Midlands Road Relays Success for Western Tempo

This weekend saw the first big team event for my running/triathlon team Western Tempo. Western tempo was formed in 2020 by many of the Cheltenham Harriers team and head coach Dave Newport. It has been a long time coming to be part of a big team event and the Midlands Road Relays didn’t disappoint.

It always baffles me how few multi-sport athletes are aware of the biggest events on the road running calendar or run for a team competing in the events. Over the years Mo Farah amongst many Olympians and GB runners have competed for their teams in the prestigious National Road relays that follow a few weeks later. Key events like this drive forward personal performance whilst creating something that is sometimes lacking in multi-sport………team work/spirit. Six person teams complete an undulating 6km loop in turn before handing over a virtual baton to a team mate.

Strategy is important (as well as getting all your runners to the start line fit!) to ensure that six runners of different speeds/abilities maximise their performance and as such the lead can change hands several times during the 2hour event. It’s exciting, nail-biting at times and a podium position or top 20 to reach the Nationals the following month is the aim alongside personal best performances and cheering on team mates around the course.

Western Tempo made an excellent start to life as a newly formed team with the men finishing in 4th place less than a minute from the podium and the women in 7th place. I took the last leg for the first time in 15 years at these events to move us up from 5th to 4th place. That was one of the toughest legs i’ve had with nobody in sight or to chase initially with the race so spread out but knowing that 4th and possibly 3rd place was possible. So 15 years into road relays and I got a hard race/time trial, big challenge physically and mentally and something new to keep me on edge the whole time. You never want to let your team mates down. Loved it :)