Egmond Halve Marathon, January 10, 2016
Disclaimer: Automatically translated from Russian
Egmond Halve Marathon is one of the largest cross-country events in Holland. Registered on October 21, 2015 immediately after marathon in Amsterdam. As I thought, in January I had to be in the process of preparing for the marathon in Hanover, and a competitive half marathon would be a great checkpoint. It happened. True, I didn’t overpower Jack Daniels again for the start of preparation, so I chose sub 3:10 from the adidas miCoach website as a plan. On January 10, I was already around 30 training out of 79.
Heading to the start point and talking on the train with friends from Harlem, he announced his optimistic plan - to run out of 90 minutes, or in extreme cases make out of 1:33:41, to beat your current PB at that time. They skeptically shook their heads, said that it would be VERY difficult, but nonetheless wished good luck. On the eve of the race, I naturally watched the videos from past races and roughly imagined the conditions - the first 7 km along the beach against the wind (if you are not lucky - against a very strong wind), sometimes under rain, sometimes not. I thought that if you can keep 4:20 on the beach, then I will run 4:10 and everything will be cool.
Since the event is very significant (about 17,000 people at all distances took part this year), everything is perfectly organized: roads are blocked, buses are brought from the railway station of the participants to the start point, and there are many people who want to take part even despite such difficult weather conditions:
At the venue, rooms are organized for changing clothes and storing things, all as usual:
He changed his clothes, handed over things, went to the place of launch. The sea is windy and not at all hot:
Participants and sympathizers hide from the wind in burrows:
Leading lead, quadrocycles of accompaniment at the ready:
About 20 minutes before the start, I leave the shelter and get into my starting area:
I try not to twitch much to hold the pulse, but cool and exciting, so it grows:
Start is getting closer:
The first 7 km along the beach along the sand against the wind, as promised. The wind blows in the face and from the side of the water, so the crowd moves away from the water (no one wants to run from the very edge and take a hit on himself). Sand constantly flies into the eyes. At first I have to run in zigzags, overtaking very slow runners, then I adapt. It makes sense to overtake only further from the water on a more loose sand, hiding behind the backs in front of the runners. Sometimes you still have to be the first and separate from the next group, trying to catch up with the next runner. A tail immediately grows behind his back, but you have to endure, the pace drops to 4: 50-5 min / km.
Finally, the beach ends and becomes much easier: a couple of kilometers along the path in the dunes, but since it is necessary to overtake, you have to run with the edge along the grass and dirt. Well, then a flat tiled surface begins, except at the very end a pair of slides occurs.
I almost guessed with clothes, but after 15 km it was very hot. It also became clear that I did not have time for either sub 90 or the new PB, so I decided not to tear, but simply to run for my pleasure.
I received a medal, drank some drink from a sponsor, photographed:
Changing clothes in the awning:
Ate potatoes and took the bus to the station:
Result:
In general, I was very pleased with the event and the result. I decided that this year I need to participate more in such home races. Immediately tried to register at Groet uit Schoorl (30km), but all the slots were sold out.