From Kate Archer…
The Bradford Millenium Way Relay is a 47 mile loop, starting and finishing in Bingley, with five legs each run in pairs. The legs I have run are really scenic and the event well organised. We entered a mixed team this year and finished in 12th position, first mixed team. Well done to all those who took part, a fantastic result!
From Peter Shelley…
I was pleased to be part of the Harriers’ team that came home 1st in the mixed team category on Sunday. One of the many interesting features of a long-distance relay race is that the result unfolds over many hours. As leg one runners, Kay Pearce and I didn’t know the result until hours after we finished, so a category win came as a very welcome surprise.
The work starts early preparing a relay, not least for team captain Kate Archer. Kate did a great job not only finding those able and willing to run, and making some last-minute substitutions due to injury, but pairing runners who were evenly matched. A recce is compulsory for this event, and good practice for any off-road relay. Reading the route instructions for leg 1 which extended to several pages felt like revising for an exam. The recce served up many an opportunity to go wrong in the network of paths and byways that constitute the Millenium Way. At times it follows obvious routes and is well signed, whilst at other times disappearing into the nettles on someone’s allotment. Beware open moorland where every path looks tempting! The recce is also an opportunity to discuss your combined approach to the running and to the logistics of getting to the start, and back from the finish. Estimated times are needed for each leg for team coordination so that everyone knows when they need to be where, and has time to warm up. Then there’s the toilet strategy and kit deliberations…
I am glad to say that on the day we didn’t repeat the mistakes made on the recce. Instead, we made brand new ones. I say we, in truth it was me. Thankfully other runners were around to correct us, costing us minimal time, and we returned the favour in the cases where we did actually know where we were going. Leg 1 winds its way over 17km and 727m ascent from Bingley to Haworth via a golf course, woods, fields, reservoirs and moorland with some rewarding sights including Goit Stoit Waterfall, Hewenden Viaduct, Leeming Reservoir, Oxenhope Moor and the Worth Valley. Even after we finished running, the action continued with further handovers and intermittent Whatsapp photos and updates on progress. The handovers have their own drama; two tired but grateful runners handing over to two eager energetic ones. It’s a team effort and a more social and collaborative experience than an individual competition.
Five legs covered 75km and 2,820m ascent in total. Some great performances by the Harriers to finish 1st mixed team and 12th of 37 teams overall.
Leg 1: Kay Pearce & Pete Shelley
Leg 2: Laura Dixon & Tom Lally
Leg 3: Brit Tate & Jack Wood
Leg 4: Alison Bennett & Andrew Merrick
Leg 5: Kate Archer & Gavin Lamb
I recommend that anyone who likes the sound of this put themselves forward. Relays are great fun and always take place in scenic locations. There is usually enough interest for one team, but fielding two teams enable us to target the silverware more effectively and show everyone a good time (in all senses).