THE Test Way Relay follows some of the most picturesque countryside in Hampshire.

It traces a route from Inkpen Beacon, just over the border in Berkshire, to Eling just outside of Southampton.

The River Test, threading its way along the length of Test Valley, is known the world over for the excellence of its fishing.

Flowing through the chalk downland in the north, past the market town of Andover, and on to historic Stockbridge, the river widens and deepens as it flows south meeting Southampton Water.

The Test Valley Way footpath is not the easiest to follow, crossing fields, through woodland, and running alongside the riverbank past expensive million pound homes.

For the running race, it features a nine-stage relay from Inkpen Beacon to Eling Wharf with the ladies' teams settng off on the 50-mile run at 10.30am and the men and mixed teams an hour later.

It was cold and a little nippy for the morning start, but by midday it was hot, humid and distinctly tough running conditions.

For once, it was great for me to be running with team-mates as part of a relay squad.

I have been running pretty slowly of late, deliberately slow to conserve energy and prevent injury in the running challenge.

So it was on that basis that I was chosen to run for Stubbington Green Runners' slowest team on a 5.74-mile sixth leg from Stockbridge to Mottisfont.

By the time I took the handover at about 3pm, our team was one but last! I set off with no-one to chase, and no-one chasing me.

The sixth leg was a simple one, heading from Stockbridge in the heart of the Test Valley, on a straight four-mile line before turning by a jaw-dropping and very expensive house which sits right on the banks of the river, crossing the Test, and then heading along tracks for an uphill finish just outside Mottisfont Abbey - this 12th-century Augustinian priory.

I began running pretty swift seven-minute miles, but without anyone alongside and only the occasional passing cyclist for company, I became easily distracted. My mind wandered and my pace slowed.

It was also hot and sticky, and the humidity sapped your energy. I was mindful I had a big race the following day so tried to run conservatively.

In the end, it was a strong finish up the grassy hill to finish in a time of 42min 41sec, and hand on to my next green-vested Stubbington colleague.

Our team did finish one from last, but who cared? This was a fun day, a chance to catch up with a lot of running friends who I have not seen much of this past nine months, with a pleasant post-race drink at Eling Wharf.