Last weekend was the Southern Relays, a real good start to the Autumn road season, the curtain raiser before the National in a few weeks time, where all the top teams will do battle at Sutton Park.  Already the talk of possible teams from the likes of NEB, Shettleston and Birchfield have people talking on websites.  It will be really interesting to see what happens come the day.  For me, as a Belgrave runner, we were beaten by a strong AFD team at the weekend, so well done to them, we now have to re-group as a team and come back stronger in a few weeks.  It is always tough as you just don't really know what shape you or the team are in, and I think that everyone can raise their game come the National.  For me personally it was a pretty good weekend although busy.  Saturday evening I flew into Gatwick, although a little scare at Zurich as they started to board only to suspend it due to a technical problem, on a low-cost airline this always worries me and thoughts of the flight cancelled flashed through my mind, but luckily after 20 mins they started again.  Turns out that they had two birds fly into the engine on landing so needed it to be checked to make sure it was okay to fly, so not a problem there.  What was slightly funny is that other than the people they have at airports going round making sure there are no birds about near the runway as they are dangerous, they also have hawks which scare off other birds.  Unfortunately it was the two hawks who clearly were not doing their job properly and ended up dead, so looks like Gatwick shall have to invest in a couple more!

Headed to the car hire place to pick up my Ford Focus, only to find they had none left and instead was given a brand new Scoda 'Roomster!'  To be fair for a small car they were not lying, I am a tall lad and I had plenty of head room, and I put the little thing through its paces!

Arrived at the Premier Inn where I had to share with Simon.  As he had got there several hours before he had stolen the double bed and left me with the single sofa bed.  I thought about pulling rank and chucking him out, but he told me that he was advised by someone that if you are sharing a room with someone always make sure you go in first, as that will give you the opportunity to grab the double bed if there is only one.  Turns out the bright spark who had told him that was me, so I couldn't really complain.  As he had eaten, he came across to the restaurant for a chat whilst I grabbed something to eat with a nice cold beer.  Good to see him taking things seriously and being good and staying off the alcohol, I think I am a lost cause though!

Because I had an intensive German course starting on Monday morning I had to fly out Sunday evening, and with no cheap flights later in the day, my only option was to book the 4.50pm flight home.  This meant I had to go first leg and then jump in the car and hopefully get back in time to make the flight.  Alan and Pat Mead came to meet us and we went in convey to the race so that I could get an idea of the best way back to the motorway. I swear Simon would get lost leaving his drive and so it proved when he went the wrong way following us, so we had to pull over and wait, really he was no match for the mighty Roomster!

It was nice to bump into a few guys I haven't seen for a while, from all teams, but I didn't really have much time to chat properly.  I did manage a good warm up with Dan Mulhare who was running first leg for the B's and then get into the race (see race report)

After the race I really had no time to spare, and so had to pick my stuff up and run back to the car.  Being such a beautiful day I was pouring with sweat when I got into the boiling hot car, but no time for a shower, I had to go.  The little car shot around the motorway and got me back to Gatwick just in time.  Having to refill the car with petrol and then somebody check I hadn't damaged it made the timing even closer and I ended up having to run through the airport, through security, and to the gate where the flight had commenced boarding.  

Made it, but I did feel sorry for the people I had to sit next to as I was sweating and still in the same tracksuit I had been wearing at the race, still needs must and only an hour flight so what can you do!  

I have to say that the 'Speedy Boarding' that some of these airlines adopt is ridiculous.  They pray on the uninformed to buy it in the hope of getting a better seat, and yet at some airports like Zurich, you go through the gate and get on a bus, so they call them first and they get onto the bus first, then let the rest on who then crowd the bus and then it is just pot luck once you get to the aircraft.  They also don't put a limit on how many people can buy it, so you have the stupid scenario where they call for those who have it and 30 people queue up!  Waste of time and money, don't do it..

Anyway, it all worked out fine, good weekend and back home before up early to start the German on Monday morning.