Run Norwich: Nathan's Story

No stranger to the Run Norwich start line, Nathan will be lining up for his fifth consecutive Run Norwich this Sunday. But this year, his journey to get there is anything but ordinary. In fact, he’ll be travelling more than 10,000 miles from Australia just to make sure he can be part of Norfolk’s biggest running celebration once again.

“Run Norwich is my favourite race on the run calendar,” says Nathan. “There’s something about those crowds and the way Norwich comes together that just makes me appreciate running and the city I live in.”

When Nathan secured a coveted ballot place for the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon last October, he was understandably delighted. Like many runners, he immediately started planning the trip of a lifetime, with visions of marathon day followed by several weeks exploring Australia.

The plan seemed perfect.

That was until Run Norwich announced its 2026 race date.

With the Norwich event falling just one week after the Sydney Marathon, Nathan found himself facing a dilemma. Would he stay in Australia and miss his favourite race, or could he somehow do both?

For Nathan, there was only one real answer.

“I knew that I really didn’t want to miss the race,” he told us.

“I replanned my trip to see if I could make it back for Run Norwich, while still giving myself time to experience Australia and the atmosphere of my first major marathon.”

The new itinerary is certainly ambitious. After completing the Sydney Marathon on Sunday (congratulations!), Nathan will begin a mammoth 31-hour journey home, landing back in the UK late on Thursday evening. That gives him just two days to recover from the flight, shake off any jet lag and ease any marathon-weary legs before making his way to the Run Norwich start line.

While many runners would be thinking about personal bests after such a demanding week, Nathan has a different focus this year.

“This year will look a lot different to previous years,” he explains. “I won’t be chasing a time. I’ll be taking it steady, supporting my fellow club mates from The Coffee Run Norwich and really taking in the atmosphere and enjoying being out there.”

And who can blame him? After a marathon on the other side of the world, a long-haul flight home and a whirlwind week of travel, simply standing on the start line will feel like an achievement in itself.

But that’s what makes Run Norwich so special. For Nathan, it is more than just a race. It is a chance to be surrounded by thousands of runners, volunteers and spectators who turn the city into one giant celebration of community togetherness.

If everything goes to plan, Nathan could be heading home from Run Norwich with his second medal in the space of just seven days. Not many runners can say they’ve completed a major international marathon and Run Norwich in the same week.

As race day approaches, Nathan’s story is a reminder of just how much Run Norwich means to the people who take part. Some runners travel from across the county. Others travel from across the country.

Nathan is travelling back from the other side of the world.

Now that is commitment!

See you on the start line, Nathan, and good luck chasing that second medal of the week!