and talked about how great an event it was. I knew looking at past results that the race attracts a host of good athletes. I felt I had to come and see for myself – he was right!

On the course…

I loved the city, and I liked the fact the course was a rolling course. Pan flat courses can be quite boring. Norwich was a fast course yet challenging at the same time. The crowd were incredible. They really helped to keep me going when it got tough.

On the race…

I decided I would try to get out hard and just see how I went from there. There were many familiar faces running, including the very talented Ash Harrell. From 2K in, I had a gap and from there I just had to focus on maintaining form and not blowing up. The crowd helped to push me around the course, particularly over the last 1K where it got really tough.

As soon as I had finished the race, I had to pretty much head straight to the train station! Being a member of the RAF, I was fortunate enough to be flag bearing at the World Athletics Championships in London that day so I had to dash back for the Marathon medal ceremony.

On fondest memories…

My fondest memory was finishing third at the Manchester Marathon in 2015. It was one of those races where everything just clicked. By the halfway point I found myself with two other athletes (Paul Martelletti and Andy Norman) who I had and still do look up to. I just tried to hang on to the leaders for as long as possible.

It wasn’t until the last painful mile that I accepted that a podium finish was possible.

Unfortunately, the course turned out to be 380m short so the big PB that I ran (2:19.00) didn’t stand but being on the podium in my dad’s home city with the legendary Ron Hill presenting my third place trophy to me was one of the proudest moments of my life.

On that Robin outfit…

We were doing it to raise money for a friend who had been involved in a parachuting accident. Myself and another friend figured we could raise more awareness and money if we dressed as Batman and Robin, and attempted the World Record [at the Cardiff Half Marathon]. To my knowledge, it still stands at the moment!

On work…

I’ve been in the RAF for four and a half years now. I was very fortunate to be given two years on the RAF’s ‘Elite Athlete Status Scheme’ to focus on attempting to run the qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games Marathon. Having not hit the standard, I started back in my working role back in November but still have plenty of time off to compete in RAF races. I normally average 90-100 miles a week.

On training…

Things went well after Norwich last year. I went on to run 30:33 on a very wet and windy Cardiff 10K course, followed by a 2:20.18 at the Berlin Marathon.

Winter training seemed to also go well until I took a fall at Armagh 5K and I ended up with a stress response. Since then, I had 11-12 weeks of no training. I’ve had a long road to recovery, but hope I can be in decent shape come August 5th.

I’ll look to build up my mileage for now and then get some speed sessions in nearer the time. It’s a shame I live in Leeds as I’d love to train around the course a little before the day.

On retaining the title…

If I’m honest, it’ll be tough to improve on last year’s time given the way this year has gone.

If he can make the race, Nick Earl [Run Norwich 2015 & 2016 champion] is a class act too, and Ash Harrell [Last year’s second place finisher] is very talented, so they’ll be tough to beat. All I can tell you is I’ll give it 100% when that gun goes and we’ll just have to see where that gets me.

And lastly…

My advice to runners would be to enjoy it. As I said before, the crowd are brilliant and it’s a great course, so soak it up and enjoy the run out. If you’re pushing hard for a time, hold a little back for the last kilometre, it’s a tough one when you’re tired.