Larking Gowen City of Norwich Half Marathon

Timing Chip

Race packs posted to you

T-shirt (if purchased when registering or on the day)

Start - Please assemble from 10.15am in accordance with the “Estimated Finishing Time” signs and please be realistic when estimating your finishing time. The race will start promptly at 10:30am, come what may.

Please make sure that your kit gives has you ready for a variety of terrains and weather conditions to keep you comfortable!

All spectators are welcome!

34th edition - Sunday 7 April 2019, Norfolk Showground

We are currently looking for additional volunteers to help ensure the success of this year's Larking Gowen City of Norwich Half Marathon. We'll be expecting up to 3,000 runners on race day - many in aid of charity - and we will need plenty of people working behind the scenes to help ensure runner safety, to undertake various tasks on race day and - of course - to smile and cheer!

Members and friends of City of Norwich AC will form the vast majority of the volunteers on race day but more pairs of hands are always welcome.

Where is the event?

At the Norfolk Showground, Costessey - please click here for this year's Race Day Info page.

When do you need help?

On Sunday 7 April 2019, ideally between 9.30am and 2pm - but if you are able to arrive earlier or leave later (or both) that would be even more helpful as there will always be things to do! We'll also have some opportunites on Monday 8 April, helping to pack away all the race equipment used on the previous day. Many hands make light work and all that ...

What do you need volunteers for?

On race day we will need people to help us staff areas such as the three water stations on the course, the finish area, our public areas, of course marshaling the various corners and junctions on the course itself to assist and support the runners. Volunteers do not need to direct traffic as it's a closed course and traffic management is handled by a specialist team. After the race, help is needed with taking down the course facilities, gathering equipment and tidying the venue.

Do I need training?

No – if you are part of a group task (such as a water station) you’ll have a team leader who will explain what to do on the day, otherwise we will provide you with any relevant course maps, emergency instructions & contact details and a high visibility jacket (for identity and safety purposes).

Can anyone help?

Yes, anyone aged 16 and over can help - you don’t need to be a runner or superman, but please bear in mind that most jobs will be outdoors and involve standing for a few hours. We will endeavour to put volunteers in a place based on ability and experience, so if you have marshaled or helped out at this event or similar ones before then please let us know – but if not, please don’t worry we will do our best to find a job suited to your talents! Enthusiasm and common sense are the two main things we need. Family groups are welcome and will be placed together.

Do I need to bring anything?

Some warm, waterproof clothing (the weather is the one thing we can’t plan in advance) and stout footwear are advisable. If you have a mobile phone, please bring it along both to use to contact us should you need to, or for us to contact you. We will provide a free packed lunch and hot or cold refreshments for all our volunteers.

When do I need to be there?

Volunteers usually check in between 9am and 9.30am, but if you can get there earlier, it’s much appreciated. The race starts at 10.30am but we do need time to brief all our helpers and get them in position before the gun fires.

When can I leave?

In terms of finishing, most of the jobs will need to be done until the end of the race itself - between 1.30pm and approximately 2pm, dependent on runners of course. However, if people really need to get away before that then of course we can be flexible. Conversely, if people can stay after that and help us tidy up (until approx 4pm) it’s also a bonus. We will make it clear to everyone when they check in what time they will be able to leave.

Yes please, I'm in - what next?

If this sounds like something you would like to do and meet a group of like-minded individuals helping at a premier road running event that raises thousands for charity then please get in touch now.

East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is a helicopter emergency medical service provider for the people of East Anglia. The charity operates two helicopters and two rapid response vehicles from their bases in Norwich and Cambridge, and are able to reach anywhere in the region within 25 minutes. Each crew, consisting of two pilots, a doctor and a critical care paramedic (CCP), take advanced A&E level care directly to patients who have suffered life-threatening or life-changing accidents or medical emergencies and fly them to the most appropriate hospital for their needs.

“We are absolutely thrilled to act as the charity partner for the Larking Gowen City of Norwich Half Marathon,” says Sophie Emmanuel, Community Fundraiser at EAAA. "As a charity we rely on the support of the community to help keep our helicopters in the sky and our doctors and CCPs providing life-saving emergency care. This fantastic event will go a long way to helping us do just that. We would encourage everyone to get involved, take on the challenge, raise money for a local charity - and have lots of fun in the process.”