John Snowdon and I have spent the past three years trying to whip you all into a fervor over the Sheffield Way Relay to little effect; then enter stage left (on Facebook) the almost youthful charm and charisma of the very soon to be wed Paul Fauset and you’re all falling over yourselves to get involved. Anyways, I’m not bitter, so please do paul_fauset@yahoo.com Paul or jasnowden@btinternet.com John to stake your claim to a place in one or other of the relay teams before they’ve all filled up.
Here’s what John has to say:
“For those that don’t want to venture far to take part in a premier relay race incorporating lots of open country and urban fells, as well as local history, and going to areas of inner and outer Sheffield where you may never have run before:
1) The Sheffield Way Relay will be on Sunday 21st September. It involves 5 x 10 mile legs, with 2 runners per leg – so teams of 10 (plus reserves, if possible).
2) We have registered for both an open A team (‘captained’ by Paul) which may have a chance of giving Striders, Kimberworth and Sheffield Running Clubs a run for their money, and a mixed team (led by John) for anyone who wants to take part (and hopefully hold/gain on last year’s sixth place).
3) There is also now the opportunity of the 50 mile Sheffield Way Ultra if anyone is desperate to run around the whole of the original Sheffield boundary! Last year 3 Striders did it in between 8 to 9 hours and still made the post-race party at Nether Edge Bowls Club.
John Crossland (the longstanding organiser from Striders) was very pleased to hear that Dark Peak were going to put an open team in this year, and relayed that this was likely to shake up the other clubs into getting their act together.
We know there is a lot going on in September – but please can we have expressions of interest as soon as possible – so we have an idea of how many new team members (or even new club members) we are going to have to ‘press gang’ to get two teams together. A few more details are on the Striders’ website
here and there will also be an article in Dark Peak News shortly.
We look forward to hearing from you.”
Paul and John will be able to supply full(-ish) route descriptions in time to the interested. You can also look at tracks of the full route on the DP website at results/tracks – tick the Sheffield Way Relay box and click ‘view selected on map’ – and voila, there’s the full route, complete with Messrs Fulton and Barber’s hangover fueled variation.