Sunday 13-May-2012 from 8am

Please note that Striders will not be entering teams in the 2012 Relay.  Those who are most likely to run are the same people who will be taking part in the Bob Graham relay attempt in early June so it has been decided not to enter teams for 2012.

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Relay information

Following the success of the 2011 Relay, this event has now been moved permanently from its traditional December date to May.  This 2012 date will take the place of the December 2011 event.  All other details will be confirmed later in the year.

Start (of leg 1) and finish (of leg 6):
Heath Rugby Union Football Club, Stainland Road, Greetland, Halifax, HX4 8LS

For more information, see the race web site.

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2011 Relay on Sunday 8-May-2011 from 8am

This was the rescheduled 2010 Relay, which was postponed from Sunday 12-Dec-2010 (see below for more details).

The club had two teams, a complete A team and an incomplete B team, an impressive total of 18 runners.  As each leg is end-to-end, it's quite a logistical challenge to get everyone in the right place at the right time.  Many thanks to Julian for coordinating the teams.

The plan for "2010" was to have a "racing" team (A) and a "get round" team (B) (although Kenny & Jim especially did a lot more than just get round!).  Well done to all of our runners.

POS	52	Spectrum Striders A
				Leg	Cumulative
	miles			time/pos	time/pos
Leg 1	10.5	Phil Daintith	Liz Whitfield	1:29:12	1:29:12
				(32)	(32)
Leg 2	8.5	Julian Spencer	Ian Pudge	1:10:46	2:39:58
				(32)	(28)
Leg 3	4.8	Barry Allman	Kit Whitfield	1:04:55	3:44:53
				(80)	(45)
Leg 4	9.4	Steve Pickford	Dave Thompson	1:46:43	5:31:36
				(76)	(58)
Leg 5	7.5	Andy Garnett	Brad Ehlen	1:08:59	6:40:35
				(41)	(54)
Leg 6	10	Tim Murphy	Neil Adair	1:28:27	8:09:02
				(41)	(52)
POS	85	Spectrum Striders B
				Leg	Cumulative
	miles			time/pos	time/pos
Leg 1	10.5	Ran Mackay	Stephen Pilditch	1:45:53	1:45:53
				(73)	(73)
Leg 2	8.5	Kenny Forster	Jim Dawson	1:15:19	3:01:12
				(37)	(59)
Leg 3	4.8	Les Hewitt	Anne Hewitt	1:19:50	4:21:02
				(85)	(72)

The winning team took 5:52:22, the 84th and last complete team took 10:45:42.  There were 2 incomplete teams.

Full results are available on the Halifax Harriers AC web site.

Distances are approximate as the routes for some legs have been changed from previous years.

There is no extensive prize list but each runner gets a memento of the run.  This was a slate coaster for everyone which Liz picked up when she handed in the Team Declaration forms early in the morning.

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2011 race report

We got a contribution from at least one runner on each leg - thanks to all of them.  Here is the composite race report.

A team, leg 1

Liz Whitfield:  I really enjoyed it.  Phil and I had a great race.  I was a bit slow to start and Phil had to wait for me!  I blame the 5:20am get up and a dodgy knee.  I found my second wind at 6 miles and we started picking off more teams.  I'm really pleased we'd done a recce back in November as we didn't take the wrong turn we took last time (I think following a couple of Calder Valley vests helped... clearly their B team).  We had a strong finish and were pleased to sprint to the line handing the baton over to Julian and Pudgy.  A great race, looking forward to doing it again.

Phil Daintith:  I really enjoyed it. Hope the baton got to the last leg (ed: not quite  Phil).  That would be a solid achievement for Spectrum.  Liz and I both agreed we could have gone even quicker another time (Liz`s dodgy Knee).  I am sore today (Monday) though I did a 12½ mile walk straight after.

A team, leg 2

Julian Spencer (& Ian Pudge):

"Ian (the Pudge) cruises round Leg 2 while Julian endeavours to keep up with him"

I wanted to run Leg 2 as I fancied running round Stoodley Pike.  Luckily I was able to persuade Liz to change legs to go and run with Phil Daintith on the early 1st leg, as they are both good at getting up early.  Ian and I managed a recce in the crisp, cold but dry snow last October.  The route has two big climbs at the start and then when you are almost home you have to climb back over a high ridge before dropping quickly down over the last mile to the change over.  This is just behind the Todmorden Leisure Centre.

We paced the run well and gained places, mostly from following Ian’s simple theory – run up the hills at the same steady pace, start at the pace you intend to run at when you get to the top of the hill.  It worked.  My descending is a bit rusty but we still gained places whilst dropping off the Pike.  We did go wrong once at the end of where they changed the route, but the following team sportingly called us back.  We despicably passed them later on.

Overall I would gladly run that leg again and I think I could run it quicker.  On balance, I think May is a better month for the race than December, but I will happily run whichever month they ultimately choose.

Julian (the slow)

A team, leg 3

Barry Allman (& Kit Whitfield):  Great fun.  We managed to get round.  Must thank the other teams for pointing us in the right directions (we did have to wait at a few junctions pondering our map).  Thanks for the map, Les.  Great leg, the conditions where very good under foot, quite a lot of climbs ?? (note to self... recce the leg first / good idea ).

We even ran back to the start of the leg (Todmorden Leisure Centre make BRILLIANT chips !!)

Thanks to our team managers Anne & Les Hewitt for sorting us out.  It was great to receive the baton from Julian and Ian. Even better to be able to pass it on to Steve and Dave.

Can't wait for next year.  Gorgeous coconut cake at the finish too .....

A team, leg 4

Dave Thompson (& Steve Pickford):  What a bunch of wimps you are, it was a complete 'n' utter piece of er... cake.  No probs getting a lift back to Blackshaw Head, just grabbed two tidy birds who were more than happy to accomodate two good looking sweaty blokes - oh what fun we had.  Quick change and off to Race HQ for soup, cake and Guinness.

Seriously though, we will recce next time as we did get lost once, which must have put a good 10 mins on our time.  In general though it has to be said it was the dogs wotsits.  Bring it on again!

A team, leg 5

Brad Ehlen:  Andy & I were in the mass start & mostly enjoyed the race... but as there were just the two of us had to leave our car at the start, thus after no drinks at the end of the leg (poor) we had to find our way back, which surprisingly wasn't as easy as it sounds!

However we had an adventure & eventually made it back to the lonely car - even the portaloo had gone!

Nice to look back on but tough at the time!

Andy Garnett:  What a beautiful day – but oh so tough!!  We were at the start by 11:30 and recce-ed the start for a mile or so.  The route was difficult, but we were in a group with a few runners who obligingly shouted directions!!  The leg was only 7½ miles – but was tough in places.  We finished strongly – but 9 minutes after the mass start for leg 6.

As Brad said, we had decided to run back to the start and the car but it was much tougher than we had anticipated.  The route was difficult to find in reverse and we went astray several times – it took us almost 2 hours to get back!!  In retrospect it would have been better to scrounge a lift off another team and drive to the end of the event for the cake.

However, a great adventure – we had a good laugh and enjoyed the good weather.  I am not sure I would want to do the race in December though. May was superb!

A team, leg 6

Tim Murphy:  Neil Adair and I managed to complete our leg without any problems.  We were involved in the mass start at 2:00pm with quite a lot of other teams (I would estimate about 40).

Neil set the pace for us, and we came in a time of 1hr 27min, which I was very pleased with due to a recent lack of training.  Leg 6 is more of a trail leg with not too much climbing and a bit of road and tow path.  Conditions were good underfoot, and road shoes would have been sufficient for this leg.

Even with me doing this leg last year, we still managed to take a wrong turning on one occasion and lost approx. 2 mins whilst we back tracked.  We had a strong finish, and managed to pick off a few teams on the run in towards the canal.

It was good to have support and to meet up at the finish with some of the earlier leg runners, Kit, Barry, Les, Anne, Picky, Dave amongst them.  The soup and cake on offer at the end worked a treat.

An enjoyable day out, and as a note our starter mentioned that they are considering this time of year for future events.

B team, leg 1

Ran Mackay (& Stephen Pilditch):  Stephen and I had not had a chance to have a reccie and I think we were both a bit apprehensive about losing our way.  At least I had run the leg last year and I was determined to reach the end of the leg and pass the baton on.  [Unfortunately, they missed the leg 2 mass start by less than one minute after 1¾ hours running!].  It seemed much easier getting to the start of the race when held in May rather than December.

Despite a few problems with laces and toilet stops we managed to stay with a pack of runners and did not struggle navigationally. The running was great and it felt like we were keeping good time.  Last year Colin Grime and I had gone wrong at the end of the leg and this year I was confused as a large group of faster runners appeared on our route running towards us.  Fortunately it was them that had gone wrong but it as a result we ran in with a large group of faster runners.

There was a comical moment as we were joined by a very excitable dog that had escaped its owner.  The dog was keen to run but the owner did not really look built for it.  As she struggled to run down hill she worriedly asked where we were running to.  I do not think she was impressed when I told her the race had another 50 miles to go!

B team, leg 2

Kenny Forster:  Did I have a good time?  I certainly did!  Great to be involved in an event like that again, even if we had an incomplete team. The comeback is definitely on now (might live to regret saying that).

That was my first attempt at something resembling fell-running for ages so my legs are aching like buggery now.

Set off on leg 2 in the mass start at 09:45 after watching Julian and Pudgy disappear into the distance about 15 mins earlier (great run by Liz and Phil).  Big shout to Jim Dawson on his first ever fell race.  I wasn’t sure how he would get on but I needn’t have worried as I flogged along grimly behind him all the way to the top of Stoodley Pike.  Fortunately he wasn’t too keen on the descents which allowed me to catch my breath as I waited for him a few times.

Even though we had an incomplete team, reaching the leg 3 changeover before 11am, thereby setting Anne and Les off before the mass start, assumed an unnecessary importance in my mind.  Seemed to have time well in hand but there is a £$@£ of a climb out of Todmorden and round to the changeover point.  Glad I reccied the leg a few weeks ago or this would have psyched me out on the day.  Checked my watch as I reached the road leading to the changeover and it said 10:58 something.  A last mad dash, fortunately downhill, and we made it with about 40 seconds to spare.

Top stuff.

P.S. Glad I wasn’t relying on Pudgy’s navigation during the race as he completely failed to find the right rugby club where the post-race refreshments were being handed out, so we ended up in the Shoulder of Mutton at Mytholmroyd instead.  Very nice.  (Phil D:  I think Pudgy just knew there was better beer in the Shoulder of Mutton.)

B team, leg 3

Anne Hewitt:  We really enjoyed it, but not sure if we'd like it in winter!  We were pleased with our time, 1:19:50, which was much quicker than anticipated & the jog back again gave us the training we wanted.

We started seconds ahead of the mass start, who streamed past us & once the first long hill was out of the way we managed to crack on - comparatively speaking.  Nearly all the other runners who were returning gave us words of encouragement & the marshals at the end were very supportive while insisting, with a big grin, that we ran right to the bollard, but Les had realised we could get under 1:20 so nothing would have stopped him anyway.

As Les is quicker than me on the rough stuff & downhill, he was some way ahead of me on the last hill up the road so I had to push hard to catch him - he said it sounded like a steam train coming up.  I did hear that some teams missed out some of the rough by going round the road - wimps :-).  Les informed me that our combined age is 122 so we felt quite smug.  Enjoyed the food & the craic at the end.

Les Hewitt:  Like Anne, my first run in the CW Relay.  The recce in March proved invaluable.  In the whole run, we only had one very brief stop to check the route.  Like the other first timers, I'd definitely do it again but maybe not in the winter.  It was pleasant waiting in the nice weather with Kit & Barry for Julian & Pudgy to arrive.

On our leg, we just got away before the hordes, as an excellent run by Kenny & Jim (only 4½ mins slower than Julian & Pudgy) meant we beat the mass start by about 40 sec.  Many pairs had passed us by the time we got onto the uphill.

As we were going up the hill, other pairs were walking past me while I was trying to run.  Decided to walk and it was faster for me!  Tried to keep Anne within reasonable distance (she's still faster than me up the hills...).  On the rough stuff & downhills later on, I was going better.

On the last rough-ish downhill with only about ¾ mile to go, Anne waved me through and I ran as quickly as I could to the start of the last uphill.  Up the road to the changeover, Anne timed it just right to catch me at the top of the hill.

A fairly tired jog all the way back to the leg 3 start (completing our training for the upcoming White Peak Half).  Soup, rolls, cake & hot drinks at the rugby club, followed by a relatively quiet trip home with Kit fast asleep in the passenger seat!

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Dec 2010 postponement

The following was posted on the race web site around 8-Dec-2010:
"Due to adverse weather conditions, under foot and for parking of vehicles, the Halifax Harriers Calderdale Way Relay committee have taken the decision to postpone the CWR on Sunday 12th December 2010.  A new date is to be rearranged."

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2011 race information

This is a long fell/trail relay race.  It starts at 8am, and covers approximately 50 miles of the Calderdale Way.  There are 6 separate relay legs varying in distance, difficulty and terrain.  The race route is not flagged or marshalled so it is strongly advised that you recce the route of your leg in advance.

There are compulsory kit requirements:

"Full body cover is mandatory and checks will be made at the start and finish of each leg.  Each runner must carry cagoule, over-trousers, hat, gloves, relevant maps, compass and whistle.  If any runner is found not to be in possession of ALL the above items, their entire team will be disqualified."

As the 2011 relay was run in comparatively mild May weather rather than the usual December, some of the kit requirements were relaxed but it is wise to arrive with all of the correct gear!

Each leg is completed by a team of 2 runners who must finish together - the race instructions say that each pair "must stay together at all times".  At the end of each leg, a baton is handed over from the incoming team to the outgoing team.

Race numbers are issued on the day rather than in advance.  There is a registration vehicle at the start of each leg and you need to arrive in good time to pick up your number.  Parking at some changeover points is difficult so please park considerately and follow marshals instructions.

The longest leg is 10.5 miles, the shortest is 4.8 miles.  All legs have at least a reasonable amount of climb.  Detailed routes for legs 1, 3 & 5 have been posted by Halifax Harriers on Google Maps.   There are also unofficial routes posted by runners from previous years relays on MapMyRUN (use the advanced routes search facility to look for "Calderdale Way Relay").

The race web site has comprehensive text route descriptions for each leg of the Relay.

There is a start "cut-off time" for each leg.  If your incoming team has not arrived before the cut-off time, there is a "mass start" of all remaining teams for that leg.  This ensures that for the slower teams' outgoing runners do not have to wait a long time to start.

The 2011 race finished at Heath RUFC.  The organisers provided soup & rolls, cake and hot drinks at no extra charge.

As for other team races, the club pays the race entry fee.   A club representative hands in the Team Declaration form (with details of all team members for all of our teams) at the leg 1 start on race day, so no last minute changes are permitted.

The race is organised by Halifax Harriers AC.  Please go to the race web site for more information and past results.

Leg #	Dist (miles)	Climb (ft)	Cut-off time	route info
1	10.55	1300	08:00	click here
2	8.46	1000	09:45	click here
3	4.8	1100	11:00	click here
4	9.36	900	12:00	click here
5	7.55	???	13:00	click here
6	10.0	???	14:00	click here

Distances and climbs are approximate.

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2009 Relay on 13-Dec-2009

Spectrum Striders took part in 2009 for the first time.

POS	98		Leg	Cumulative
Team	Spectrum Striders		time/pos	time/pos
Leg 1	Ran Mackay	Colin Grime	1:57:05	1:57:05
			(101)	(101)
Leg 2	Liz Whitfield	Shirley Anderson	1:27:51	3:24:56
			(98)	(99)
Leg 3	Kit Whitfield	Philippe Rouillon	1:02:04	4:27:00
			(99)	(98)
Leg 4	Phil Daintith	Dave Thompson	1:50:26	6:17:26
			(103)	(101)
Leg 5	Mark Taylor	Ian Pudge	1:17:32	7:34:58
			(73)	(97)
Leg 6	Tim Murphy	Tim Jefferson	1:41:55	9:16:53
			(100)	(98)

The winning team took 5:54:08, the 115th and last complete team took 11:38:20.  There were two incomplete teams.

Full results are on the Halifax Harriers web site.