What a day !

It was a great day yesterday, a record of 185 finishers in fantastic weather conditions this time !
Well done to all the walkers and many thanks to all who were involved in this great event, the walkers, marshalls, spectators, organising committee and especially my supporting crew, Steve Partington and Steve Brennan who made it possible to finish within the top 10 and under 17 hours ! I'm very happy with this result !
I had only one "rest" which was at Peel when I fell in front of the crowd, which was the best place to do something like that ;-) . But there wasn't much damage so I could carry on to Douglas promenade . Finishing in 16 hours, 53 minutes and 41 seconds for the 85 miles (137 km) in 8th position.

Again many thanks to all and probably till next year ! I will have some sleep now !

Bye bye and cheers !

Martijn

Isle of Man here we come !

This will be the last post that I do from Holland, the next one will probably being published after "The 85 miles" , at least if I survive it ;-)

It will be a very busy day today, collecting all my stuff and that's a lot because I will be prepared for 2008 weather conditions so I think that 1 case isn't enough.

I will also get in contact with Alex to check in online which saves some time compared by doing it on the airport.

Tomorrow we'll first fly to Liverpool where we will do some sight-seeing and will take the ferry to Isle of Man. This is the first time for me with the ferry so I'm looking forward to it. And finally we will go to the best hotel in the Isle of Man, The Welbeck Hotel !

See you all soon !

Beste regards,

Martijn

Last few days !

It's getter more and more thrilling with only a few days to the start ! Training has been done and I will relax these days, if possible ;-)

Last friday I had some great news regarding the job and it's now official that I can start work as of the 1st of July, the only thing to do is to sign the contract ! And as always at the latest moment, but at least I'm happy with it !

I'm looking forward to meet all the walkers and others involved in the Parish Walk and especially to meet two times winner and 9 times finisher Charlie Weston C 584, on picture, who cheered me on during the last stage from the 100 miles in 06. We had a lot of fun with him in the Welbeck Hotel after the 2007 event !

For some reason I'm a bit worried about the weather predictions and try not to focus on that, fingers crossed !

Cheers,

Martijn

Cleaning Murray's holiday cottage........

Yesterday I respondend on Murray's request on manxathletics.com where he's looking for some volunteers and a cleaner, by e-mail.

I'd send him the following text : Hi Murray if I've to drop out of the race for some reason I would like to go for the only paid one job.

Shortly after sending this I received a reply and he told me to write a story on the blog. So far so good I thought. But early in the morning there was a message on the blog that I wouldn't take part in this years Parish Walk !

It was very nice that Murray misunderstood about the reference to a job and he was thinking that I could not make it this year because of a new job in Holland !

But this is not the case unfortunately, I've to walk ! But in case if I will drop out of the race I would like to make some money and will clean his holiday cottage at Port Soderick.

It is very close to the start now and will only do some 40 k this weekend !

Cheers,

Martijn

10 K Run & Walk in Diemen

Yesterday I went to Alex and Cisca Wijsman in Diemen for a small running event which was organised by some local medical practitioners.

After a short cycle route I arrived at their home and had some drinks before the race and Alex told me about his story on the European Championships in Denmark for the masters.

Alex took part in the 10 K and 30 K race where he finished in something like 60:47 and 3 hours 19 minutes. He was a bit disappointed about the 10 K race but happy with the 30 K result, the course was not flat at all and also the other athletes were slower.

Because I walked over 100 K last weekend we both decide to racewalk the 10 K and had the idea to do it slow in about 67 minutes or something like that.

There were about 40 runners and 2 walkers at the startline and went of for four laps of 2.5 K. This time I walked without any equipment and did not no what pace I was walking and the first lap did go in 14 minutes and 7 seconds which was not like we had planned but we kept going.

I walked just some meters ahead of Alex and was a sort of pacemaker for him.

We passed the halfway mark in about 28 minutes and 37 seconds where Cisca handed over some drinks. With only 2 laps to go we realised that we could make it in under the hour and we finished in 58 minutes and 19 seconds, just ahead of some runners ;-) And we didn't walk at maximum pace so we were very happy with this result !

I'm really interested in what the result would be if we walked at maximum pace, possibly it would be something like 56 minutes and will try that in the near future in an official race.

I had a very good week because it's very certain that I can start work as of the 1st of July and something special happened to me, finally after 37 years I got in contact with my half sister for the first time in my life and I'm very excited about that !

And with only 2 weeks for the big race it can't be better !

Nice weekend,

Martijn

50 miles in Anna Paulowna

The 50 mile event in Anna Paulowna attracted 92 walkers which was a record. We all started at 10:00 pm in very good weather conditions. Because this event is organised by the Royal Navy there's no need to be concerned about anything, very good feeding stations and a well marked course with glowsticks. Compliments for the organisation !

I walked with centurions Piet van der Kroft (known from the 100 miles in 06)right on picture with red top, Rob Wiche and continental centurion Gerard Heunks, which was some good company to walk with and we had a lot of fun. Just after 40 k we walked in daylight again which is much nicer and just in time for the nicest part of the course. Temperature increased very quick from here up to 24 °C but with some wind it wasn't too hot.

Because we talked so much or better said too much we went of the course several times and made some more miles then necessary but never mind !

Just after the last feeding station at the 75 k mark it was only about 6 k to the finish and after about 50 minutes the event has ended for the four of us and went home for a well deserved shower and some sleep.

Because it's again nice weather today I'll go to Amsterdam and will walk back for another 10 mile recovery walk, although there is nothing to recover from ;-) And with this distance I'll complete just over 100 kilometres this weekend.

Best regards,

Martijn

One day in the Navy !

It was a very busy week with a lot of job interviews and therefore a bit quiet on the blog. It's very likely that I can start work as of the 1st of July and that would be great but I'll make things official until everything is definite.

I'm considering to do a 50 mile walk this Saturday which is again a nightwalk starting 10:00PM in Anna Paulowna, in the northern part of Holland. This event is organised by the Royal Navy and it's a good one, I've done it before in 2007 and I do remember that it was well organised.

Weather conditions were close to "Parish conditions" in that year but the predictions for this weekend seem to be great, at least I will take the risk !

After this event I've to decrease the long distances (if I'm able ;-) and will prepare further for the greatest race in the year ; The Parish Walk !

Nice weekend !

Martijn