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After the Hereward experience, this race felt remarkably easy. It was about 40 degrees and the sun was coming up as we started from Shasta Dam, heading south along the Sacramento River.
Ana & Frida had taken me to the starting point, and then they went off to do the 5-K walk/run at Sundial Bridge in Redding (California) with Kathy & Coyote.
I finished my (approximate) 10 mile leg in about 1:15 and handed off to Jeff Stone, who had driven down with wife, Kathy Pitts, from Yreka. Jeff eventually handed off to Dave Sinclear, Mendocino National Forest Fire Chief, who finished the race at Sundial Bridge. Our team took second - or last place - depending on how you want to look at it - there were only two teams in our division..
It was a beautiful day and I would definately do this race again. Left me looking forward to the next event.
A forty mile jaunt over the fens, running between the Cathedral at Peterborough and the Cathedral at Ely (UK).
The fens were previously ocean bottom and are still muddy. A lot of runners wore cleats. I didn't and my feet slipped back about 50% of their forward motion with every step I took.
Team leader, Dave, started off leg three with me and we stayed together til the last mile or so. When we hit pavement (finally!) he asked me if I was going to "pick it up". I replied that my legs had never been so tired in 40 years of running, but after a short stop for water, I seemed to regain my energy and, eventually, I passed ten other teams before I finished my ten-mile leg.
Afterwards, my friend Jeannette helped "ferry" team members from point to point. I use the word "ferry" because the roads were (literally) closed by rain water...we braved the barricades and floated off to Ely.
Email: phildynan@hotmail.com
One of my favourite races in the Fall, the Whiskeytown Relays are run in the shadow of Shasta Bali, all the way around Whiskeytown Lake.
2006 was my first Reno Relay. Our twelve person team placed third overall. We had a great mix of men and women, aged 16 - 60.
The race is incredibly beautiful, but early legs were very hot - over 100 as I went through Truckee. Night running was much more comfortable. I had one night segment that went up to Eagle's Nest at Tahoe and then another early morning (still dark) run through Carson City.
Loved this race. Preparing for 2007 Relay now.
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