Hyde Park Relays 2010

The Hyde Park Relays, a 6 x 3.2 mile race, was perhaps not the endurance test that was needed 4 months out from the Ironman, but it was a race that held great memories from Uni days. Since then we’d won the 1st Old Boys team prize at least once (I think twice), and were hopeful of winning once again. It was also the first time, unbelievably, that all 6 MMXers had been together since the ill-fated King’s Lynn – Winchester cycle in that formative Ironman year of 2006. Since then, one or more of us, more often than not Rich, had been absent from our various training events. The race had been in our diaries for many months, and only some last minute Serpentine pressure for Martin and Andy to run in a crucial Met League meeting instead briefly threatened the reunion.

Reminiscing next to the bandstand of years gone by, it soon became apparent that all links with Notts Uni, bar Jonny Thewlis, had been lost. There were a few familiar faces around though, with 14ACers Hannah Whitelam and Anna Ferguson running, albeit in unfamiliar colours.

Gaunt assumed what had traditionally become the preserve of Skipper Greenleaf: the opening leg for 14AC. The Lazy Wasp, his load lightened by the removal of a large piece of Meccano from his shoulder, was being held back for the anchor leg. Gasman opened up with a 16.55 clocking, handing over to Rich in a top 10 place. Meanwhile, the Uni (sporting the famous green, but with Baptiste-inspired diagonal blue and yellow band) were out in front, despite some predictably shambolic baton changeovers. Davies, roared on by the glamorous WAGs by Queen Elizabeth Gate, showed his usual 100% effort all the way to the line, clocking 18.47.

Next up was Baptiste, looking impressively green in his less-than-technical rugby socks. The top ten position was held, as Leon passed on to Two Jeans Woonton with a 17.54 run. Woonton was looking mean and, whisper it quietly, lean, though he would probably have preferred to have swum across the Serpentine, than have to run around it. A 20.54 clocking and next up was Kilpin. Approaching Hyde Park Corner, the Machine’s engines were beginning to fire, and he handed over to Greenleaf with a 17.50 run. Leaf, having begun his marathon training only the day before, and having already done two laps of the Serpentine warming up, was playing down his form. But class is clearly permanent, as he took the honours with the fastest 14AC performance of the day: 16.39.

This was enough to secure 14AC MMX 11th place overall, but would it be enough for the first Old Boys prize? (Some days later it became apparent we were second behind Alehouse.) After much discussion, and much faffing from Leaf (what did he have in all those bags??), we decided to shun the presentations in order to crack on with the Ironman AGM.

Hosted by Martin in his new flat in Greenwich, the evening was the chance to finalise the pre-Ironman plans, as well as the details for the France trip itself. With Machine doing a fine job as secretary, some key decisions for the year ahead were taken:

• A training weekend in Dorset for the Mayday bank holiday weekend, worryingly just a week after the London marathon;
• A cycling weekend in Bromyard later in May. (Curry is off the menu.);
• A 14AC appearance at Ed Prickett Relays;
• Davies, supported by Baptiste, commissioned to design the Official MMX Apparel;
• Leon’s chance to colour in some French railway lines vetoed, with Team MMX heading to Nice by car instead.

Aside, from the AGM, the team kicked off 4 months of carbo-loading with a Gaunt pasta extravaganza. There was also time, obviously, for a game of hearts, and a bizarre betting game involving Man City vs Stoke (Dean Dyer inexplicably absent). The Armchair Athlete got out of the armchair briefly, but only to look into the armchair for his stylus. He eventually made off with a 6ft canvas instead. But the moment of the evening was undoubtedly the extraordinary unveiling of the MMX calendar. Designed in secrecy by Leaf, courtesy of Merrill Lynch’s generous leave entitlement, these caused much amusement (although the significance of the York City emblem had us stumped for a while).

After 5 of the MMXers had spent the night in Greenwich, Woonton and Machine were off, leaving Gaunt, Leaf and Baptiste the remaining survivors for the Sunday morning run. Gaunt and Leaf locked in an hour, Baptiste 1hr30, and it was time to say farewell. A cracking weekend, and the Ironman is finally, worryingly, becoming tangibly close.