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Nick Cook  reports:

I took part in the WVR Bricklayers Relay Marathon on Saturday - my first proper participation in a club event since I joined nearly two years ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!! I was a bit apprehensive about joining in, and had thought I probably wouldn't enter until Tony phoned me on the Monday evening asking if I would join a team - I couldn't very well say no!! But I'm glad I agreed to run!!!

I arrived at about 1:30 at the BOC site (a big thank you to them for their support for this event), and wandered over to the main area - there weren't many people about, but Barry was there and pretty soon Pam was asking if I could do a stint at marshalling (which of course, I was quite happy to do!). Being 6th off for our team I got a first stint at the run-in back into the BOC site along with Nigel (who I would be passing the baton on to later).

 

My first task was to try and stop some a**hole driver who was pretty determined not to stop for a bunch of runners in the road - I nearly didn't do my leg in the relay because he only stopped when I clearly wasn't going to get out of the road!!!! Anyway, the first lot of runners went past and back through the site for the first leg proper. The first runners seemed to be back round the course pretty quick - much faster than I was going to be!!!! Richard from our team came by in 6th position and Dawn from the ladies team came past a bit later on. Tony was our third leg man, and after he'd gone past I went off to find relief for Nigel and myself, and to get warmed up before my leg. 

Chris P. was handing the baton on to me and it wasn't long before he came haring round the corner at a great pace!!! Crumbs!!!! Would I be expected to come round that fast too!!! So, off I went - to cheers of 'Come on Windle Valley', and probably too fast as well!! It was quite lonely going round on my own - not like a 10k or half marathon event being surrounded by hundreds of people.

I slowed down a bit after the initial spurt and settled down to a steady pace. It was a nice run until I got to the uphill part at about 2 miles - then it started to get hard!!! I recalled Phil's comments from last years report, 'I couldn't believe I'd run 10 times that distance only a short while ago'. Well, I felt exactly the same Phil!!!!

Coming round the last corner and up to the BOC site I thought that a last spurt of pace was in order, but it was too steep a slope and too hot - so I waited until I was back on the flat after turning into the site. Then I was thinking 'What if Nigel isn't there? What do I do?', but fortunately, he was there and I was able to pass on the baton and stop for a well deserved rest!

Then it was rehydration and a bit of food to re-energise and cheering people as they came in. The leaderboard was an exciting place to be - watching people come in and team positions chopping and changing. At last everyone was all in and everything needed to cleared up and put in cars before going off to the pub for a nice cold pint!!!
It was a lovely day for the race (too hot for some) and many thanks to everyone who organised the event. I also got some thanks from some runners from other teams, so I'm happy to pass them on here - well done!!

At the pub, presentations were made to the Stragglers, who won the event for the third time, and the Woking Chicks who won the ladies event. We came in a creditable 9th out of 21, with the WVR ladies coming in 18th. Well done to Dawn and Sarah who had to run 2 legs each because of drop outs
Oh, and one last request to the organisers - having watched Sport Relief on the tele for most of the evening, I'd like to take part in that next year - so could you ensure this event is on a different day?  Thanks!!