The Real Relay : Lancaster to Garstang In the wee small hours of Saturday morning I took part in an exciting, and rather British endeavour. The Endurancelife Real Relay, an exciting attempt to follow the entire route of the official Olympic Torch around the British Isles in one continuous non-stop journey, running every step of the way.
www.endurancelife.com/realrelay/
I had signed up to run the Lancaster to Garstang leg, originally scheduled for a 2.25am start. Half dozing, I followed the batons' gps tracker. It was clear that the leg coming down Scafell Pike had struggled, and that it was running about an hour behind. I eventually got a text saying it would be in Lancaster at about 3.45-4am.
So it was that me and my wife were in Dalton Square, at 3.45am, where Kevin had already finished his leg, and was waiting for me to hand over, and after a few photos, my turn to set off up the A6, passed a load of clubbers staggering home, and out onto the countryside towards Garstang.
A beautiful 11 mile route, as the sun slowed rose and the morning began...
You know it feels nice watching the sun come up
And I've realised I can never return
Oh babe it feels good watching the sun come up
I can attack the day with the will to burn
And the sky is a picture of violence
Blood red and steely blue
It has beauty that could never be silenced
Oh yeah it reminds me of you
Watching the Sun Come Up by Ed Harcourt.
Well timed on my ipod...
Just before 5am, I came into Garstang town, and put on a bit of a sprint finish before handing the baton to the next awaiting runners, Andrew Carey & Catherine Slevin who were waiting for me outside Garstang Town Hall, along with my wife, who had been following me in the car, and taking these pics. It was a great thing to say I was a part of, and a whole lot of fun running at such an odd hour.
Follow the entire route at www.endurancelife.com/realrelay/