Signals Relays 2025

It's been quite a while since I blogged. My last outing was the Royal Signals Relays in Mid February. This race, together with the Newburn Relays on Easter Friday, are about the biggest club events on the North East England Athletics Calendar. 

I can't quite remember how often I've run the Signals. For vets, its an Over 50 ticket for teams of 4. We run in a combined race with the Women, so plenty of runners on the course at any one time. 

I managed to shuffle in as one of four in a Morpeth team with Rob, Lee and Jason; all very decent runners. I was accompanied in the car to the event by Lornie, Cat and Linds who were variously in the women's senior teams. 

I felt pretty reasonable and collected my number  - 2nd leg. From what I heard there seemed to have been quite the discussion as to the most effective rationale in leg selection - who's to go first, who's to go last; but I don't subscribe to that, other than perhaps if you're on leg 1, you probably have more bodies around and in front of you to chase. As the race develops, the gaps ebb and flow, but generally stretch. 

This year they started the M50s around a minute behind the women, maybe longer, but I think I prefer it when we start together. 

We were sitting in around 8th position when I picked up the baton from Rob (there's not actually a baton - its just a term - so to speak). It's two rolling laps around the Hetton Lyons country park and there's a couple of good drags to deal with, although its true to say you also come down each hill after the ascent. 

It was cool and I started with my zebra arm warmers and thin kiddies wool gloves - you know the cheap ones. I find that cotton doesn't suit my hands. I soon had a grey haired runner from Crook in my sights, but I didn't want to over-cook it so it took me until the second lap to overhaul him. However, there was no-one else in sight, at least not in my race.  As it was I took it steady up the long drag around 200m from the end, and, as I came round onto the downhill and finish, I opened my stride, trying to look in control. 13.57 for 2.2 miles. Ten seconds up on 2023, but 20 seconds down on 2022. We finished 4th. Not too bad but no cigar. 

The girls did well and did even better after the race to wait 20 minutes in the snaking queue for the teas and coffees. ProTay came down from the frozen north to do the timing, so it was a big hello to Sharon for the second time in a week. 

I picked up the lurgy that's going around a week later and, although its not been a bad cold, its a clingy affair, so I was pleased to get out on the bike today for a slow 20 miles in the early Spring sunshine. Nearly finished 'The Hobbit', so I'm stroking my chin in eager anticipation of my next read.