The fastest four runners rarely win. The four who trust each other do. Inside the exchange zone, the eleven strides that decide a relay.
The go mark
A strip of tape on the track, placed by the outgoing runner, that says when to leave. Too early and the baton never arrives; too late and the incoming runner runs into the back of you.
The blind hand
The outgoing runner does not look back. Eleven strides of faith, a hand held still, and a baton that arrives or does not.
You can teach the speed. You cannot teach a runner to stop looking.
— National relay coach
