Amsterdam Half Marathon

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Amsterdam plays host to a number of running events over one weekend, including a Half Marathon, and Marathon.  I selected the Half Marathon, and lured by the lack of hills, attended with the purpose of securing a PB, aiming for a time of
1:55.

This is an event for those who appreciate slick organisation. At the Sporthallen Zuid, number and t-shirt (for those who pre-ordered one) collection
was effortless. The expo was in full swing on the Saturday afternoon, with the usual vendors poised to equip competitors with every conceivable bit of running garb, and equipment.

Having been before, I knew of a small, highly popular pasta place (Hasta la
Pasta) in the Centrum, which was my dining venue.  Fortunately, for the
restaurateur a stream of hungry runners from various countries had the same
idea.  Carbed-up, I turned in for the night.

Contrary to other races where public transport systems struggle with the volume
of competitors, and spectators, I navigated the Metro with ease, to the
Sporthallen Zuid again, where a simple to use, and efficient bag drop was in
operation.  I walked to the start on Stadioweg (adjacent to the Olympisch
Stadion), where enclosures were marshalled by friendly local volunteers, who
seemed startled when I enquired about the best time to enter the pen.  Their
advice was to enjoy the sun, and come back 5 minutes before the wave was due to
start!  Local shops were open to provide last minute refreshments, and there
were toilets aplenty.  Adjacent to the start is the final half kilometer, and
with the marathon underway, I got to see some of the elite runners charge for
the line.

I entered the yellow pen, with a little more time to spare than that advised,
and having warmed up (yep – getting in a little earlier meant you could run up
and down the enclosure!), I chatted to some French runners from Ville
D’Allonnes, who were tickled at us sharing the same club colours (their
preference for a diagonal white & green stripe being the only difference).

At the appointed time, we moved forward towards the starting arch and sensor.
I struck out at around 8½ minute miles, and paid attention to avoid tripping on
tram lines (I learned this lesson the hard way during a previous visit!). I
lost count of the large number of mobile discos along the route – there were
plenty!  Similar to the Great North Run, there were also steel, and brass bands
aplenty (but no Elvis!), and the residential areas were well populated with
supporters, adding to the atmosphere.  Water and refreshment stations were in
abundance (at 5, 9, 11, 13, 16, and 19km) – Isostar featuring heavily as
sponsor, with their energy boosting drinks and gels, and sponges too – I must
have run over a few thousand!

The course is a mix of residential and industrial neighbourhoods.  The
Utrechtse Bridge takes you over the Amstel river (at which point the route is
shared with the full Marathon), and passes the famous Rijksmuseum, before
entering the large expanse of the Vondelpark (Amsterdam’s largest public park).
With my race plan intact, I exited the top gate of the Vondelpark, adjacent to
the All4running store (the enthusiastic team there had looked after me during
my last visit, on Global Running Day).  I knew I had a fairly straight stretch
and concentrated on holding my pace, hoping to leave something for the last km,
and the finish in the Olympic Stadium.

Aided by the crowd factor, I picked up my pace, ran into the Stadium, and round
the track to cross the finish line – a quick Garmin check confirming I’d
secured my PB!

Walking out of the Stadium, I collected my refreshments, stopped at a couple of
the free photo points, and then onto the medal engraving tent – my medal being
engraved with my name and time, in under 5 minutes!  A brief stop at the bag
drop, then to rehydrate (when in Holland it really has to be Heineken!) and I
was off for a brief but slow jog to the metro.  I called via the hotel to
collect my main bag, and headed straight to the airport, the lure of a hot
shower and dinner calling.

First male strider home (you have to take these opportunities when you can), I
finished with a time of 1:53:15, ahead of my 1:55 target.

Top tips

• Buy an Amsterdam Travel Ticket at the airport – valid for trams, buses, metros, ferries and trains.
• Get the 197 bus from the Airport to the Expo (Amstelveenseweg stop)
• Stay at the Holiday Inn Arena Towers, adjacent to the Heineken Music Hall
• Metro 50 connects from the Bijlmer ArenA (200m from the hotel) to Amstelveenseweg, and also to Centrum.
• An Intercity train connects from Bijlmer ArenA to Schipol airport.