Leeds Country Way Relay

LCW Relay – 31 August 2014

After last weekends Team Talk 12 P&B runners set out on the LCW, nobody dare drop out now! Niall kindly presented Jamie with a dummy in recognition of his motivational team speech. 😉

Leg 1:   Jamie and Niall                     Leg 2:   Shane and Scott
Leg 3:   Boff and Ryan                     Leg 4:   Colin and Neil
Leg 5:   Phil and Mike                    Leg 6:   Alex and Jon

Leg 1 kicked off with Jamie and Niall, Niall nursing mushy legs from yesterday’s Fell champs race and Jamie dosing his calves in ibuprofen.

At the first check point I could see 2 claret and gold runners surrounded by 4 Pacer vests, digging deep Niall and Jamie brought the baton home in a respectable 8th place in 1.17. Now over to Shane and Scott

I’m sorry I missed most of Scott and Shane’s leg but by the time they handed over to Boff and Ryan. Abbey Runners were in first followed by Valley Striders, Rothwell, Pacers A Team, Pacers Vets Team, Airedale, St Teresa’s then P&B who we were 10mins behind the leaders.

I thought Ryan and Boff was the youngest and oldest pair but Jon Holah won’t let Boff have the oldest medal, claiming that he’s old enough to be Boff’s Dad! When Boff and Ryan came through the M62 junction they had been leap frogged by Roundhay runners.

At Roker Lane Boff was looking silently red faced and he’d managed to hit a tree and cut his head without making a noise. Ryan hadn’t even noticed he was too focused on the Pacer vests as they closed in.

Up passed the Fox they went in 9th place and on to Thornbury, they tucked in behind the Pacer A Team who by now had been passed by their Vets team.

Now we hand over to Neil and Colin. Go boys!!… I tracked them to Knott Lane by then they had passed the Pacers A Team, St Teresa and Roundhay Runners they were now in 6th spot less than 2 minutes behind the Pacers Vets. Steve Boom knew they were coming. We can get them shouted Neil as he hung on to Colin.

Off to Golden Acre park now for the start of Leg 5 where P&B stalwart Phil Davis casually discussed his 10k PB of 31:12 with newbie member Mike Rees adding “it was 20 years ago”.

Colin and Neil were doing their best to give them a good lead. They came storming through in 4th Place well clear of the Pacers A Team and Rothwell. Unfortunately Roundhay Runners took a wrong turn and got lost… I think Boff was cursing their blue backs and it worked. What goes around comes around.

Phil’s earlier 10k PB conversation didn’t deter Mike from running amidst such illustrious athletes and together Mike and Phil ran a storming leg finishing in 5th place only a few minutes behind Rothwell but still well clear of all things Pudsey Pacers. Well done guys!!

On to the final stage, the baton is now in the safe hands of Jon Holah and Alex Jones. They set off tracking Rothwell. Alex had run yesterday like Niall but unlike Niall he had the luxury of leg 6 and an extra few hours in bed so his legs must of been stiff not mushy and with Jon threatening to thrash him if they didn’t catch Rothwell all he could do was agree and hang on.

1hr and 4 minutes later Jon and Alex come flying up to Garfoth Sports Centre in 4th place and minutes clear of Rothwell. It was a tall order to catch Airedale in 3rd place who were 20 minutes plus ahead as they set off but with a scratch team P&B were still the first Pudsey club home by a long way.

Well done to everyone who took part. I think a special mention has to go to Niall and Alex for racing today after the Fell Champs yesterday. Awesome effort boys!!

Jamie & Nial: 01:18:00 (8),  Shane & Scot:  01:25:11 (11),  Boff & Rya: 01:16:39 (11),  Colin & Nei:  01:16:44 (2),  Phil & Mike:  01:19:06 (11),  Jon & Alex:  01:04:28 (2)

(Full Results)

– Suzy Sharman