I landed a place in the B team for this annual event down in Birmingham. Morpeth had two teams who qualified from the Northern relays a few weeks ago (in which I didn’t compete). This was my first visit to Sutton Park since I was a wee nipper, or so I was told by the Club official.
It was a long journey, around 3 and a half hours travelling with Messrs Snowball, Alder and Haswell. We embarked on a recce around part of the course to see what was in store for us, and it was going to hurt. I was on a long leg (approx. 5.4 miles) and was fifth in the pecking order. I had envisaged a lot more teams being involved, there were around 60-70 in total and by the time I headed off on my leg the numbers were well spread out. I was on my own for the majority. I wasn’t overtaken and made up around six places.
The course was tough. There were a few steady climbs which felt like they went on forever and the ice cream truck at the 2 mile mark took a long time to come into view. There was good support around the course which was most welcome. I’m so glad I wasn’t on the 12th leg, it would have been the longest day ever waiting around.
The A team finished eighth and the B team in the low 50’s. It was a great performance by both teams and an experience to remember.
I aim to return in four weeks for the National Masters relays.
It’s the Yorkshire 3 peaks race in two weeks’ time. I have no hills in my legs so I may have to give it a miss. The Cheviot/Hedgehope pendulum race is on the Sunday which would be more manageable at half the distance. Apparently there’s a drone filming it………
