A smaller contingent than normal headed down the M1 for this year’s Masters Road relays at Mallory Park racing circuit.  Quantity was definitely replaced by quality, however, as both Striders teams came back with National medals, following the frustration of fourth places in 2024.

The relays are run in ten-year age groups and Striders sent out teams in the F55 and F65 categories.  It’s fair to say that the build up to the race had not been ideal for some of the competitors. Karen Clark and Kate Waddicor had both run marathons just 6 days previously in London and Manchester respectively. Karen also suffered a severe reaction to a horsefly bite at Wednesday night’s 5 mile race, ending up in A & E.  She still raced despite being on antibiotics and with a swollen leg.  Mandy Taylor is also on the return to racing following a fractured shoulder.  Our Striders women are made of strong stuff though so they weren’t going to let marathons, vindictive insects and broken bones hold them back.

The event is 3 legs of 3 miles each around the racing circuit.  The course is largely flat but does include a short but unpleasantly steep hill near the end which the organisers kindly send the runners up twice.

Mandy led off for the F55s, handing over to Karen who moved the team into bronze medal position, with Kate Scott maintaining a one minute lead over fourth place Stockport Harriers to the finish.

Kate W came home in 3rd place on the first leg for the F65 team, with Carol Beattie moving nicely into second place on leg two.  Datchet Dashers in third were just 19 seconds behind when Louise Rowley set off on the last leg but she coolly extended her lead to a full minute by the finish.   Brilliant running by both teams and medals all round!

The event was coupled with a 50k and 100k event – 30 plus laps of a race track sounds like a pretty daunting challenge!