One of the main winter races in the Netherlands - Groet uit Schoorl Run, February 12, 2017
Disclaimer: Automatically translated from Russian
One of the largest races in the Netherlands.
I wanted to sign up for him last year, but did not have time. But he participated in another major - Egmond Half Marathon. This time registered as soon as possible. The specifics of these winter starts is that the weather can be completely unpredictable: in one year the sun can shine and be hot (by running standards), last year, as far as I remember, the weather was completely vile - it’s cold, wind and rain, and this year the day before the snow fell stupidly:
Naturally, we managed to rejoice in the snow - we rolled on the sled, drank black snowmen. But before the start, the question is a little more acute than always - what to wear? The forecast predicted from -2 degrees in the morning and to + 3 during the race. At first it was not clear whether they would have time to clean the track of snow or whether to wear treil sneakers. In the morning, the organizers reported on the site that, they say, do not be afraid - everything is cleaned. So you could exhale and get ready on the road-road:
It was necessary to take the train to the glorious city of Alkmaar, and from there everyone was transported by buses to the no less glorious city of Schoorl, from where, in fact, the start was.
Briefly about the event. Groet uit Schoorl Run was held for the 40th time. This year, about 10,000 people participated. Distance: children’s race, half marathon, 30 km and 10 km as part of the national championship of the Netherlands. To maximize the charm of the event, I signed up for 30 km. The plan was extremely simple - to keep the entire distance at a rate not lower than 4:10 min / km - my target pace for the upcoming marathon in early April. That is, the finish time was planned from 2:05:00. Training process after relatively recent Vondelparkloop walked with varying success:
For the 11th week I ran away exactly, the 10th completely missed it because my back hurt and for a couple of days I completely lost the ability to straighten, but then gradually got out and the 9th and 8th ( numbering of weeks - the countdown to the marathon ) of the week ran away exactly, but not particularly straining before the competition.
In general, I arrived at Schoorl early, got on the bus:
and went to prepare - to change clothes, to give things up and tune in. On the thermometer was about -2 degrees, fresh, nothing dripped over his head and did not fall. The organizers were completing the preparation of the start zone:
A hall in the sports complex was taken to the dressing area:
I managed to change clothes, eat a banana, drink water, pass things when people began to pull themselves up and fill all their free space:
It was cool on the street, so no one was in a hurry to go out. I advanced into the starting area 25 minutes before the start. He ran a couple of hundred meters, went into his paddock and waited.
It was cold just pipets. I was still in the headbend, a long-arm T-shirt, a light windbreaker and gloves. Some (even ladies) were in short shorts and T-shirts. Nightmare. In general, after listening to the history of the race (the organizers entertained as best they could, well done), the start was finally given and we ran.
When registering, as far as I remember, I indicated the expected time of the finish line, but the starting zones, apparently, were in the order of registration. Therefore, the first 500 meters had to be overtaken. The road was narrow, you won’t especially run around the sidelines ( the main thing was not to get into the deep puddle ), nevertheless, gradually reached the pace a little faster than the target one and ran. First, they ran around the village, came across orchestras, fans and photographers:
After 7 km they began to get out into the dunes. Honestly, I did not expect such a landscape at all - forests, snow and hills, around the hills. The pace continued to remain at around 3: 55-4: 10 min / km. The first gel ate at the 10th kilometer. The gap between 14 and 19 kilometers was the most difficult - they ran through the dunes:
Open space, in some areas there is a strong wind, and in some - a very strong wind. From time to time I joined some group, sometimes I drove someone behind me, but the bulk of the people were still behind, you won’t really hide, so I fought enough. The second gel took on the 16th kilometer. At the 20 km mark there was a sign - “ 21 km - links, 30 km - nog een rondje ” (half marathoners - to the left, the rest - another circle). And the road turned to where we were already running, heading into the dunes. I was morally unprepared for another such circle and even began to scold myself for driving like a mad first half of the distance, and now I will fall exhausted in dunes in a snowdrift, and the wind will fill me with sand. Okay, there’s nothing to do, you have to run. I’m catching up with some sufferer, who, too, seems to be not very happy that he chose 30 km. We run nearby.Dude breathes, snot. We run to the hill. On the 22nd kilometer I uncork the third gel. After another kilometer and a half, the dude slows down at the water station. I have water with me, I run without stopping. Then people who are clearly running 30 km begin to come across to meet. I look closely. It seems that they were not Kenyans and Ethiopians, which means they could not overtake me by 10 km and run around the dunes, so - cheers - most likely we will no longer run to the sand. And there is - in front I see a U-turn zone. The mood improves, I try to maintain the current jumping pace 3: 58-4: 10. From 25 to 28 kilometers I found entertainment for myself - in front of a man ran under a half-cantom, apparently very similar to the editor of the Dutch Runner’s World. I decided that I should try to overtake him and look at the front number, so that later he would check it or not. Could not.On the 28th kilometer, our paths came together with the main flow of people fleeing the half marathon and turning 30 km, so I started looping around people, and the man accelerated and rode forward. At a mark of 29 km, 700 m I meet this plate again, mentally telling her - “ bite ”, turn towards the finish line, accelerate at a pace of 3:46 and finish with a cramped left foot.
Hooray, alive and even, it seems, if the clock does not lie, laid down in the plan. I take water, and move forward, thinking - well, since this is my first official 30 km race, and even good time, I will need to make an engraving on medals.
Meanwhile, volunteers with the words “ Gefeliciteerd! ” handed me … a towel. So here is one of the most difficult and interesting races, and there’s nothing to hang on the wall: - ) Well, okay, Noreman also gives T-shirts for all the suffering, and nothing.
Further, everything is traditionally: I change clothes and step on the bus. On the way I meet the warming up Susan Krumins ( an hour later she won the women’s race for 10 km, but probably these events are not connected in any way ).
Suitcase, train station, SaratovHaarlem and immediately go for a walk for the children - until the snow has melted completely:
And then the official results came up:
47th of 1333 in the overall standings and 7th of 144 boys of my age. There is where to grow.
Track:
What can be said, according to the sensations of another 12 km at that pace that day, I could not stand it. But if you pull yourself together and do not drive at the beginning, then the average rate of 4:10 min / km is very real. Let’s see
