Ridgeway Relay Report by John Rowland
Having heard stories of previous Ridgeway Relays, including reports for near Death Valley temperatures last year, I was slightly apprehensive to be part of this year’s “b” team.
The relay is run – along the Ridgeway – from Ivinghoe Beacon to Overton Hill (or 86.5 miles across 10 legs from nearish to Luton to nearish to Swindon). As it was my first relay, Graham kindly suggested that I choose my leg, and I pored over the info on the Marlborough Running Club website looking for an easy leg. Quickly disappointed – there are no easy legs – I requested “leg 7” as I have an old friend who lives near there and have run bits of the route that made up the leg with him before.
The day before, there was a big turnout from ERR supporting Jane and Richard as they completed their 250th Parkrun, and those of us preparing for the Ridgeway were able to wish each other well for the big day. Many of those competing had run several Ridgeways before, most of us had done at least one reconnaissance run, but all still appeared nervous with one eye on the weather as we anticipated the event. In the background I imagine Graham was praying that no-one else would get injured at the last minute, having already called on his back-up to his back-up and their back-up.
The run itself was beautiful. Leg 1 started at 7:30am and quickly ERR WhatsApp messages were spreading as people finished and started and finished and started, and photos were shared as people celebrated completing their runs. The weather was hot – but apparently nothing like last year – and the views, when I remembered to look up, were stunning. My leg, Leg 7, had the benefit of a restart (at 2pm), so I had the pleasure of running with people most of the way. About 35 teams hadn’t reached the end of leg 6 by the 2pm cutoff and were included in the restart and many, perhaps caught up in the excitement, went off too fast, so I was able to catch a few as they slowed in the heat.
At the end, ERR “a” were 7th and “b” were 16th, the event was a success and going home people were already saying they were looking forward to next year (results are in the newsletter). There were a few mishaps and noteworthy performances that deserve mentioning. From ERR several people stepped in at the last minute: special mentions must go to Katherine Bates, Steve Garton and Alison Craggs who were co-opted at the 11th hour. At least one ERR (Neil Reeves) finished their leg and then jogged back to the start to collect their car, and Rhea, who is training for an ultra, decided she hadn’t done enough miles and did a further run in the afternoon when she got home. Final mention must go to a Witney runner who perhaps didn’t follow Graham’s advice to do a reconnaissance run, and apparently ended up in Didcot.
Overall, one of my best experiences since joining ERR. Running can be a very solitary activity and each leg here was just that. But relays are team events and, partly due to the team WhatsApp, I felt connected to the event, and the team, throughout the day. It’s fair to say that the Ridgeway brought the best of ERR to the fore. When Graham sends his, “would you fancy doing the Ridgeway” email next year, I’ll certainly be volunteering – and with the buzz around the club after this year, perhaps we’ll need a “c” team as well.
