Brennan takes silver at British Masters Half Marathon Championships

PHIL Brennan defied the “brutal” conditions as he came away with a silver medal in his age category at the British Masters Half Marathon Championships on Sunday.

This year’s championships were incorporated into the Caterham Rotary Half Marathon. The undulating course consists of two laps of leafy country lanes around Redhill Aerodrome.

Stratford AC’s Brennan, who has represented Britain at various international championships, was one of 275 runners to complete the race.

He found the heat, humidity and undulations a difficult combination, but still managed to finish second in the M75 age group in 2.05.52.

Brennan, who is training for September’s World Masters Athletics Championships in Malaga, said: “Despite the 30 degrees and high humidity at the start, with the roads already beginning to pump out the heat, I started off optimistically behind the M75 favourite John Gardner, who didn’t appear to be having a very good day.

“The good times ended at about five miles when I began to doubt that I could even finish.

“The undulations turned out to be mile-long climbs in full sun. The Tour de France would have gone on strike.

“The last hour was brutal — I was coached round by a total stranger, who decided his mission was to see me over the finish line. My time turned out not to be my absolute worst, but close to it. The silver medal was some compensation for the grief.”

Welsh international Gardner was the top M75 finisher in 1.56.51, while the overall race was won by Karl Welborn in 73.13.