Leeds Dock Relay 2024
by: Charli Briggs
Friday 16th August 2024, a lovely Summer’s evening where myself, Sophie, and Calum took part in the Leeds Dock Relay as team “Miles & Smiles” (it was also great to see Neil taking part with some friends). This event, organised by Leeds Dock Running Club and Recovery Runners, brought together runners of all abilities for an hour-long relay around Leeds Dock. The course was a 0.9-mile loop and the goal was to run as many laps as possible within the hour ⏰
It was the perfect opportunity to enjoy a social, competitive run after enjoying other local evening events like the Harrogate District Summer Race League and Golden Acre Relay. We really pushed ourselves and had such a great time! Sophie and I each completed three laps, whilst Calum powered through four (we set him off first for this exact reason!!), bringing our total to an impressive 10 laps. Apparently, the average is around 8-9 at this event so we were so proud of this! We yelled at each other in the transition area and I’m confident this helped haha.
For us, quite a special moment at this event was hearing the inspiring story of Recovery Runners, a group formed by individuals overcoming addiction who have found strength and community through running. Their presence really helped to highlight the inclusive spirit of the Leeds Dock Relay, showing how running can bring just about everyone together, regardless of your background or ability.
Just less than a mile per lap, we thought it sounded easy but being totally honest, as the laps added up, so did the fatigue in our legs and tight chests (a result of pushing ourself to paces we haven’t hit before ha!). The buzz of the event definitely kept everyone going – the marshals were so supportive shouting things like “come on speedy runners!” – whether they honestly thought this or not, it definitely helped. The transition area had such good energy too – music playing, crowds cheering and runners pushing themselves.
The event attracted several local running clubs, making it a fantastic evening of camaraderie and competition. After the race, we went to Fearns Bar, where the organisers had sorted a discount on drinks for us. It was the perfect way to have a post-race celebration and catch up! A HUGE thank you to Leeds Dock Running Club and Recovery Runners for organising such a fun event.
We’re now looking for our next local team event so if you know of any, let us know. The Leeds Dock Relay has undoubtedly become a new favourite for us and we will certainly be doing it again next year (hopefully with more teams of Dragons and a whole sea of green)! 🐉💚
If you’re looking for a fun, local event that’s all about teamwork and community, mark your calendars now – this is one race you won’t want to miss! 📅
