Berlin Marathon

The Berlin Marathon was run recently in excellent weather conditions and the start was a spectacular one with 30,000 runners sent on their way at the same time as masses of balloons were released over the city.
Newport and District Running Club sent a contingent to Germany to contest the race and although they didn't get round quite as quickly as the new world best time of 2hrs 04m 26s, posted by Haile Gabrselassie, the did do very well with Robin Guy finishing in 3h 05m in only his second marathon, but a personal best by 41 mins. Rob Guest was next not too far ehind in 3.19 followed by Lucy Dalton from Telford Harriers in 3. 28 which was also a pb by a considerable margin.
Club stalwarts Steve Fowles did 3.34 and the ever reliable Mike Taylor, with his sister and brother in law as his support team, got round in 3.49.
The club even had an Irish contingent in the form of Bernie Holbrook and Eamon Dennis who did 4.05 and 4.10 respectively, with Eamon's time again being a pb by 15mins. Julian Withers was the final runner home in 4.46, but was still satisfied with his time.
The photo shows the runners in front of the finish at the Branndenburg Gate.