AHEAD of the Gorleston Cliffs parkrun No 38 the normal course was rendered completely unusable by ice and snow so an alternative (unfrozen) shoreline course of approximately 5k was used for the first time.

AHEAD of the Gorleston Cliffs parkrun No 38 the normal course was rendered completely unusable by ice and snow so an alternative (unfrozen) shoreline course of approximately 5k was used for the first time.

Four lengths of Gorleston beach at low tide is good running in normal weather, but when two lengths are dead against a freezing north easterly gale it's not so much fun.

However, nine hardy souls turned out to do battle and most enjoyed the experience.

First, for the first time in 21 runs, was young Timothy Harris in 23:46. In her 32nd appearance Janet Sanderson was first lady in 32:25.

Peter Smith was third and extended his points lead to 145 whilst Janet extended her lead to 183 points in the ladies' table.

The real heroes of the day were the volunteers - Peter Westgate for standing on the beach for an hour doing the timing, Ira Smith for cycling 15 miles to get there and for being a static marshal at the far end of the course and “Crunchy” Harbord for the open air results.

With a spectacularly white beach and the temperature around zero it was a day to savour for those wild enough to give it a go.

It is now known that the beach does make a good alternative course if necessary so there should never be a need to completely cancel the run.

Efforts will be made to measure it accurately before using it again. However, it is always bound to be slower than the normal tarmac course.

Results: 1 Timothy Harris (M) 46:57 64 per cent JM15-19 (Unattached), 2 Nick Overy (M) 25:13 54.92 per cent VM40-44 (Unattached), 3 Peter Smith (M) 28:53 52.34 per cent VM50-54 (Unattached), 4 David (The Dungbeetle) Kelf (M) 30:02 54.83 per cent VM60-64 (Axe Valley Runners), 5 Janet Sanderson (F) 32:25 57.17 per cent VW55-59 (Unattached).

6 Linda Phillips (F) 37:12 49.15 per cent VW55-59 (Unattached), 7 Anthony Harris (M) 45:04 33.80 per cent VM50-54 (Unattached), 8 Michael Sanderson (M) 50:04 32.59 per cent VM60-64 (Unattached), 9 Dianne Dallimore (F) 50:04 40.31 per cent VW60-64 (Unattached).