The Tilburg Ten Miles attracted a record number of around 20,000 participants. With various toppers among the participants, such as Mahadi Abdi Ali who won the Ten Miles (just over 16 kilometers) in a time of 48.01 minutes. But also many recreationists, such as Domien van Iersel and his daughter Freeke from Helvoirt. Full of emotion, the girl with Down syndrome crossed the finish after 10 kilometers. “I am so happy that I did this.”
Freeke stood by the Tilburg Ten Miles course last year, just like thousands of others. She was so enthusiastic that she said she wanted to participate in 2025. Together with her father Domien, she trained a year for the 10 kilometers. With success, because on Sunday afternoon they crossed the finish line with loud cheers.
“It went very well, I didn’t expect it. It was the first time I participated in Tilburg Ten Miles. I am really proud,” while she gives her father a hug. “All that audience, it was not normal. There were also many friends and family members.”
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Dad Domien was very satisfied. “It was warm and pretty tough. But Freeke wanted to go to the finish, she did not grind. It went really well.” And so there are spareribs on the program tonight, the wish of Freeke.
“Because of this rotten disease I thought I could never exercise again.”
Tears were also for Sandra from Tilburg at the finish. Running 10 kilometers was a big win for her. “I had long covid for 2.5 years and I was very sick. Because of this rotten disease I thought I could never exercise again. Fortunately I was in Mazzelhoek and I was able to train up to 5 kilometers. There my children said that I would also get the next 5.”
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There were also emotions a little earlier at the finish. There a runner asked his friends to marry his friends after the finish. And she said yes.
One of the most striking runners was Rik Konings from Eindhoven who has been participating in running competitions since 2007. He draws attention to Huntington’s disease, a hereditary brain disorder. “Tilburg Ten Miles is always a well -organized party. A naughty nod to Eindhoven, where they have taken Stratumseind from the program. I am intensely angry about that.”
Incidentally, the distance of 10 kilometers he ran in Tilburg is not a tough challenge for him. “Nowadays I walk whole marathons and want to work towards ultra runs of about 100 kilometers. Of course everything is young.”
Luuk Maas was the local hero of the fastest men at the Ten Miles (a distance of 16.1 kilometers) on Sunday morning. The 26-year-old Tilburger ran to fifth place in front of his own audience. “It was enjoyment. I didn’t run a competition for a long time, after I got Corona at the beginning of this year. I hoped to be able to train again within a few weeks, but it took a long time before I was fit again. This was my return and with a time of 48.52 I can’t complain.”
From now on the Tilburger wants to leave the ‘Corona-Eling’ behind. “I assume that my training sessions are going well again and I have a rising line. My dot on the horizon is the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where I want to run the marathon.”