The Relais Givrés is always a highlight of the CACE race calendar. It takes place on the third Saturday of January (this year the 17th) in Neder-Over-Heembeek at the Northern edge of Brussels.
The name of the event has a double meaning: it is often frosty in the middle of January and maybe you need to be a bit crazy to do it. The course is hilly, everyone either has to run twice or do an extra-long leg, and those of us who have run it several times can attest that both the weather and underfoot conditions at the Relais can be “interesting”. On the latter point, this year was an exception.
The weather was so balmy that we set up camp on the South-facing terrace of the Stadium Nelson Mandela and stayed OUTSIDE IN THE SUN, ALL DAY! This lifted everyone’s spirits and it certainly did not feel like two days before “Blue Monday”.
CACE had five teams, i.e. 25 runners, out of a total field of 180 teams. There were some fine individual performances on the day, including a battle royale to be the first CACE lady to finish the first leg, and a couple of people bravely battling through illness to the finish. The first CACE team finished in 21st place in 2:55:33, which was only a minute and a couple of places different to the year before. Very consistent.
The Relais Givrés is a relay and a true team event. Each team of five runners must contain at least one female and at least one veteran. Everyone has an individual leg of two four-kilometre loops before a final “team” lap which all five run and finish together. It’s a punishing course, which means you need to pace your effort carefully but also means it is the only race of the year where teammates push each other and direct each other round corners!
After the race, as always we had a post-race celebratory drink or several. As well as the abundant Prosecco supplied by Niall, Jesper also treated us to Cremant to celebrate his birthday. As the unseasonal weather meant the finishers were not all cowering inside shivering, we all gathered at the finish line to welcome home the fifth and final of our teams “CACE Sandra” and ensure they were able to rehydrate immediately.
Much as the sun and unseasonably balmy conditions were lovely, I sort of think that for tradition’s sake next year should feature some horizontal sleet and deep, frigid mud!
Sam
Punishing indeed!