NoEAA LADIES 6-STAGE RELAYS

HEATON PARK, MANCHESTER

Saturday, 25^th March 2006

Friday dawned and I was still not sure we had a ladies team – we had five definites – just needed one more. Then my dad, (our Chairman), phoned to tell me Andrea Raynor wanted to run and would come up with Trevor at about 12. Great – a ladies team! This now consisted of myself, Kath Hoyer, Yvonne Russell, Pauline Weller, Marie Wyld and Andrea Raynor. I phoned my Co-Captain to share the good news and she was delighted. She was getting ready for a night out but her words were, “I won’t drink a lot!”

Saturday morning arrived with glorious sunshine and a slight breeze. We arrive at the Fairfield. At 09.20hrs everyone started to arrive and decisions were made as to who was driving etc. 09.30 hrs arrives – no Yvonne!!! Hurriedly I phoned her and the panicked reply was, “I’ll be there is 4 seconds – sorry!” She arrived looking a little jaded saying that they had forced drink down her, (not much of a fight put up by the looks of her!!) She had rolled out of her bed at 09.05 hrs, kit and bag ready, (see, not all women need hours to get ready!)

Poor dad had myself, Kath and Pauline in with him and we had a great chat about every female topic you can think of – (good job he’s a bit deaf!) Thank goodness for mobiles. Yvonne and I talked to each other and decided the order of run: Kath, Marie, Yvonne, Pauline, myself and then Andrea.

We arrive and Peter sweet-talked the marshal on the gate to let us park in the car park. Great – except that, unlike previous years, they had moved the start to the other side of the park!!! Loaded with bags and tent we set off in good spirits with Yvonne carrying the Wesham sign ahead of her like a banner – we trekked across the park.

We left the troops putting up the tent and went in search of the registration and numbers and to confirm the 5k distance. We bumped into Alex and some of the lads and they were delighted that we had a ladies team.

Once our numbers were on we made our way to watch Kath start us off. She had a great run 1^st leg of 23:01 and handed over to Marie. First thing Kath said was, “Are you sure it was 5k as it felt like a lot more!” That made me worry! Yvonne was to follow Marie and she still looked a little “green around the gills”, but off she went. Marie’s comment on return was, “Bit hot around the top”. My thought on this was, “Top of what?” Marie’s time was 30:33.

By now I was nervously sick but Pauline was as cool as a cucumber. It was her first relay and she was all excited and raring to go. Yvonne arrived back – she has a great sprint finish and then Pauline was off. Poor Yvonne had stopped to be sick during her leg, (alcohol and fast running don’t go together), but she did a great run in 23:15. I should have listened more carefully about the second hill. OK, it was my turn next so off to the loo again!!!

In came Pauline in 27:30 and off I go. The start was a gradual slope up towards the hall, then a sharp right turn and I thought, “Hard but not too bad”. Then came the second hill and then I narrowly missed running into a horse. Round the corner and in view of the tents I received lots of shouts of encouragement from the boys. I then attempted to do a sprint finish, (I think it looked more like a plod!). Great, I was over the line in 25:18 and off went Andrea looking really the part in her sunglasses. We all watched Andrea finish in 27:42 and gave her a big cheer. Yvonne said she looked like Paula Radcliffe.

I really enjoyed the experience and so did we all. We may not come first but, we did it as a team and it was fun and rewarding.

I don’t think Yvonne will put drinking as one of her pre-race decisions again though!!!

Written by: Julie Murphy, Ladies Captain.

Submitted: 30^th March 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor