Rotterdam Marathon 2010

Pisco Sour · 15-10-2009 3:08pm #1

I'm strongly considering doing the Rotterdam Marathon as my first ever marathon. I have a few questions though:

1) Are there pacemakers (the guys with the coloured balloons) in this race and for what distances? I'm a bit torn between targetting 4.00 or 4.15. Do they have a 4.15 pacemaker? I dont trust my own pacing for my first marathon so I feel that following an experienced pacemaker is a must.

2) Do we get a medal for finishing?

3) I'm fully aware that the course is very flat. I looked at last years results and was amazed that 55% of everyone doing the race went sub 4, while at last years Dublin Marathon only 39% went under the 4 hour barrier. Would a 4 hour Rotterdam marathon be equivalent to a 4.15 in Dublin? If I feel that 4.15 is my standard based on running slightly hilly courses in Ireland (Great Ireland Run, Wexford Half Marathon) then does this mean that 4.00 would be closer to my standard on a fully flat course like rotterdam.

Lots of questions sorry, but any comments would be greatly appreciated, especially from anybody who has run Rotterdam.

Thanks

plodder · 15-10-2009 6:20pm

04072511 wrote: »

I'm strongly considering doing the Rotterdam Marathon as my first ever marathon. I have a few questions though:

1) Are there pacemakers (the guys with the coloured balloons) in this race and for what distances?

Probably for about 26 miles ...

sorry couldn't resist that

I'm a bit torn between targetting 4.00 or 4.15. Do they have a 4.15 pacemaker? I dont trust my own pacing for my first marathon so I feel that following an experienced pacemaker is a must.

I've never done Rotterdam. But maybe someone else knows the answers. On pacing, I've used a home-made pacing band, pretty successfully for my marathons so far. So, if the course is flat, then there shouldn't be any major surprises if you did it that way, I think.

village runner · 15-10-2009 10:05pm

04072511 wrote: »

I'm strongly considering doing the Rotterdam Marathon as my first ever marathon. I have a few questions though:

1) Are there pacemakers (the guys with the coloured balloons) in this race and for what distances? I'm a bit torn between targetting 4.00 or 4.15. Do they have a 4.15

Thanks

Medal yes.
4.00 in rotterdam would equate to maybe 3 min more in Dublin. You have to run a marathon.
Are pacemakers but its hard find them.
No hassle at the start.
Fly in sat as you can collect number sunday am. Race at 11am. I stayed in Westin. 4 star with very reasonable rates. 400 m from start.

Would i go back. If it was 9am definitely. Crowds small from 32-38km when i needed them.
Fast course.

Pisco Sour · 16-10-2009 12:18am

plodder wrote: »

Probably for about 26 miles ... sorry couldn't resist that

I've never done Rotterdam. But maybe someone else knows the answers. On pacing, I've used a home-made pacing band, pretty successfully for my marathons so far. So, if the course is flat, then there shouldn't be any major surprises if you did it that way, I think.

Please explain to me what this is. I'm intrigued.

SUNGOD · 16-10-2009 8:23am

go to http://www.marathonguide.com/ then go to training followed by running calculator then to pace wristband creator.
type in your expected finishing time and it will print a wrist band with either mile or k splits to get you home under your goal time.

Pisco Sour · 16-10-2009 9:35am

SUNGOD wrote: »

go to http://www.marathonguide.com/ then go to training followed by running calculator then to pace wristband creator.
type in your expected finishing time and it will print a wrist band with either mile or k splits to get you home under your goal time.

Thats very interesting indeed. Never thought of that. At the same time though it still means I'd have to judge my own pace, while if there was a lad with a 4.15 balloon I could simply follow that experienced pacemaker and not have to worry about going too fast or too slow.

SUNGOD · 16-10-2009 10:26am

you could but you should still keep track of your own progress and take responsableity for your finishing time.
i would not train for x amount of weeks only to find that the pacer has a off day/cramp/injury and i miss out on my goal time.

Pisco Sour · 16-10-2009 11:17am

Do they have Mile Markers or Km Markers on the course? Or both?

Also I've been doing some research into how to run the marathon efficiently and I noticed the Run/Walk method or walk for 1 minute at the end of every mile. It seems to make sense. What are people's thoughts on this? Has anybody tried it before?

Pisco Sour · 20-10-2009 8:23pm

village runner wrote: »

Medal yes.
4.00 in rotterdam would equate to maybe 3 min more in Dublin. You have to run a marathon.
Are pacemakers but its hard find them.
No hassle at the start.
Fly in sat as you can collect number sunday am. Race at 11am I stayed in Westin. 4 star with very reasonable rates. 400 m from start.
.
Would i go back. If it was 9am definitely. Crowds small from 32-38km when i needed them.
Fast course.

Dunno if I'd call 199 euro reasonable :eek: Thats what is quoted for a room per night on their website.

I'd be looking for somewhere more in the area of 70 per night. Where would you recommend.

KentuckyPete · 21-10-2009 1:50pm

SUNGOD wrote: »

go to http://www.marathonguide.com/ then go to training followed by running calculator then to pace wristband creator.
type in your expected finishing time and it will print a wrist band with either mile or k splits to get you home under your goal time.

Nice one SUNGOD - cheers :cool:
Now if I could only decide what time to aim for...

village runner · 21-10-2009 6:44pm

04072511 wrote: »

Dunno if I'd call 199 euro reasonable :eek: Thats what is quoted for a room per night on their website.

I'd be looking for somewhere more in the area of 70 per night. Where would you recommend.

I bookede it last year through a different website. Try that. Got 3 nights for 180 with breakfast. A steal. Good irish bar 1km from start. Expo 800m from hotel. Google it and try different links.

Its 50m from central station

Pisco Sour · 21-10-2009 10:54pm

village runner wrote: »

I bookede it last year through a different website. Try that. Got 3 nights for 180 with breakfast. A steal. Good irish bar 1km from start. Expo 800m from hotel. Google it and try different links.

Its 50m from central station

What was the name of the website you used?

I dunno where you found that deal to be honest. I cant find anything even closely approaching that price.

village runner · 22-10-2009 10:49pm

04072511 wrote: »

What was the name of the website you used?

I dunno where you found that deal to be honest. I cant find anything even closely approaching that price.

www.bookings.com

Nothing similar to it there now. Must not have realised that it was marathon weekend. Go into above website and type in central station and at least you wil get hotels around there.

Woddle · 24-10-2009 6:48pm

04072511 wrote: »

I'm strongly considering doing the Rotterdam Marathon as my first ever marathon. I have a few questions though:

3) I'm fully aware that the course is very flat. I looked at last years results and was amazed that 55% of everyone doing the race went sub 4, while at last years Dublin Marathon only 39% went under the 4 hour barrier. Would a 4 hour Rotterdam marathon be equivalent to a 4.15 in Dublin?

Thanks

Just doing a bit more research on Rotterdam and it has a cut off of 5 hours 15 mins so I would imagine thats the main reason for the deviation in average times and the fact that its so flat its going to attract the speed demons compared with the Dublin course.

Pisco Sour · 24-10-2009 6:52pm

Woddle wrote: »

Just doing a bit more research on Rotterdam and it has a cut off of 5 hours 15 mins so I would imagine thats the main reason for the deviation in average times and the fact that its so flat its going to attract the speed demons compared with the Dublin course.

WOW, 5hrs 15 is a very harsh cut off point. I dont think I'll have to worry about it (I hope!!!!).

Pisco Sour · 24-10-2009 7:17pm

I found this on another thread, posted by village runner

I went to Rotterdam this year with a woman. She struggled around. Problems with her kn ees etc left her battle to the line in 5.28 when the cut off was 5.30. She was elated after the race and i admired her so much. I ran 3.04 wasnt near as happy as she was.

Seems like the cutoff is 5.30

Woddle · 24-10-2009 7:20pm

Could be, still only 15 mins, I got my info from this link
http://www.marathonguide.com/races/racedetails.cfm?MIDD=14100411
5th post down

Pisco Sour · 24-10-2009 7:34pm

Woddle wrote: »

Could be, still only 15 mins, I got my info from this link
http://www.marathonguide.com/races/racedetails.cfm?MIDD=14100411
5th post down

Just checked the website and last year the last place runner did it in 5:39 gross time and just under 5.35 chip time. I wonder how strict they are about the cut off. Clearly not too strict if they let people finish after 5hrs 30.

Roddy23 · 24-11-2009 11:19am

How's people's training coming along? I've started off pretty slowly am up to about 6miles, on the LSR, and won't get a chance to head out this weekend, but am hoping to be up to about 10miles by Christmas.

I'm following Hal Higdon's novice 1 plan, I'm hoping I'll be able to run within the cut off time. Just on that, it seems to be 5hr 15mins. :eek:

Pisco Sour · 24-11-2009 11:51am

Roddy23 wrote: »

How's people's training coming along? I've started off pretty slowly am up to about 6miles, on the LSR, and won't get a chance to head out this weekend, but am hoping to be up to about 10miles by Christmas.

I'm following Hal Higdon's novice 1 plan, I'm hoping I'll be able to run within the cut off time. Just on that, it seems to be 5hr 15mins. :eek:

Fear not, its actually 5hr 30 cut off, and if you look at last years results a few people finished slower than that so perhaps if your really close to finishing they would still let you finish anyway.

I'm a month into my training and am up to 8.4 miles LSR. Cumulative miles is at 57 miles. I'm sticking to 3 days a week as it gives me a bit of a balance. I'm 24 and want to go out on the beer with my mates so running 5-6 days a week is just not worth it (and I cant run when hungover). My 2 midweek runs are about 3-4 miles each, and my weekend LSR I'm increasing by about 1.25 - 1.5 miles a week. I'm going to up it to 9.75 miles this weekend, and hopefully be up to about 12 by Christmas all things going well.

misty floyd · 24-11-2009 12:28pm

04072511 wrote: »

I'm 24 and want to go out on the beer with my mates so running 5-6 days a week is just not worth it (and I cant run when hungover).

Its funny that. I'm 30 and over the past few months I've been thinking that drinking beer with my mates is just not worth it. I'm stuggling with once a week. Its knocking the stuffing out of me. Still.....when I was your age young man.....

Back to topic r.e training: I'm fairly happy anyway. I've been ticking over since DCM where I had a full week off afterwards. Followed by a week of 3 slow runs (19 miles total). And two weeks of half decent effort (26 miles including 2 x speed sessions and 2 x tempo runs).

Feeling good anyway and about to step it up. I'm going to set up a log like yourself 040 and others. 18 week training plan from 6th of December! Time to get serious soon. [xmas is cancelled]

robinph · 30-11-2009 12:22pm

Bumpity, bump. Just checking in.

When are people flying out to Rotterdam, and I guess more importantly when are we all flying back? We'll need to do some investigation as to a decent hostelry for after race refreshments and probably fodder as well.

misty floyd · 30-11-2009 12:31pm

Flying to Eindhoven with Ryanair on the Saturday (10.20 flight), leaving Eindhoven on the Monday at 19.10. We'll have to get a bus from the airport to Eindhoven and then a train from there to Rotterdam but I don't think it'll be much of a problem. Worked out ~ €100 return.

Staying in the Bilderberg Parkhotel in Rotterdam for the Sat and Sun nights. €160 booked with hotels.nl

Tunguska is the same. Seperate rooms though!

How Strange · 30-11-2009 12:33pm

We're going out on Saturday and back on Tuesday. I haven't booked flights yet though. I think it'd be nice to have a look around Rotterdam on Monday although I'd say I'll probably be too sore to do much.

FYI, if you haven't registered yet the registration fee changes on 15th Dec to €55.

robinph · 30-11-2009 12:38pm

I'm flying to Schiphol on EI getting in at midday on the Saturday and then leaving from there at 5 on the Monday evening.

Pisco Sour · 30-11-2009 12:55pm

misty floyd wrote: »

Flying to Eindhoven with Ryanair on the Saturday (10.20 flight), leaving Eindhoven on the Monday at 19.10. We'll have to get a bus from the airport to Eindhoven and then a train from there to Rotterdam but I don't think it'll be much of a problem. Worked out ~ €100 return.

Staying in the Bilderberg Parkhotel in Rotterdam for the Sat and Sun nights. €160 booked with hotels.nl

Tunguska is the same. Seperate rooms though!

Thats funny, I was looking at the exact same combination of flights and hotels. Havent booked yet though. Will probably do so this week.

donothoponpop · 30-11-2009 1:22pm

How Strange wrote: »

I think it'd be nice to have a look around Rotterdam on Monday although I'd say I'll probably be too sore to do much.

Most of Rotterdam is closed on a Monday (certainly all the museums, galleries, are). Far better that you get the train to Amsterdam for the day( <hour trip), lots more to see. I know SJ and I wandered round a deserted R'dam on Monday morning, before getting the train to A'dam, the difference was amazing. Highlight of the weekend for me was the Reiksmuseum. Great burger at a canal side cafe too, checking out how elegant Dutch ladies of every age look while riding two to one bike. In fact, if I was doing the R'dam marathon again, I'd stay in A'dam and get the train that morning to the race.

Schiphol is just outside AmDam anyway.

robinph · 30-11-2009 1:28pm

Hmm, a day in Amsterdam sober would be a new experience for me. Might give that idea a go actually, although the Monday will most likely be just about doing as little as possible.

Pisco Sour · 30-11-2009 9:50pm

misty floyd wrote: »

Staying in the Bilderberg Parkhotel in Rotterdam for the Sat and Sun nights. €160 booked with hotels.nl

When did you book that? Its €209 now for 2 nights, and excludes breakfast :eek:

misty floyd · 30-11-2009 10:45pm

04072511 wrote: »

When did you book that? Its €209 now for 2 nights, and excludes breakfast :eek:

About 4 weeks ago. The €160 doesn't include breakfast.

Pisco Sour · 30-11-2009 11:55pm

misty floyd wrote: »

About 4 weeks ago. The €160 doesn't include breakfast.

Those rooms must be sold out so.

I've booked Hotel Emma, its €175 for 2 nights including breakfast and you can cancel at no cost up to 2 days before check-in which is a nice added bonus. Its only a 7 minute walk from central station so shouldnt be too much further from the Race Start.

I'm on the same Ryanair flights as yourself.

Rotterdam Marathon 2010

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