Shop Interior

Welcome to the Runners Centre website. Within this site you will find among other things, information on local races, the shop profile, our very own sports masseur, special offers, and the like.

Profile

The Runners Centre has been established in Norwich for over 10 years. The current owner, Pete Johnson, took over in late 1997 and has since streamlined the outlet to Norfolk's only specialist running shop.

The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30 to 5.30 for friendly advice and service. Why not come in and see us, whether you're building up for London or just starting out, we're always here for advice and service throughout the year. Staffed by runners and coaches, we know running.

If you're coming from out of town and are not familiar with Norwich, give us a ring and we'll try to make your journey easier (or see our guide for general advice).

Lisca

School and orphanage

Our Saturday girl, Lizzie, has recently returned from the above orphanage and school in Zambia and intends returning early next year.

She is hoping to send out some trainers for the boys at Christmas time. So if you have any trainers you no longer use, can’t get on with, and they’re in good condition ie: clean and no holes in the uppers, then contact lizzie on the following e mail: lizzie_runnerscentre@hotmail.co.uk

If you are interested in helping in others ways she would love to hear from you.

Staffed by:

Pete Johnson - owner
Pete Johnson, current owner, took over the store in late 1997. Having entered the running scene as a fun runner in the mid-eighties. In over 20 years has made a progression through a number of running clubs, Thurrock Harriers, Basildon AC, City of Norwich AC, and is curently a member of Norfolk Gazelles.

Three time Norfolk road runner of the year and a veteran of 21 marathons Pete ran his last marathon in 2004 finishing in 2.44 and now concentrates on the half marathon and shorter distances.




We are pleased to welcome Brenda Hutcheon (seen below with Phil Hutchings) to our staff at The Runners Centre. Brenda is a well known and respected runner in Norfolk. Having started her running career with Bingley Harriers as a promising teenager, Brenda then met and married Dave,left Yorkshire and brought up her family. Following her childrens athletic efforts, Brenda returned to running in her own right and quickly made an impact.
A natural leader, Brenda together with Dave, has led an inspired training group (called the "Happy Mondays") in Norwich for more than a decade. Her own career highlights were during the early nineties when she distinguished herself as a good class veteran athlete both regionally in East Anglia and nationally.
Like both her Runners Centre colleagues, Pete and Phil, Brenda is a member of the Norfolk Gazelles Athletic Club

Phil and Brenda
Phil Hutchings, the resident sports massage therapist, has a wealth of running experience and has been associated with the shop since it's opening. Phil qualified from an ITEC massage school over 10 years ago, and has built a good reputation, treating mainly runners including the British vets team during this years European Vets championships. Phil regularly raced marathons and recorded times such as 2.32 at his peak, competing for Lincoln Wellington and Southampton. Phil can occasionally be seen competing for City Of Norwich at the eastern vets meetings.


We have published online the fixture list for 2003. Some dates will be subject to change. Watch this space. You can also use that page to submit details of your own races in the Norfolk region.

The Runners Centre Grand Prix.

The Grand Prix has been in existence for a number of years now, giving the opportunity for serious and not so serious runners to compete. A series of up to ten races are selected from the forthcoming years fixture list.
Runners are required to complete a minimum of five races this year to qualify for awards. Final results will be taken from your best five race positions.
The races this year consist of six races of 10K or under and four greater than that distance, some of these being midweek/evening events. Entries on the day qualify for Grand Prix rankings.

Please note that this year there is not a universal entry form. However entries are available from the shop for all Grand Prix races ahead of race dates

The scoring system is as follows.

Runners are scored by position in their age groups which are: There are equal awards in both sexes. Ages are defined using the continental system (year of birth rather than age on race day) i.e. If you were born 1954, your age band will be D for the whole year. This requires full and accurate completion of entry forms for the system to work.
At the end of the year runners are awarded for 1st to 3rd in age bands, momentos for completing six events, and special awards for completing the entire series.
Please see current rankings here
Entry forms for this years races are available from the Runners Centre, as is information on the race events calendar elsewhere on this site.
If you want to be kept informed of site developments please email us.

You can download an order form or view it online. Either way either phone, fax or email orders to us. We do not have encryption software so it is advisable not to email credit card details unless you feel happy doing so.