| Marianne’s Marathon Experience – October 3, 2009 |
 I DID IT!!! I started and finished the Zeeland Coastal Marathon on Saturday, October 3, 2009 – A marathon is 26.2 miles or 42.195 meters . This one would take me beyond anything I could imagine. This was the 7th Zeeland Coastal Marathon and will go in the books as the toughest one since it began in 2003. The weather was rough, a Northwestern wind force 6 through 8; (35 – 45 miles per hour winds) straight in my face all the way from start to finish and high tide on the beach. The running conditions were tough, but I felt as though I had struggled through worse this past year and therefore my slogan for this day was: “I am going for it, for myself, for Rene, for us, my family, for the school I was sponsoring in Indonesia – I was so grateful I could run for a charity – but in my mind I also ran for Joshua David in Sierra Leone, for my supporters and friends and WITH my God”. By the way, you can still sponsor the building project for the school in Indonesia, through January 2010 every amount received will be doubled. To read more click on this link ... I_did_it-marathon_report-2009
Almost there .... Marathon Zeeland
Wednesday September 30, 2009 Only 3 more nights and "the" day is there. I will participate in the Coastal marathon here in our own province. My personal goal: to finish! Since January 2009 I have ran about 875 miles in training and in April of this year I decided to start with a marathon training schedule. In August somebody told me about the possibility of entering this race by buying somebody's number. Well I had no idea if this would work out but it did. My number is 212. the name "Klaas" will be changed into Marianne and I am an official participant. I also joined a group of 20 plus other runners to run for a charity, till the end of January 2010 every euro raised will be doubled by a provincial government sponsor. The project is the building of a school in Indonesia. http://kleuterschoolindonesie.nl and http://worldpartners.org Even though I continued running for my own self, I love the fact that I get a chance to run for this charity. If you would like to sponsor me, just let me know. Each euro/dollar raised will go directly into the program fund. Not a dime will make it into my own pocket. A marathon is 26 miles and 385 yards. Or 42 km and 195 meters. You can sponsor me per mile, per yard or by moral support. The race starts at 12.00 o’clock on Saturday October 3rd in Burgh Haamstede the Netherlands and will go along the coast to Zoutelande, the Netherlands. There is about 7 km of beach running. With ‘high” tide when we are crossing over. Too bad! And quite some miles of running up and down the dunes. It is a beautiful scenic race but not an easy one. Would be great to see some of you along the way. Monday September 28th 2009: 5 more sleeps and the Coastal Marathon will be reality. http://www.marathonzeeland.nl A few easy training days. Definitely no running on Thursday and Friday but I will get creative with CARBO loading :) any suggestions? I'll be wearing a running shirt for a fundraising effort for a school in Indonesia. The size of the school will be two classrooms a small office/teachers room with housing for the teachers on top of the classrooms. Till the end of 2010 .... every euro/dollar raised will get doubled. If you are interested in sponsoring ... let me know. Thursday September 24, only NINE more sleep's and the big day of the Kust Marathon will be there. Earlier this week I ran a 18km run and felt fine afterwards - of course 18 km is not 42km :). Last night we went to the running group that meets at the bottom of the dunes and had a good work out. I really enjoy running with others around me, not the same as running with my Anastasis running friends, but better than running alone. Tomorrow night we will meet again and get some "tips" for the last week of training as well as some tips for the race itself. We already know that it will be high tide … so a lot of soft sand to plow through… Wednesday September 16, 2009 Flu type symptoms, not great when I still need to get some miles under my belt. Went for a run yesterday and most likely will join a group runners tonight for some interval training in the dunes. Just hope my coughing will allow me to “just” run. Monday September 14, 2009 When you think you have it all planned, things change … However we can still hold on that God will give us the grace we need for each day. Our weekend running plans changes as we had to be available to our kids and grandkids. Too bad for the ½ marathon race in Burg Haamstede, but the family had priority. I am getting ready to run a 10km in 15 minutes and a 20km tomorrow morning … Only three more weeks to go. Friday September 11, 2009 ... Went for a nice 10km run yesterday. Today no running, will go for a bikeride later today and tomorrow .... Still wondering if we will participate in the 1/2 marathon in Burg Haamstede. Otherwise a long run somewhere along the coastline and dunes of Zeeland. Only 3 more weeks till the marathon.http://www.marathonzeeland.nl and if you have not looked at this clip yet... very motivating http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBjR1-0GVkI Tuesday, September 8th Went for a run yesterday - needed a "shorter" run and planned to pick up my bike which was parked 8km away... to then enjy a 8km bikeride to our house again. Yep .... good planning accept I forgot my bike ke, well I not really forgot the key, had taken the wrong key and had to run the 8km back to the house again, so a 8km run became a 16km run. Yet I enjoyed it... And the bright site .... I only need to run shorter today! Saturday September 5, 2009 Yes I managed my 20km run, through rain and lots of wind, I made it and it felt good afterwards. This weekend is full with activities that was the main reason for an earlier long run this week! To read more about the marathon I hope to run in October, see http://www.marathonzeeland.nl For all my non Dutch reading friends, at the top right corner of the website is a "translate" button. The site has some beautiful pictures from this part of Holland. Have a great weekend. Thursday September 3, 2009 Plans can change ... instead of running my 12 miles yesterday. Instead I helped a friend move house :) and ran 5 miles instead. Will give the 13 miler another try today :) ... yet the weather is terrible - feels and looks like fall here in Holland with downpours of rain and wind force 6... No matter what I will need to go for a run BUT might postpone the 13 miler till tomorrow IF the weather stays like this Yes I know ... it could be this bad on October 3rd as well. My goal for this marathon is “to finish” no time or any other deadline... Everybody tells me that it will not be an easy one … So I will do my best, train and see what happens. I just watched a video of a “father-son team” to be honest – what am I complaining about??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBjR1-0GVkI This clip does remind me once again “how much more "Our Father loves His children”…. Tuesday September 1, 2009 Ran 8 plus km yesterday - about 5 miles Ran 11 plus km today - about 7 miles Will run 20 km tomorrow - about 12 miles - over and through the dunes and on the beach! Real preparation The weather changed overnight, it was 26 Celsius yesterday evening, ( 79 F), this morning during my run it was 18 Celsius ( 67 F) ... oh the joys, I am afraid summer might be over here in Holland ....
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One more day to go and I will run the 26.2 miles ... after training more than 875 miles for this event it should be easy .... right? I will go for it and do my best, for self, for my sponsors and for the project I am running for ...