A road marathon taking runners along the north Norfolk coast is back for a second year following the success of 2022’s inaugural race.
The Mammoth Marathon, the first large-scale coastal road race in 32 years, took place in May 2022, with more than a thousand runners following the coastal route across a full and half marathon.
The full race will set off from Sea Palling again, with the half marathon starting in Mundesley.
Runners will pass along the route through seaside towns and villages before crossing the finishing line in Sheringham.
On May 21 this year, runners will once again take to the coastal route and tackle the ‘Mammoth Mile’ at Sheringham, which boasts an unforgiving uphill stretch at mile 25.
Tickets for the full and half marathon went on sale via Race Roster today (Monday, January 9) at 10am.
Sponsorship and charity partnership opportunities will soon be announced for organisations to get involved with the Mammoth Marathon.
Councillor Virginia Gay, portfolio holder for leisure, wellbeing and culture, said: “It's good news that our Deep History Coast Mammoth Marathon is returning in 2023.
"If everything goes as well as it did last year, then we're in for another enormous success, thanks to so many brave runners and generous sponsors.”
The Mammoth Marathon had been planned since 2019 by North Norfolk District Council and the North Norfolk Beach runners but the coronavirus pandemic meant the inaugural event did not take place until 2022
The race was the county’s first full road marathon since the original Norfolk Marathon came to an end in 1990.
After last year's event, the winner, Alan Darby, said the marathon was "one of the hardest" he had ever raced.
The Caister man crossed the finish line with a time of 2:38:14. The second fasted man was Kyle Brooks, followed by Dominic Blake.
Rose Waterman, 40, was the first woman over the line with a time of 3:10:51, followed by Emma Tuck and Jennifer Ansell.
The 'mammoth' in the run's name is a reference to the council's Deep History Coast tourism campaign and the coastline's abundance of fossils - including those of prehistoric mammoths.
More details about the event, including categories, fees, prizes, start times and the full route will be available on the council’s website soon.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here