Ich bin ein Berliner

Welcome to this edition of the race report covering the 20th anniversary of Parkrun and the 50th running of the Berlin Marathon along with the variety of other events that you have coloured blue.

Berlin Marathon
Celebrating it’s 50^th anniversary this year on 29th September, the Berlin Marathon is one of the most prestigious and fastest marathons in the world. It’s held annually in, erm, Berlin, Germany. Established in 1974, it has grown from a modest event with just 286 participants to a major international marathon attracting over 50,000 runners from around the globe. The marathon has significant historical context, especially related to the reunification of Germany. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the race expanded to include both East and West Berlin, symbolising unity.

Mark and Donna Harris were lucky enough to run the famed course this year after hitting an Oktoberfest celebration on the way out. Mark finished in 4h 37 and Donna in 4h 40. Gut gemacht euch beiden.

Phew – I didn’t mention the war.

Maldon Half Marathon
Also held on 29th September, but slightly more local was Top Day Event’s Maldon Half Marathon. On the course, runners navigate through picturesque country lanes around areas like Nounsley, Ulting, and Woodham Walter. The course is described as undulating and my legs can attest to that as I was, I believe, the only GBRC representative this year. I finished in a time of 2:04:47.

Run Layer 5
Craig Mitchell and his crew held the annual Run Layer 5 event on 6th October. This was the fourth running of the event and has contributed towards the £15,000 that Craig’s events have raised for the local community and charities. The route is a five mile out and back multi terrain event in Layer de La Haye.

Justin and Kelly Hayhoe were very much in sync for this event finishing in second place in the male and female categories and taking home a special medal each for their troubles.

Craig will also be celebrating his “Hawaii birthday” on Friday 1st November and then taking on the Great Yarmouth Parkrun on the Saturday morning. There will then be drinks on Saturday night at the Fox in Layer. Craig has extended an invitation to all, so contact him on Facebook for more detail.

Parkrun
The 5th October saw the 20th anniversary of the Parkrun movement. The official picture used to publicise the event is in a location some of you may recognise with a familiar face in the background.

GBRC had plenty of runners out the week before the 20th anniversary event. Jon Mann went to Victoria Dock and got a second PB in a month with a time of 18:53. Dean Pepper visited Walmer and Deal whilst on holiday and finished in a time of 22:23. Lisa Briggs earnt herself a 5k pb at Harwich in 20:09. The GBRC social saw Craig Mitchell finish in first place in 20:25 closely followed by David Wright in 20:50. Bee Brent continued her tourism streak visiting Chilton Fields.

Colchester Junior Parkrun 352 also had a couple of blue representatives. Rodger Ferguson shot round in 09:10 with Yasmin Leek hard on his heels in 13:13.

October 5th parkruns saw Bev Shotley recording her fastest time of the year at Coldham Parkrun and Been Brent getting another stamp on her passport for her 50th location at Rheinpark, Cologne.