#pikermi

[hommgreece]

Διαχείριση σπιτιών ▪️ #travel #visitgreece #villa #mansion #billionaire #luxury #design #architecture #architect #interiordesign #interior #pool #decor #furniture #interiordesigner #realestate #airbnb #airbnbhomes #airbnboftheday #superhost #madeeasy #homm #athens #greece #pikermi #airport #athensairport (at Homm)

[hommgreece]

Διαχείριση σπιτιών ▪️ #travel #visitgreece #villa #mansion #billionaire #luxury #design #architecture #architect #interiordesign #interior #pool #hammock decor #furniture #interiordesigner #realestate #airbnb #airbnbhomes #airbnboftheday #superhost #madeeasy #homm #athens #greece #pikermi #airport #athensairport (at Homm)

[mepireoupnos]

[photorapist]

Staying Alight.

[enduranceadventure]

Egmond half marathon

Waking up from the morning light entering the room I need a few seconds to understand where I am. In my sleeping bag, on the floor of an appartment in the middle of Egmond, a small town at the Dutch North sea coast. After about a minute I understand why I am here, last night we arrived with a group of 6 to run the Egmond half marathon. A famous and often feared run in The Netherlands.

The Egmond half marathon is always scheduled in the middle of January, the combination of winter weather, a course over the beach and through the dunes combined with the change of high tide make this an event for the runner who's looking for a challenge.

The weather on this sunday morning will not make it an epic run, but definately an option for a fast and fun run. Outside temperature is around 5 degree with a blue sky and almost no wind, perfect conditions! The high tide will make the 7k beach part crowded to say the least, 17.000 entrants today. After a good breakfast and some nervous preparation we walk towards the start area around 12 o'clock. Unfortunately we are splitted and the plan to help one of my friends to a new PR is over. Immediately I change my own plan from helping Maarten to shooting for my own personal best. Last september in the middle of my marathon training I sharpened my PR to 1:27:46 on a fast road race in Haarlem. Will it be possible to improve this time on an offroad beach course?

The first 3k is throught the village of Egmond, the little place is completely flooded by runners, fans and family. Music everywhere and a great way to start a run! After this small lap we run onto the beach and straight away I know it is going to be a tough one. Small beach, a lot of slower people in front of me and the choice between soft beach or the tide. After a minute or 2 I decide to run through the harder but wet side of the big group. This decision means wet shoes, wet socks and a big change on blisters. Running a few 4:15 km's is taking  quite a lot of energy. I try to keep my pace and form a group with another quick guy, we help each other all the way to km 10, of the beach and into the dunes I make a 4:45 km in the crowded transition area. My hope for a PR is gone and I decide to not stress about times anymore. This relaxed running results in a few 4:05 km's and at 15K I clock 1:02:29.

Some quick calculations, 6K to go and 25 minutes left, 4:10 min/km will help me to a personal best. I decide to go for it. Speeding up every kilometer from there I finish in 1:27:28 with a last kilometer in 3:40.

Only a minute after the finish I feel fine, the heartbeat is quickly dropping, the legs feel fine, no blisters. In December everything was focused on the Paris ride, I did only a few small runs but spend a lot of time on the bike. I was wearing new shoes, had a few beers the day before.

Everyone finishes happy and quicker than expected, everunone is happy and the whole team is looking forward to the Trail by the Sea in February and the Rotterdam Marathon! Maybe Egmond was the sign that I should go for a sub 3 hour marathon this spring!