Chasing PB’s in the Catalan Sun

What a day for Notting Hill Running Club at the Barcelona Half Marathon yesterday (15th Feb)!

With 36,000 runners flooding the streets of Barcelona, the atmosphere was nothing short of electric. From the very first wave at the start line, the city was alive, runners shoulder to shoulder, supporters lining the pavements, music pumping through the avenues, and the kind of blue skies you only dream about during winter training blocks back home.

Racing Through the Catalan Sun

The Barcelona Half is known for its fast, flat course, sweeping past iconic landmarks and along the coastline, and this year it truly delivered. Wide boulevards, sea views, and perfect racing conditions created the ideal stage for big performances. With sunshine overhead and 36,000 pairs of trainers hitting the tarmac, it was wall-to-wall energy from start to finish.

For many, this race marks a key target in the early-season calendar, a chance to test winter fitness, chase a personal best, or simply soak up the experience of racing abroad. For our crew, it was all of the above.

The Results

Huge shoutout to our incredible team who proudly represented the club on an international stage:

• Engin – 1:22:19
  A seriously sharp performance, running strong from the gun and delivering an impressive time in a stacked field.

• James – 1:29:00
  Breaking the 90-minute barrier in style, a disciplined, controlled race and a fantastic result.

• Lewis – 1:39:53
  A powerful sub-1:40 run, reaching a PB, showing grit and smart pacing across the 21.1K distance.

• Kate – 2:06:53
  A determined and resilient performance, pushing through every mile and finishing strong in the Catalan sunshine.

From PB-chasing speed to courageous, hard-earned finishes, these performances reflect the dedication that goes in behind the scenes, the early mornings, the long runs, the track sessions, and the commitment to consistent training week after week.