Gosport Road Runners - Gill Thomas
THE FUN OF RUNNING IN A RELAY TEAM
In 2022 I was persuaded by my friends Penny and Vicki to join them in a Clarendon relay team. Of course, they played the classic newbie trick on me of allocating me leg 3 - but despite that, and after I had peeled myself off the ground at the top of Farley Mount, I was hooked. As a keen cross-country runner and lover of the countryside it’s the most lovely race and it’s very enjoyable dashing from point to point to cheer in your fellow team mates at each handover.
I run with Gosport Road Runners. They are a game bunch, quite a few had done the full or half marathon in the past and I wondered if a few club members would be interested in making up a relay team (a quarter marathon each). For 2023 we got a great response and booked 3 teams.
Logistics, team spirit as well as the challenge and the beauty of the course all added to the success and enjoyment of the day. We had such a good time we returned with 3 more teams in 2024 and word must have spread as we have 5 teams entered for the 2025 race as well as at least 2 ladies, Yvette and Miranda, doing the full marathon.
This is a very challenging, but well-organised and friendly race with a welcoming atmosphere. A marathon relay is a really good club event which engenders cooperation, teamwork and support as well as challenge and enjoyment. These are core values of Gosport Road Runners, which is a very inclusive and supportive club, so the Clarendon Marathon relay is now well established in our club diary. So, please give a cheer to guys in the yellow Gosport vests as they go past!
Many thanks to Gill Thomas for sharing her experiences with us.
Many thanks to all of you who have booked for the Clarendon this year. Booking early really helps us and is much appreciated. If you have not yet booked please book now. Do also forward this email on to any of your friends who might also want to join us.
Hope the above is useful.
Please do book to join us on the Clarendon this year. We really appreciate your support. https://www.clarendon-marathon.co.uk/register-form
Gosport Road Runners
Gill Thomas