Ridgeway Relay (86 mile off-road 10-leg relay), 18th June 2006

Start of Leg 1 (7.30am!!!)

Team A finished in 8th position in a total time of 11 hours 28 minutes 17 seconds...

Team B finished in 23rd position in a total time of 12 hours 53 minutes 25 seconds...

Race Report by Graham:

The hippies on the hill must have felt bemused.  Their all-night love-in on the top of Ivinghoe Beacon was rudely interrupted at around 7.15am by a group of boisterous and overly jolly club runners who were about to begin about 12 hours of honest endeavour by their teams.  Perhaps wisely, the kids retreated into their sleeping bags and waited for the squares to go away (man).

Fear is quite a strong motivator when running.  Having bored everyone rigid about the need to recce their leg in advance and printed vast numbers of maps in all shapes and sizes, the last thing I then wanted to do was get lost on the opening leg.  For this reason I ran alongside Andrew, a friend from Newbury AC and, if the truth were told, a faster runner.  Map in one hand, water in the other I kept up with him for about 8 miles, until I was sure I knew the way to the end.  At this point he ran away and I slowed down a bit.  Not too much, though, and I was still far enough ahead of schedule to mean that Mike barely had enough time to put his number on as I stumbled down to the changeover point. 

So the simple part of the day was over, the rest was a strange mix of being driven around by Denise (well, she had volunteered me for the whole thing, so she couldn't really complain), map-reading and mobile phone conversations.

The 'itinerary' was as follows:

Back to the start of leg 1, end of leg 2, end of leg 3 (in time to witness Jane and Jan's high-speed changeover), end of leg 4, end of leg 5, back to the end of leg 4, end of leg 7, leg 8, leg 9 (blessed with proper toilet facilities and a cup of coffee) and finally down to Marlborough Leisure Centre to watch Bob and Ben bringing the virtual batons home. 

The main things I noticed during the course of the day were how many other club members had turned out.  Not just to run, but to support, offer lifts, and hand out water on-course (or all 4, in Jan's case).  How much effort everyone put into running their legs, and just how hopeless my estimates were for changeover times.  The only person whose running time I had over-estimated was my own.  Not sure what that says.  The worst estimate of all was what time we would be back to the White Hart.  We eventually arrived a mere hour late.  No-one seemed to mind; maybe they were expecting it.

So that's it for another year.  Roll the credits....
 

On-course Water Monitors: Jan, Pat

Mapmaker: Larry

Background Information: Mark

Chauffeurs: Peter, Denise

Supporters: Gail, Anthony, Phil, Roger, Sky and Millie

Unexplained Champagne Winner: Ben

Race Report by Denise:

It's not all glamour being the spouse of a team event organiser. "What do you mean we have to get up at 5:00am?" "We have to get up that early, because I need to be at Ivanhoe Beacon, Tring for 7:00am and the Relay starts at 7:30am", replied Graham, Eynsham Ridgeway Relay Team Organiser, patiently.

So, Sunday morning at 5:00am, bleary-eyed we got up, packed our kit and bananas, fruitbars and water for an army into the car and headed off to Tring. We arrived at the start of the Ridgeway Relay and you could tell it was mainly hard-core who were negotiating the first leg for their teams by the smell of Deep Heat and the faded running kits that were
being paraded, (The Eynsham runners are excluded from this, Katherine didn't smell...much, and Graham always looks faded, so he doesn't count!). More normal people were obviously not prepared to sacrifice their Sunday morning lie-in.

I left them there as I need to get back to the starting point of leg 2. This I did within 15 minutes, but it would take Katherine a further 1.5 hours to get to the same point. So I stood at the first handover point and waited for Katerine my teamie. The first runner came in, then the next, then the next. They were mostly serious menfolk handing on to more serious menfolk. Graham arrived at around 1 hour 20, unaware that Mike Hill had only just arrived to take over, though I'd been pacing the lane for the last 20 minutes looking for him...good warm up. 

Gradually the group of people waiting for their teamie dwindled until there was just 3 and the jolly banter turned into nervous anxiety. Thankfully, Katherine came round the corner, but clutching her side. She better not be injured, I said with my "3-Peaks" team leader hat on for a second, but she was just incapacitated by a stitch. We handed over and I started running at 9:15.

Leg 2 is synomonous for the big hill at the end. But its pretty big hill to get onto the Ridgeway. It goes up Wendover high street, then up a bit more, then up some more to a big monument. It then runs along the top of the ridgeway and into some woods. I was glad I'd recce'd it a few weeks before as the majority of people on my leg went wrong and got penalty points, thankfully I didn't.

On through the woods, then down a hill and into the back garden of Chequers. I waved at the security cameras and struggled with the sprung loaded bolts on the gates, before heading across some more fields. Finally, I descended the 900 steps, (I might have mis-counted), to the road that leads to the Red Lion pub and The Hill. A clipboarded marshal
ticked me off as I ran through and joked it was all down hill from here. Ha, Ha..Liar.

So the hill...it's one of those that you're walking action is most probably more effective that your running action. I remember Kate telling me that it goes on for longer than you think, so I wasn't fooled when it levelled out a bit after the first incline. I continued up and could see what looked like the side of a building, maybe this was the end...no, my mistake, it was the path. I continued up some more, are there ropes for this bit? No, just keep going!

Finally, finally, the wooden gate to the field above could be seen, I reached the top, I struggled once more with the catch, (the gates cost me so much time!), then headed off in a carpark direction. I was running properly again now and knew it must be very close. Suddenly Mike Hill is up ahead shouting, "not far", so I speed up, only to find out he'd run half way down the path to find me!! Oh well, I kept the sprint up and eventually found Jane and handed over at 10:15am.

The rest of the day was spent being Graham's chauffeur. We tried to see off as many people at the start of their leg and meet them at the end and I eventually got the goodie bag system going. I had envisaged a goodie bag would be available for everyone at the end of their leg but Graham had well and truly failed to execute this plan without me!

The best bit was screaming Jan up the hill at the end of leg 4. That looks tough, don't do that if you can avoid it! The worst bit was realising no one was available to meet Nick Sheard at the end of his leg, and then he had to drive to the end of the next leg to pick up
Larry and Chris who were waiting and shivering for him at the end of their run.

So finally we got to Marlborough sports centre. We'd seen off Bob and Ben at the top of another hill and then sweeneyed our way over to the finish. It was good to see them coming in at the finish and lots of Eynsham noise was made by the 4 of us waiting there for them!

Back in the White Hart and it seems the event has captured the imagination of everyone who took part, with the team spirit and camaradarie being the main points everyone enjoyed. There is already the discussion on how we could improve on the logisitics for next year!

Race Report by Tony:

Prep-Day

You know what it’s like in our running club – hectic! One thing flows into the next, but if you know me then you’ll know that’s how I like it. Otmoor Challenge (Sat), Cotswold walk (Sun), Committee Meeting (Mon), Witney Challenge (Tue), Wednesday night run and pub – all this within 5 days! Then we even managed to squeeze in a weeks holiday (Thur) arriving back on Thursday evening.

So on to Friday, you’ve guessed it, a practice run for The Ridgeway Relay, so that I knew my way, which hopefully would mean I wouldn’t get lost on the Sunday. I had to start my leg in one place and in my case finish 10.4 miles further along the Ridgeway. How to get back to your car was “for you to plan for yourself.” Thankfully Pat agreed to sort that and to come along for the practice run, so all would go smoothly on race day.

The route from South Stoke, starting from a pub (closed today) to Streatley was lovely. Along the river bank passing lovely huge gardens in perfect condition, and one or two small ones surrounded by tall hedges with a tiny arched entrance to what looked like a secret garden. No time to stop and look at that today, as this was my training day.

Saw Pat in Streatley, ideal spot for a drinks station, trouble was it was very near a nice pub. This may be difficult to pass on race day if the weather is warm! Now up the Ridgeway, slightly dusty, chalky tracks but reasonably flat, with lovely views, then passing under the A34 with a slight drag up to the changeover point where I would be handing over to Chris James.

No problem, I think I’m looking forward to this!

Race day

Decided to leave home early, as I usually do, to watch a changeover and to check out what happens with numbers etc so went to Lewknor area just to see what went on. All was going well, watching runners come in and hand over, just waiting to see our teams come in.

While waiting, I had to answer a call of nature, which unfortunately involved scaling a barbed-wire fence. Well I failed in that, and got somewhat caught up with my left leg getting quite badly torn. Unable to get free, I screamed out to some bloke who was facing the hedgerow. Thank God he did not turn round and face me as I guess he was also answering a call of nature!! So I just had to fall to the ground and pull my leg free tearing it a little more (keep my excuses in mind as I may need them later). Then, we were about to see the second Eynsham Team handover. What a shambles! Surely Jan should have been there to take over from Jane but -------- I’ll let them explain!

So we went on to South Noke to my start. Oh no, I hadn’t planned for the pub to be open with people sitting in the garden drinking that cool, tasty looking real ale which at times I am quite partial to.

Andy Grove came round the corner, handing over to me. I overtook a girl in the first ¼ mile and caught up the second in about another ½ mile and just as I got 200 yards in front of her “you are going the wrong way Mr it’s straight on from here” thank you I thought but probably tried to make out that I knew which way to go. Then as I approached those gardens I realised I was running on loose gravel and started slipping all over the place and was wasting energy having no grip!

Arrived at Streatley, nearly out of water, and, oh no Pat wasn’t there, so I ran straight past the pub and continued up onto the downs on nearly empty with about 7 miles to go on a hot day. Who the heck put this darned great hill here. I’m sure it wasn’t there on Friday on the training run. It went on and on and on. Up and up. I was shattered, with all the dust in my mouth, licking my lips, hoping my mobile drinks station would be around the next corner.

This flattish route I had appeared to have, had no flat bits what so ever over the Ridgeway. I was just approaching the A34 when my drink and Pat appeared. That is possibly the best tasting water I have ever had. Under the A34 I went to head for that ‘slight drag’ to the changeover.  Slight drag my foot. It was another hill! I dragged myself along to where I could see Chris waiting impatiently. Get lost I thought, I’ve run as fast as I can, you have a go.  We touched hands and he shot off, with me thinking he’ll never keep that up, but I don’t care I’m off to find one of those pubs I mentioned.

Race Report by Derek:

Team events are great, I thought to myself, sitting up in bed with my bowl of ‘soakies’ secure in the knowledge that our team captain would be preparing for the ‘off’ at the top of some beacon hill near Aylesbury. I attempted to convey my enthusiasm to the current Mrs B., but should have remembered she is not a great communicator at 7 o’clock on a Sunday morning. Undeterred, I pottered around at home in high spirits and after a light lunch Ben and I set off to do our bit. I was to run leg 9, then hand over to Ben for the final leg. My start point was at Hinton Parva, just south-east of Swindon. We had checked out our respective stages the week before so felt confident we would not lose our way. Ben had been in touch with Graham on his mobile communicator to monitor our teams’ progress so we knew I had a few minutes to wait before taking over from Kate. I was running for the ‘A’ team so became slightly bemused when our ‘B’ team runner came in some time before Kate but was assured that ‘adjustments’ would be made. At some time during the day I must have taken an assertive pill because when Mr and Mrs Aquarius arrived to check on my requirements for the mid-leg water top up, I insisted on a square half litre bottle at 4 degrees Celsius with a screw top (not one of those that sucks your lung into the bottle if you breathe at the wrong time). Kate arrived and I set off on my 10.7- mile leg. As I had practised beforehand I was aware of a short sharp hill in the first mile, then 6 miles flat or downhill. It was late afternoon so the temperature had dropped to the low 20’s but I was still relieved to see Mr and Mrs ‘A’ at about 7 miles with refreshments in the right type of bottle at the correct temperature (how did they do that?). This just left the 3-mile climb to Barbury Castle, which went well although I felt the need to flop in a heap after handing over to Ben. A few moments later skip and spouse confirmed I was still breathing and almost the correct colour before moving on to the finish to cheer Ben home.