25^th Anniversary Relay – The Big One! - Northern Section

Berwick Upon Tweed to Saltburn by the Sea - ‘The Cranberries’

We drove North to our start at the B-U-T Bridge where a lonely figure (Bryn) began our journey South. Over the next two days the group, Bryn, Ian N, Becky, Christine H, Julie Mc, Claire H-G, Richard M and Dave P all ran in various conditions from Coastal cliffs, Beautiful Countryside, small build up areas, big, big Cities and for some of us, especially the girls in hostile bandit country.

All the party, especially the virgin runners of this type of event, ran very hard to reach our destination on time. The weather changed from rain to rain to sun to heavy rain, but we ploughed on. Having completed our long section of 135 miles, we now leave the rest of it up to you to continue the journey south to Nottingham. The best of luck from us all.

Read our tales of ‘The Cranberries’ journey in Running Free.

Bryn

The Big One’s last one - Cotgrave Road to West Bridgford

I hadn’t intended to volunteer to do this one as I am probably the slowest runner in the club and I have a horror of letting people down by not being able to keep up, but Derek came and actually asked me to do the last leg. He asked so nicely that I couldn’t refuse. I must have asked him several times exactly where and when the leg started, because my sense of direction is legendary (I have none!). I duly turned up at the meeting point, having been told by Mandy the previous day that there was a problem and the previous leg was somewhat longer than advertised and therefore the runners wouldn’t be there until about 5.30 pm. Derek rang on the day to say that the legs had been jigged about a bit and therefore the start time for my leg would be 5 pm. Due to some essential things missing, such as a bridge (no doubt Trig will relate this), my leg couldn’t start until nearly 6 pm, so Bryn, Pete S and I (along with some speed merchants and the previous crew of Sue Hale and Jacqui Wilson) ran along the canal, cut through Eltham Road and arrived at the Test Match 34 minutes later. It worked out at 3.75 miles and I felt as if I’d run myself ragged (sad, aren’t I? In mitigation, I had run from the pub to the start).

The reception was lovely and the rest of the runners held back because it was down as my leg. I felt quite honoured for a grumpy old woman to ‘finish’ to the applause. Thanks, chaps and chapesses, particularly Bryn and Pete. Thanks must also go to the landlord of the Test Match for a splendid feast in the Boundary Bar afterwards, all free of charge!

Grumpy old Golden Oldie

(aka Alison)