Story added: 10th July 2023

Our look at this year's podium contenders

Male race

Will it be three in a row for City of Norwich AC ace Logan Smith (Bib No #1)? The 2019 and 2022 winner is gunning for a hat trick, which will put him on par with club mate Nick Earl (’15, ’16, ’18) on Run Norwich wins. Well, the signs are good. He’s in the “form of his life”, and PBs for half marathon (Barcelona; 66.01) and 5K distances (14:31) this year back this up. 

Fierce competition will likely come in the form of debutant Norman Shreeve (#52) of Cambridge & Coleridge AC. The Norfolk native, doctor and father of two represents England at half and marathon distances, with an array of formidable PBs to his name (64:34; 2:16:17 and 10k 29:57).   

Only one entrant has a faster 10k PB than Norman; though this was set 24 years ago! Veteran Adrian Mussett (#7), a Run Norwich ever present who has blazed a trail through the M40, M45 and M50 race categories, has missed out on the race podium in recent years but eye-catching 10K times recently means he could well be a contender. He’s clocked three races in under-32 minutes this year and recently broke the V50 British record (that had stood for 33 years) for 10,000m, running 31:46. 

Ash Harrell (#3) of Highgate Harriers, a two-time runner-up and the joint 4th-fastest around the course, is being realistic about his chances of race gold. Having spent the best part of 16 months out with a stress fracture and bone oedema in his foot, he hasn’t done a huge amount of running. Nonetheless since his return in February, he’s returned to racing and clocked 31:07 at the Colchester 10K a few weeks back.  

Look out for: Reuben Andrews (#5), Jacob Ocal (#28), Kim Bowling (#23), Luke Alden (#35) 

Female race

Life remains in the fast lane for last year’s winner Anya Culling (#2) of Best Athletics. Her meteoric rise to prominence on the national running scene culminated in her representing England at Copenhagen last month – all incredible really considering she only started running during lockdown. A focus on marathon distance (with sights set on the Berlin Marathon) means she “needs to find some fast twitch muscles in her legs” but she’ll be paced – for as long as possible, anyway – by her boyfriend, who is flying in from Paris to join her.

Last year’s runner up Mabel Beckett, of City of Norwich AC, returns to compete once more. She set a 5K PB last week at the Wroxham 5K (16.55) and will have her sights set on a top-two finish once again.

Leanne Finch (#8) shaved a minute and a half off her Run Norwich PB to finish 3rd last year. The two-time podium finisher has had a quiet year in terms of races in 2023, but you can always expect a strong run from her.

Running clearly runs in the blood for the Andrews family. Mother of last year’s second place finisher Reuben, Jo Andrews, (#49) clocked a very impressive 36:44 to finish 4th last year, setting a V45 course record in the process. She’ll be moving to the V50 age category next year, but her recent form, which includes a 10K PB of 36:12 still puts her in very much contention to replicate her podium success of 2018.

A familiar name on the Norfolk running scene, Eleanor Grubb (#10) made her Run Norwich debut last year. Two young children means she feels she’s not in PB shape yet (which is 35.59), so her main aim is to “turn up fit on race day and beat last year’s effort”.

2019 winner Iona Lake (#4) will be running on Sunday, but won’t be aiming for the top places.

Look out for: Cat Cummings (#82), Amy Beck (#72), Kate Murrell (#176), Juliette Watkinson (#170), Rosanna Andrews (#205)

As a reminder, the main top three prizes are allocated on gun time.

Official results listings will be ranked by chip time, with age category prizes allocated this way.

Click here to see the course records.