If ever there was a race that felt like stepping into a legend, Broloppet 2025 delivered it by the mile. An event as rare as a solar eclipse, this 13.1 miles, a half-marathon from Denmark to Sweden turned thousands of runners into adventurers, crossing one of the world’s most iconic engineering marvels—the Øresund Bridge.
The race began not with fireworks but with footsteps echoing in the darkness of the Drogden Tunnel. It was unlike any race start on Earth. We were deep beneath the sea, running toward the rising sun. The uphill gradient out of the tunnel quickly separated the dreamers from the determined.
Bursting from the tunnel onto the manmade island of Peberholm. Then came the majestic incline of the Øresund Bridge.
There it was: a 7.8 km ribbon of steel floating over the sea, linking two nations and around us, only sky, sea, and the collective effort of thousands of runners. The view? Surreal. Copenhagen faded behind us. Malmö called ahead. And for every runner, the bridge was both barrier and beacon.
As the towers of the bridge passed and the elevation dropped, legs responded with new life. We were gliding now, descending into a new land, literally and metaphorically. The Swedish shoreline welcomed us with open arms: swaying flags, roaring crowds, and cowbells.
The finish line near Limhamn was more than a banner. It was a border-crossing. A story etched into calves, lungs, and memories.
Among the sea of international colours stretched across the bridge, three runners stood out in the unmistakable green and black of Grantham Running Club. Sam Caton and Robert Croston, running shoulder to shoulder, turned the bridge into a shared odyssey—stride for stride, soaking up every gust of wind and every sweeping view. Behind them, Martyn Wand paced steadily with the calm assurance of experience, smiling at the surreal beauty of the sea on both sides.
None of the trio were chasing a clock. This was about the journey, not the stopwatch—about being part of something grand and unforgettable. The GRC colours flew high over the Øresund that morning, a reminder that sometimes, the best races are the ones you run with your mates.
Report by Sam Caton