Manchester Relays

Unlike previous years I was going to double my running and do two legs of the 2.2 mile course. Upon arrival conditions were good. It was a dry course with a little boggy bit at the start and quite a bit of wind at one point. My first leg would be the last leg for the A team and the second leg was the last leg for the B team. You're probably reading thinking "how is that supposed to work" but we were hoping the A's would lap the B's so I came in a couple of minutes just before the B team fifth leg runner. Steve only wanted me to have a couple of minutes between each leg which is why the legs were so close together.

I was taking over from Wilko and we were already in the lead so all I had to do was bring it home. This race was all about the workout so I set off hard and tried to run quick the whole way even though I was on my own. I came home in 10:32 but the worst had happened, the fifth leg B team runner, Pete Whitehouse, had already finished!! Even so, I took my 2 mins recovery and then set off again. As soon as I went I felt so tired. A few minutes in I wanted to stop and just walk back to where the team had made camp. I did finish in 11:04 but it was very hard work.

It was a good workout and the first leg was a good tune up for the National 6 stage. My first leg ended up being joint fastest of the day along with Mike Williams so that was nice. I walked away with a lot of Sweatshop vouchers but immediately turned them in to clear out Runnerslife athlete Dave Norman of his energy bar collection; vouchers well spent.