Story added: 15th March 2016

On winning Run Norwich, training and success on the track

It was perhaps fitting that the first winner of Run Norwich would be a city native.

What was unusual though, out of all the 3,800 race entrants, was that runner had also journeyed the furthest to be there – a cool 10,418 miles, to be precise.

Step forward Nick Earl, a climate scientist from Norwich now living in Melbourne, whose time of 31:28 puts his name first and foremost in the race history books.

Now, six months on and back in Australia, the thirty-one year old reflects on what he cites as one of his career highlights to date.

“Run Norwich was certainly the biggest 10km I’ve won and one of the biggest I’ve competed in. I took part in Run Melbourne 10km a month earlier and Run Norwich was a far more enjoyable event with a much better atmosphere and I’m not just saying that because I finished second in Melbourne! The scale of Run Norwich was really impressive for a relatively small city – there were tonnes of people lining the streets.”

One of the most iconic images from the day is Nick Earl’s trademark victory leap as he crossed the finish line. He admits the moments after passing the line are all a bit of blur.

“I remember Darren Eadie shook my hand after the race, presented me with a medal and said “well done, Nick”. I was star struck and couldn’t get any words out to say anything back! I’m a big Norwich City FC fan and he was my hero when I was a kid.”

It could have been very different had the race day not fallen in perfectly with a long-planned trip home to England with his girlfriend.

“I got an email about the race from my former City of Norwich Athletics Club (CoNAC) coaches, the legendary Tim & Pauline Ash, some months before,” recalled Nick. “I knew it would be special to run through Norwich on closed roads, something I never normally did because it’s always so busy. Luckily, the dates of the race fell perfectly for me.”

While Nick was the picture of confidence on the final stretch, passing the line uncontested, the road to glory was by no means straightforward.

“It’s a tough course because it’s hilly and twisty and that doesn’t suit my running style, so I found it hard. I was expecting it though, as I know Norwich very well and it certainly isn’t flat.”

As a rhythm runner, an athlete who prefers a flat, straight road or a track, Nick knew that he would need to alter his approach to the race.

“The course wasn’t going to be particularly fast, so my plan was to stick with the lead pack and try and push clear in the last few kilometres.”

In fact, it wasn’t until the very last kilometre that he passed rival Ben Russell of Norwich Road Runners.

“I knew Ben was running before the race, so I knew it was going to be tough. Tom Hook and Piers Arnold [both fellow CoNAC runners] would also give me a big challenge if they ran well too. But I was hitting some good form, so knew I had a good chance.”

It was another competitor however, the experienced Adrian Mussett, who set the pace for the first four kilometres.

“I didn’t know Adrian was running, so I didn’t think anything of it when he went ahead early into the race as I thought it was just someone going out too fast, which often happens in races.”

It wasn’t until the frontrunner’s identity was revealed on the lead-car tannoy by race director Granville Courtnell, that Nick, who had never beaten Adrian Mussett before, realised that the chasing pack would have to close the gap quickly or risk losing sight of the Colchester Harrier.

Ben Russell helped set a ferocious pace for the chasing pair up the long arduous climb up Rouen Road, where they eventually reeled in the leader and shook off fourth placed Tom Hook in the process. Ben carried the blistering speed onto the Prince of Wales descent, where Nick struggled to keep pace.

“To be honest I thought I was racing for second because I was having a difficult time hanging on to him. However, I knew that the longer I hung on, the bigger the gap to third became.”

On the final kilometre Ben Russell’s pace slowed and Nick claimed the lead of the race for the first time.

“I thought he was being tactical and letting me lead before pouncing, but he dropped off and I pushed for home. I wasn’t 100% confident of winning until I turned into the final straight and felt that I could do a sprint finish if I needed to, but thankfully I could enjoy the final few metres.”

Success at Run Norwich spurred Nick Earl on to the form of his life. He notched up a half marathon personal best of 67:50 a week later at a race back in Australia, before capping off a fine year when he broke the 30-minute mark at the Zatopek 10km trials in Melbourne, with a remarkable time of 29:58. In March, he won the Victorian Track & Field Championships in the 3000m Steeplechase.

Nick is currently training for the Australian Track & Field Nationals in early April, where he is competing in the 3000m Steeplechase and 5000m.

It is no surprise that the form that smashes personal bests and wins races doesn’t come easily, and countless hours of hard work in training are the key to his race form. So, what’s the secret formula?

“I run about 8 hours a week, but this includes running to and from work, which beats sitting on a bus or cycling, so it actually doesn’t take that long out of my time.

“I do two fast sessions a week, one tempo-run (fast, but not ‘race-fast’) and a total of 70 miles. If you can do this without getting injured, you’ll soon get race fit.”

In the three to four days before the race, he’ll ease up on the running to feel fresh for the big day. And the big race day tip? Marmite on toast three hours before the start gun.

Nick traded in Norwich for Australia in 2013, when he was offered a Post-Doc at Melbourne University in Climate Change. Swapping Norfolk for sunny Melbourne obviously has its perks, but finding time to train in the summer can still be tricky.

“On Tuesday evening here, it was 37 degrees. I coach a few guys out here and had to give my training group extra recovery time between reps so we didn’t overheat. Melbourne gets way too hot in the summer so you have to adapt your training schedule.”

“I’d take a Norfolk zero degree training session any day! The weather conditions in England are rarely extreme enough to really affect training. OK, you have to be careful when it’s icy or snowy but that’s not too often, so whenever people complain, I say get on with it!”

Nick’s girlfriend is a Kiwi international 800m and 1500m runner, who is obviously understanding of the rigours and demands of his training schedule. Likewise, much of his social circle is made up of keen runners, so socialising takes place around the track.

“Another bonus about being a runner is that it only takes about two pints of beer for me to be drunk, which saves money for sure!”

While Nick has yet to officially enter the 2016 race – much is dependent on his work schedule – he is hopeful he will be on the start line on Sunday 7th August.

“My Dad, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews all to came to watch last year and I would obviously love to defend my title in front of them.”

“It looks like it will be a faster course this year because of the tweaks to the route. The route doesn’t cross paths like last year and the Rouen Road change, which cuts down the total climb, which will make a faster course. The Cathedral grounds are beautiful, so it’s a good addition.

“I hope I can be there.”

Profile – Nick Earl

Age: 31

Birthplace: Norwich

Current city: Melbourne

Profession:  Climate Scientist

Running career highlights: Sub 30 10km December 2015, Run Norwich win, 2012 Norwich half marathon win, sub 14.20 for 5km in November 2015, 2016 Victorian steeplechase champion.

Current athletics club: Melbourne University

Previous athletics club: City of Norwich AC, University of East Anglia

10km career PB: 29:58 (2015)

You can follow Nick’s training progress on Strava here