Beating the Berlin Wall with personal best times through Brandenburg Gate

The Berlin Half Marathon took place this weekend with Torbay Tri Club, the course goes across the capital on a route with a low elevation profile and in an atmospheric setting.

From the start with a view of the Victory Column to the finish at the Brandenburg Gate, you will pass many Berlin landmarks along the course. They were also supported by around 40 bands, cheering points and lots of spectators, plus nice weather.

Tri club members V50 Stuart and V45 Sarah Sweatman represented the club in this wonderful city. Both had excellent runs, Stuart finishing in 1hr 54mins 04secs (14,722th), Sarah in 2hr 18mins 41eecs (28,501st) a PB,  out of just over 40000 runners.

Matt Giles and Nev met up with Valerie McClean, Ian McClean and Khani to take on Sportiva’s Exeter Canicross Trail races. Under blue skies, sun and some cloud, with a stiff breeze, they each took on the 10km course through the fields, trails and woodland of Escott Park.

Matt and Nev came in 1st overall in the 10km Canicross in 43:18, whilst Mac and Khani came in 1st Vet 60 male in 52:34 (8th overall) and Val V50 finished in 1:20:50 (105th overall). A great outing for the club at an excellent Sportiva event, with our very own Jo Coish on the mic at the finish line.

After a pitstop back in Torbay for refreshments and a well-earned nap for Nev, the whole Giles family headed across the Tamar for the Purple Gecko Siblyback twilight 10km for the penultimate race of the 25/26 Canicross series. Under a stunning Cornish sky, Matt and Nev stormed the two laps of Siblyback Lake winning in 36:23, completely dominating the field.

Special mention goes out to V55 Sue Hayes who competed at the London Olympia in her first gruelling HYROX event. 

HYROX combines both running and functional workout stations, where participants run 1km, followed by one functional workout station, repeated eight times. Sue completed this very challenging multi-event course in 1hr 50mins 01secs (398th), 9th in her age category.