Sunday Sept 24th 2017 will see the inaugural staging of the Great East Run in Ipswich.
I received the call to shoot the feature images for the new Great East Run website, which is being specially developed for the event.
On a freezing cold, misty and dull day at the Waterfront in Ipswich, I joined with the Great East Run event organisers and a group of runners from Ipswich Jaffa Running Club to shoot some images of runners in action at various parts of the course.
It’s just typical, the day before had been a bright, crisp winter day with a beautiful blue sky, and would have been perfect for producing bright, clear photos for the Great East Run Website. But today, the day of the shoot, the weather was foggy, dank and dull as ditchwater with light levels so flat and low that punch of high speed flash was needed to liven up the images.
The main focus of the shoot was on locations on the route around the Ipswich Waterfront and the start and finish line, which will be outside Endeavour House, the home of Suffolk County Council and very close to Ipswich Town’s Portman Road stadium.
The runners were brilliant as they were put through their paces running past me countless times as we tried to get the shots needed for the website. The shouts of “run when you’re ready” and the sight of the runners rushing past me in short bursts courted a few strange looks from passers by, who were trying to work out what heck was going on.
So if you fancy a challenge or joining in why not give it a go? The event follows a fast flat course, great for new runners and those looking for a half marathon PB.
Starting and finishing close to Ipswich Town’s Portman Road stadium, runners pass the prestigious Willis building designed by Lord Foster before heading down to Ipswich’s vibrant waterfront.
The route then passes Felaw Maltings on the way out and back along Wherstead Road, where particpants will see Fox’s Marina, Suffolk Food Hall and go twice under the iconic Orwell Bridge into Freston.
On returning to the town centre, runners will pass over the Wet Dock lock gates and continue along the waterfront for a second time, before returning to the finish line located on Sir Alf Ramsey Way.
