It was Sunday, February 1, 2026, and the atmosphere on the Loolaan in Apeldoorn was exactly what we had hoped for: crisp, energetic, and full of anticipation. There we stood—a motivated team of father, son, and colleagues—ready to take on the challenge of the 10 English Miles. The winter chill nipped at our calves, but our mutual encouragement kept us warm even before the starting gun went off.

The strength of the group

As the race began, we quickly found our collective rhythm. What made this run so special was the dynamic between us. We weren't just running for ourselves; we were running for each other. Along the rolling paths toward Hoog Soeren, we kept a close eye on one another; if one of us struggled on an incline, the others were there to pull the group through.

The Veluwe looked stunning. The rhythmic sound of our footsteps on the forest paths was almost meditative, while we enjoyed the fresh forest air and the cheers from the crowds lining the route.

The final stretch

As we neared the finish, our energy surged back. The fatigue was real, but the knowledge that we were accomplishing this as a team gave us the wings we needed. We turned back onto the Loolaan, where the crowd roared us toward the finish line.

We crossed the mats with a time of 1 hour 40 minute and 31 seconds. It’s a result we can all be incredibly proud of! It was my son's first long distance run an he didn't even teai ed for this run! But more than the numbers on the clock, what stays with us is the memory of the shared effort and the high-fives after the finish. We braved the winter, and we won.

A performance worth framing!