So Tuesday night (03/06/2025) I did a bit of racing.
I was a last-minute reserve for the Spring Relays, stepping in to cover Leg 1 after someone had to drop. I figured I’d be there to make up the numbers. Turns out, I was actually needed — and even better, we went on to win.
Leg 1: A Familiar Route, A Faster Time
I’d run this same leg in the Autumn Relays last year. Back then, I clocked 18:24. This time? 18:07 – shaving off 17 seconds. Not dramatic, but progress. I did try to warm up best I could but maybe I set off too fast! My calf muscles were twitching before hitting the first turning point.
And the real highlight? A sprint finish that pulled back one place in the final push. Garmin shows I spiked to 5:15/mi pace, with a 192 spm cadence at the end. Heart pounding, lungs screaming – but it got the job done. I needed to me scraped up off the road at the end.
Sure, I wasn’t the fastest (I think I came in about 6th or 7th on Leg 1), and someone else blitzed the leg in 15:35 – that’s over 3 minutes faster. But that’s the thing with relays: it’s about the sum, not the split.
The Team Win
Big thanks to Diliara McKay (Leg 2) and Charlie Embleton (Leg 3) – we didn’t top the charts on any individual leg, but we held tight across all three. That’s what counted.
Our combined time: 45:31
Next teams:
- 2nd – 46:02
- 3rd – 46:26
- 4th – 47:12
A proper team win, earned by steady efforts, not just leg speed.
Shoutouts from the Sheet
Sophie Alice threw down the fastest Leg 1 time at 15:35 – class pace.
Sean Henderson had the fastest final leg of the night at 11:49 – elite closing speed.
Michelle Embleton’s 15:37 on Leg 2 was also one of the strongest middle efforts out there.
Other mentions
Martin Murray credit for the photos I have used.
Danielle Dixon who very proudly told me she ran the whole thing.
Clare Douglas for our battle towards the end!
No shortage of strong runs across the board. These club relay nights always seem to bring the best out in people.
Reflection
I joked in the club group that my team carried me – but the truth is, everyone played a part. I turned up, ran honest, and clawed back a place when it counted. That’s what relay running is about.
Massive thanks to the club for organising, and especially to Laura Pitchford who took Joe for a walk so I could race.