Lostock AC’s Gaz Foulkes travelled to Berlin to take part in the city’s famous half-marathon and secured a new personal-best time.
This iconic half-marathon starts in the centre of the city in the shadow of the Victory Column, before the route loops around the city passing many of Berlin’s landmarks and finishes at the historic Brandenburg Gate.
This is a flat and fast course and attracts runners from all over the world hoping to secure a PB. Foulkes had been training for the race and was hoping to join the other competitors achieving a PB.
His pacing strategy worked and he was able to keep consistent splits throughout in an amazing race. All his hard work and training paid off as he secured that PB, completing the race in 1hr 37mins 37secs.
Elsewhere, Rachel Stevens competed in the Race to the Castle in Lancaster where participants start to the north of Lancaster city centre and run along the River Lune. It is a flat course until you reach the castle where you are welcomed by a very steep hill.
Runners predominantly walked up the steep hill, but when they reach the top are welcomed by the beautiful view of the castle. Runners pass the castle and have a lovely downhill back towards the river and the finish line.
It was a warm April day and Stevens was glad she had decided to run with water. It was a quiet race with only 109 participants and, as a result, runners were spaced out and she found herself running alone for the majority of the race.
On reaching the halfway point the sun was shining down, and Stevens opted to enjoy the sunshine and the race. She had a fantastic run, finishing in 54:11 as eighth female and second in her age category.
Parkrun results: Bolton - Rachel Hancock 28:06 (third in age category), Gillian Caldwell 32:02 (new Bolton PB and first in her age category); Haigh Woodland - Matt and Grainne Carney 26:21, Rachel Stevens 27:03 (second in age category), James Jackson 27:07, Matt Withers 28:00, Chris Taylor 28:18, Katie Edern 28:19 (new Haigh PB and third in age category), Cathy Stratton 29:03, Ian Burns 29:35 (second in age category), Markus Stevens 32:15 (new Haigh PB); Hasenheide (Berlin) - Gaz Foulkes 23:08; Pennington Flash - Mark Checkley 30:59; Worsley Woods - Mark Shuttleworth 24:00, Lynda Hardman 28:52 (new Worsley Woods PB and second in her age category).
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