Teddy Hall Relays 2025
After months of anticipation, countless emails and an incessant amount of pestering to recruit enough marshals to fill all positions, the big day had finally arrived. A bitterly cold early morning was spent marking the course with arrows; ‘Cautions Runners’ signs and finally negotiating with apprehensive college porters about the position of placement of said signs.
The stage was now set and the curtain was ready to drop as the queues of runners began streaming into registration to collect their numbers and most importantly their relay baton. An air of tension began to build as the first runners from each team lined up behind the grand yellow arch of the start line. A few moments of tense silence ensued as the runners nervously awaited the start gun. The rope of tension tightened further and further until the abrupt ‘GO’ from the megaphone caused it to finally snap. All tension was instantaneously dissipated into excitement as the runners set off into the sea of noise from the exhilarated crowd of supporters and teammates.
The course begins with the runners embarking on a kamikaze lap of the Iffley Road track as all the built up adrenaline us suddenly released. This is exacerbated further by the large crowds cheering them on and the eurotrash blaring from the tannoy all spurring them on even faster far beyond the realms of sensibility. This is then followed by a short road section as the runners make their way out of Iffley and head towards Donnington Bridge. At this point they drop down onto the Thames Path. This is the point in the race where a lot of runners may be regretting the speed at which they charged around the track ten minutes earlier however this is now their chance to settle, find a rhythm and either stick with the runners around them or fixate upon and chase down the next runner. This section of river is busy for rowing so there was likely plenty of entertainment from clumsily piloted college boats out for a field day in the side of a bank. The course then takes a couple of turns over Folly Bridge and into Christ Church Meadows. A picturesque section of the course is now began along the golden gravel as the runners dig deep knowing the finish, and their awaiting teammate, is drawing ever closer. A final section of confused tourist-dodging follows as the runners make their way across Magdalen bridge and at last back out onto the track as they can expend the last of their energy and put on one last show for the crowds as they come in and hand over the baton to their next team mate.
Despite what had begun looking like what was set to be rather dire conditions on the weather front; the sun finally made a show just in time as the race began leaving perfect conditions for running around and enjoying the sights of Oxford at their best. It was amazing to have almost 200 teams signed up for this years event and really facilitated the electric atmosphere that was present throughout the day even up until the final runners finished.
The post race tea; expertly prepared by a hard working team of helpers, was greatly enjoyed by all the famished runners as they replenished their energy reserves after a hard afternoon of expenditure; both on the running front and in supporting their teammates. Congratulations to all the teams who won prizes in the short ceremony following the tea. We hope everyone had as great a day at Teddy Hall Relays as we did and we hope to see all of you; along with many more back next year.
