Egmond Half Marathon

Egmond aan zee half marathon is one of the most beautiful races I have ever run! What a peaceful run. I loved the variety of the course between sands and dunes! I loved running on the sand, the North sea on my right side the sun shining in my eyes like a diamond in the sky :) and nothing was running through my head , just a pure enjoyment in this crispy cold sunny weather!

My day started by picking up Christine from Amstelveen and we drove to Alkmaar where I dropped my car and we took a bus to Egmond. Once arrived we got installed in the sport hall where we met with @RunningMarcel and his running club also with @Rwshoe. It is always nice when you go to a race to just meet up with people who share the same passion and you can talk about running with the same excitements!

Me, René, Christine and Marcel

I didn't have a goal because in my last half marathon race Ameland Adventure I had to step out of the race and my knee is still playing games with me so I wasn't sure how my day will turn out! I just love running and I was going to run for fun and do my best! Women start was a little earlier than the men's start.

At 12:00 after I dropped my bag, I run together with Christine to the start and we stood up just behind the Elite runners. I am always fascinated by those fast women! The start took off on time and the first kms like always I went too fast but then I managed to find a nice pace. A small round in Egmond and then toward the sea to run 7 km on the sand. No words can describe how beautiful the scenery was, I think I was day dreaming until I realized that the fastest men just passed me and made me feel like a turtle next to them! I am not kidding it is not normal how fast these men can run! If I sprinted I wouldn't catch up to them! True inspiration!!

From the sea to the dunes a small path that leads you back to the start! The whole time I felt strong in a comfortable pace I didn't check my pace not even once! What I really enjoyed the people along the course! I love when I hear people cheering us up! The only thing I realized that around 12 km I was light headed I felt dizzy but of course I knew what was the reason I forgot to drink water, I also had a gel with me but I didn't think I would need it! At that moment I took the gel out and for the first time I finished the whole gel! After couple minutes I felt energized again a happy me I cruised my way toward the finish line.Just before the finish @Hero tapped my shoulder and passed me and with a big smile I finished  pain free race with a time of                                  

1.32'19

'Happy-Ness'

At the finish I saw Rob Veer, of course you can never walk by without spotting him with his red hat! We talked a little and then I headed back to the sport hall after proudly picking up my medal and before I freeze from the cold!
Then Rene and Christine showed up all happy that they also didn't have any cramps or pain while running! I headed upstairs with Christine to have a drink with her running Club, Marcel who also didn't have cramps and was happy to have finished joined us for a bier!

Happy with our Medals! Christine, Marcel and Myself

Then we took the bus back toward the parking, I dropped Christine safely home and I headed back to my hubby and my little boy! I loved going to Egmond but my day started at 9 am and I was not home before 17:00 it was somehow an exhausting day for a 92 min run and for sure that is not how I would like to spend my sunday but I surely enjoyed it!

All in all, I am very satisfied with my run, I am trusting myself more and more I am learning how to run fast again and I am sure one day I will be back to the level where I was before my Injury if not better! I need to stay patient and I know I will be there!