National 6 Stage Road Relays Birmingham

The national senior 6 and 12stage relays have always been somewhat of a tradition amongst many clubs for many years, so as a young athlete I had looked forward to being able to run against the seniors and see what I could do. The first year (2009) that I was old enough to run the relays, my coach and I decided against it having just come back from the World Champs in Jordan. So this year I decided when I was injured that I would run this year. I had it planned that this would be my first race back from injury but as everyone knows I changed my mind and decided to run the Nationals in Leeds and the Intercounties in Birmingham. However I was still really looking forward to this race with it being my first senior national competition but also because I enjoy running in Sutton Park, Birmingham.

As ive mentioned in previous blogs that on race morning I wake up buzzing and the morning before the relay was no different. When im at home (Farnham) im about 2 hours-ish away from Birmingham so we left around 8.30am and stopped halfway there for something to eat and I had THE most amazing muffin (Banana and Toffee) and a cup of tea and eventually we got to the course about 11ish. By this time the lads were warming up for the first leg of their race which was off at 12oclock. I went with my mum and walked the end loop of the course as id never done it before.

I was running 3rd leg for Aldershot and we had a decent team consisting of Beth Andrews, Alice Letherbridge, Me, Emily Adams, Emma Pallant and Steph Twell. We were confident that we could win this year but we would all have to run good legs. As I was third leg I had to work out what time I would warm up and I worked on the basis of 15minutes per leg as this would give me a few minutes to sort myself out in the starting pen before Alice came in on leg 2. So as the first leg athletes started their race, I started warming up for mine.

I was feeling really good but my dad told me to wait until the top of the hill before I started running hard so as I went down the hill and round the first loop I was making sure I held myself back but I still went past some girls which was a good feeling. When I reached the top of the hill I started picking it up and was finding that I was moving up the field quite well and getting lots of encouragement along the way. I felt strong almost all the way apart from the last hill to the finish where the wheels kind of came off and I wasnt moving that fast. My only complaint was that having not raced in a while and still being on the mileage I struggled to get going but after a bit I was fine!!! It was a positive experience unlike my last trip to Birmingham so ive come away positive and confident that im back to some decent shape and ready to try and run well this summer and run the times I feel I should be running.

Next race wont be until mid may and is still to be decided. Hope everyone else enjoyed racing or watching at Sutton Park and are looking forward to the summer and some good weather!!!

...x

Top 10 Fastest Womens Legs: 1.Steph Twell 15.22, 2.Hatty Dean 16.05, 3.Rose Ann Galligan 16.20, 4.Susan Partridge 16.21, 5+6.Emma Pallant/D Walters 16.25, 7.Me 16.26, 8.Gemma Steel 16.27, 9.Non Stanford 16.39, 10.J Blizard 16.41.