Tortoise and Hare Relay 6/02/10
Having relay enjoyed this last time we were disappointed when the snow forced postponement in January. It was a drizzly grey day today but we pressed on as there's no better way to spend a miserable February Saturday. A short blast through some very pretty woods. Well 2 shorts blasts as the relay is 4 laps of 2 miles run alternately hare and tortoise.
On the recce.
Contrary to last time, the hares started and I resisted the jostling in the first hundred to get into a decent position before the singletrack on the back stretch. Nearly managed, just squeaking past Adrian Davis before the track narrowed. (We had arrived early and had time to recce the course which was different this year due to logging.) It was tricky to overtake on the narrow path but I put in a desperate bid and got past a couple, to follow Chris Russell along the meandering path before it turned right and up hill on broader paths. Roots and stumps were marked with flour as was the course. Although you had to be careful on some of the wet ground it was delightful running.
Up to the top of the woods, along a flat section then a right turn to descend a shallow downhill gradient back to the start/finish. A young lad in a Fife vest pulled alongside then just ahead as we crossed the line. Mary set off . After catching my breath I jogged across to cheer her on, half way round.
The "tortoise" of the winning team!
Sophie (2nd team) ran a stormer of a second leg to stay ahead of her young challenger.
By the time Mary came belting down to the change-over the field had separated nicely and while Chris R ahead was uncatchable, there was no sign of anyone on my tail either. I kept up the flat-out pace till the end of the singletrack but definitely relaxed without the shoulder to shoulder competition of the first lap. It did cross my mind that I shouldn't kill myself with little to gain, and a full-on off-road Half tomorrow. I enjoyed the downhill to the finish where tortoise Mary took off for her second lap.
I threw on a hat and jacket to cross the course and cheer on (and photograph) Mary who was going good style. I crossed back to the finish line to cheer in the finishers. There is a great atmosphere at this race and the unusual nature of the relay adds to the fun. The race was won by two enterprising youths who although not the fastest individuals on the day managed an aggregate that was faster than any other team. Mary and I repeated last year's sixth place and took home some prize beer and marmalade which could also have an adverse effect on the Forfar Half tomorrow.
Great race: superb course, emphasis on fun and friendly and super smooth organisation. Really cheered up a drizzly day when it would have been murderous doing a long run. Talking of which, Richard was doing a 50 mile race along the Thames somewhere a lot less beautiful than the woods in Fife. Knowing he had to carry a mobile as a race obligation I texted him a couple of times to cheer him up/on. He finished after 8hrs 12m (a very fine time for a muddy route) but I wouldn't have swapped him races for all the tea (and biscuits) in Fife.
Report and Photos PB
Results here / website here
Mary's blog
Link here to Pete Bracegirdle's great photos of the race.
