Marathon Spijkenisse

Disclaimer: Automatically translated from Russian

At last on the second try got to the Spijkenisse marathon.

Recovery after Brabant passed pretty quickly, and I checked in for the next race - Spikenisse marathon. The main task for the remaining three weeks was not to get sick and at least run at least to go to the start not with empty legs. It turned out partially.

In the first week he ran 15 kilometers, in the second 35, and in the third he slammed 47 altogether. Wow! Moreover, 30 kilometers ran as a log on the local slides.

Well, in the competitive week, of course, he caught a cold and did nothing. Only on Friday and Saturday, despite the sore throat, he went out and rubbed for half an hour. The wind these days was just the wildest. And the weather is not the hottest. The start was waiting with great anticipation.

On the marathon morning, the trees stood surprisingly upright, barely swaying from the wind. The thermometer showed about plus seven degrees, according to the forecast they promised rain. I decided that it’s not worth running naked in such conditions with a sore throat - I’ll run in a jacket, pants and take a trailer backpack with gels. Well, if anything, I’ll unload a second T-shirt into it.

Gathered and went:

Spijkenisse is located in the Rotterdam area. About an hour and fifteen by car.

I arrived without adventure. He parked in the indoor theater parking, partially dressed in a running uniform and went to the start. The elegant stadium has already met the participants of the competition:

There were four distances: a marathon, half and ten and five kilometers. Start and finish - at the stadium of the local athletics club Spark:

To change clothes, issue numbers and hand over personal belongings, a large gym was set aside:

I got a number, found out how to get a pre-paid parking ticket and went to change clothes.

The people were in what: some in their pants and jackets, others in shorts and t-shirts. I decided not to change plans. We must at least once do everything in a normal way. He put on his pants, a T-shirt, a thin long-hand jacket, a jacket, a cap. He took out the triathlon belt to strengthen his number.

A minute has stood. Damn, plus seven, I’ll stock up. Well, what for him. I changed into shorts, packed my jacket in my bag, and the triple backpack there too. I hooked the number to the sweater, shoved five gels into my pockets and went to take things.

Ten minutes to start. There is no time to warm up. And he stretched out a kilometer before the stadium. I go out. It starts to rain. The people begin to stumble over the awning. I do not fit:

During waiting, I managed to get wet - both clothes and sneakers. Well, then you can not bathe and not run around puddles.

Finally, the start was given and everyone ran:

The wishes for the race are simple - to run as smoothly as possible. Preferably without cramps in the legs. If the time is between 3:15 and 3:30 - I will be more than satisfied.

Therefore, the first kilometers are in no hurry. And cramped, a lot of people were in front of me. Running in the crowd:

I overtake the pizers for four hours. Then for some time I’m running with pizers for three forty-five. Then I catch up with the pagers for three and a half hours. I’m running with them a couple of kilometers. Then I overtake.

The people dispersed, there are no groups suitable at the pace. On the sixth kilometer along the embankment along the route, a herd of rams runs after us:

The pace holds around 3: 25-3: 30. I’m running, bored. I take out the headphones and turn on the radio-T podcast to make it more fun (ha ha).

There is nothing special to look at - standard suburban roads along some pastures and farm fields. From time to time there are local residents (and most likely people who specifically came to support their runners) and support as much as possible. Well, once in a canal near some farm, a peacock swam around the road itself.

On the nineteenth kilometer he overtook some frisky granny in appearance of seventy years. I thought it was cool running. It is unlikely, of course, a complete marathon, probably half. But even for such a distance, a steep pace.

The rain after the start lasted only a couple of kilometers after which it ceased. But on the twenty-fifth kilometer he went again, and even what. Escort cyclists stopped to put on rubber cloaks. For protection, I could only turn the cap forward.

Until the thirtieth kilometer, it ran perfectly - no hint of cramps, legs work, the pace is even, the pulse is low. And then how cut off - just tired of running. The batteries in the headphones still sat down, I had to put on recharging. Started to go one step. But it somehow didn’t calm down very much - there is no reason, but I’m coming. If only the leg got sick, then it would be possible to reach the rest of the way with a clear conscience. But no. Okay, I’m running again:

I completely forgot to find internal motivation to overcome such artificially created difficulties.

Six kilometers to the finish line, the headphones recharged and turned on Blink-182 to raise morale. It helped a little, but still gave slack several times and walked. By that time, those whom I had overtaken before began to pick me up with might and main. Including that playful granny - overtook me three kilometers to the finish line. And two kilometers to the end, the players at 3:30 - one man about fifty years old and another one looks a little older. I decided that the rest of the way I won’t walk and centimeter.

The kid said - the kid did - courageously ran the two remaining kilometers as expected:

Photo finish. If you wish, you can show this photo and say that you ran out of three. And if they ask why the man in front of me says 3:30 on the vest, then we can say that this is the target pace.

After the finish, he drank water, took things, found out about paying for the parking lot and went to the car. It was also necessary to have time to buy sausages at the Polish store. And this probably cared more than the just passed marathon. In general, the whole way back caught himself thinking that the whole event did not cause any emotions - not before the start, nor after. Well, I ran and ran.

After receiving the medal, I wanted to google what kind of bridge was depicted on it to take a picture. But I decided that I like the frogs near the theater no less:

Result:

• time - 3:29:28
• 88th of 272 in the overall standings (although protocols sorted by dirty time, maybe a couple of positions higher)
• 22nd of 57 in the category M40
• used an unprecedented amount of gels - five pieces (7, 12, 18, 25, 30 kilometers)
• ran to Endorphin Speed 3 and rubbed the foot on the right leg, except for this no damage, the very next day I went up the stairs
• and yes, he did the right thing in not running in a jacket and pants - he would have suffered a hell of a lot
• link to Strava

In general, the event of norms: the organization is good, there are enough food outlets (stackers, however, plastic indelible), a one-round route and good local support. Once you are definitely worth coming.

I thought in December to run Winter Marathon Leeuwarden with an interesting route from the sea to the city in one direction, but there will be just a school vacation. And there are no more marathons in December. So we’ll end this year with twelve marathons in a piggy bank, of which eight are Dutch.

You can write a comment or ask a question in post discussion branch in Telegram.