The Calderdale Relay race is part of the Calderdale Way, the race is run over six legs of differing length, each leg has two runners from teams of twelve, there are around 120 teams entered, so as you can imagine it must take some organising with around 1500 runners taking part throughout the day, and well done to Halifax Harriers who do a brilliant job!
Dallam had two teams entered the A team and B team.
24 Dallam runners 0 Dogs
The alarm sounded early,5.50am, but was able to roll over it was Helen who was on the early start she was being picked up at 7am by Debbie and Jess as she left that was my signal to get up. On with some trainers and out with the dog . It was cold dark and frosty I slipped and slid my way through the village picking up Mick's dog on my way, he was on an even earlier start, so me and two dogs power walked over Warton Crag then back home for porridge and toast before loading up the car with running kit, butties and coffee.I picked up Julie then Jarvo and off we set with Martin and Mark B following behind . We got a call from Mick and Stuart they had finished leg 1 and were now happy, close behind them were Nick and Mike H they all had managed to pass over the batten before the cut off great stuff, that meant Helen and Dawn, Jess and Debbie were up and running. Soon we arrived at Todmorden the change over of Leg 2 to Leg 3 as we pulled up a few of the faster paced teams were coming up the road. We re-grouped with the rest of the Dallam team, some were happy they had finished and were tucking into there bagging, as others prepared to start we all chatted whilst watching various teams handing over their battens, then Greg popped up from nowhere all smiles, as 11am approached the masses started to gather and on the stroke of 11 the whistle went to signal the mass start of leg 3 but no one set off !!!!!!! people and Marshall's had to start shouting 'GO!' to get them away, having done Leg 3 before this could have been due to them knowing that a very hard climb was in store, with our two teams under way it was time to get our passengers to the start line of leg 4 leaving some of the team behind to see in the leg 2 runners.
Leg 4 start is only a short drive away so we arrived with plenty of time to spare, our team members collected their numbers and prepared to race. This was to be Mike M and Ray, Jarvo and Julie as we waited news came through that Adam and Denis were close, then Greg popped up, they would be in before the mass start good news, it makes there start a little bit easier, they handed over and Mike M and Ray were on their way, Ray storming off like a Tasmanian devil fantastic to see, as they settle in we watched them run off over the brow and into the distance. Time for some food tuna bun and flapjack as we watched the mass start of Leg 4 Jarvo and Julie were under way .Vicky and Jane just missing handing over.
Keeping an eye on the time I collected Helen before driving up to the start of Leg 5 Mark B and Martin following behind. Leaving Helen at leg 5 to see off the next team members being Dowy and Leechy Doc Martin and Baz I jumped in with Martin and Mark to make our way to our start, then Greg phoned to see where we were. We arrived with plenty of time collecting our numbers and taking a comfort break, then Greg popped up running around to collect his number, as we prepared, Greg still running around sorting everyone out, the temperature was dropping and I had two twitchy runners around me and Greg still running around. We walked to the start hoping one of our team members would arrive 2 mins to the mass start and still no Dallam runners to see us off. We had to go Greg saying he had left his keys in the tail pipe for Mike M to drive on, but Mike had missed that and how does he now where the car is anyway! oh dear! We would have to drive back later, never mind should have double checked about moving cars too late now. Our race was on we thundered down the track as fast as we could to get to the first style where everyone was waiting their turn to cross, the 1st mile would be a slow one. Its over the style and up the steps before you can get going as we did Mark pulled away a few yards on me and that was the order of the day. As we progressed I noticed that no one was passing us we must be doing ok. We came off a tow path to cross a busy road to start our main climb of the day around 2 miles up through some woods and we were still passing teams, why are we passing everyone? I started to think hope we've not over cooked it or was it all that BG training paying off at last, as we left the woods Mark was starting to slow and the gap to come down to just over an arms length but we pushed on no time for a regroup in a race, how far now? he quizzed, almost there about 1.5miles to go mostly down hill I said. We dropped down a very slippery cobbled road to an under pass and onto the tow path again Mark edging away slightly as I had to wait for a cyclist under a bridge. The last half mile and the finish was in sight and still we were passing teams we pushed each other for the last few hundred yards no let up in our pace then the cheers from the Dallam support team drove us on again and over the line in a very good time of 1:24 min over the 10mile course.
Before too long Greg and Martin came in to complete the Dallam Team effort. As we were all gathered trying to sort out the transport we realised we had 11 people but only 10 seats with 2 cars still at the start of Leg 6, but for the first time of the day no Gregg around he must be here somewhere he has no car. Time seems to drag when you start to get cold luckily, Helen had our car close by with food and hot coffee, then Greg popped up still running, we found a map sorted out a lift for Dowy and in a flash Greg had us back to the cars then home.
Well done to all the Dallam team for a great day of racing we missed Cathy I'm sure she will be back soon even stronger and a special thanks to Gregg for all the planning and the support throughout the day.
The Dallam A team completed the 50 mile in a best ever time of 7:57min 67th overall
The Dallam B team completed the 50 mile in a good time of 9:14min 97th overall
Leg 6: Total 10.2 miles 1800ft ascent 8.2mph ave speed
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