Rotterdam

RJC

I'm just getting the pre-race nerves out of my system by posting this. My main anxieties with 3 days to go are fear of a calf cramp, race day temperatures, not eating enough in the carb load and the flashbacks to previous marathons where the crushing urge to stop kicks in from miles 23-26 - which I had managed to suppress successfully until last night!

I know the fears are irrational (and they are different from the last marathon) but at least I know I'm still sane when I have these fears! In the end it's something like a blister on you baby toe or a loose lace or a fuel belt that rubs against your skin that causes all the problems!

For anyone else heading out my race number is 4040 and I'll be in a yellow vest and black shorts. I'll be in pen D. Out on Friday morning from Cork and back on Sunday night to Cork.

Does anybody know where to get the Tyvek paper suits (a-la chief state pathologist).


good luck to all doing this one and the Paris people this weekend.

hawkwing

Best of Luck!

donothoponpop

Relax, everyone is going through these last minute nerves. I had a dream last night I was in Rotterdam without my race number or socks. Best cure for taper madness is a fast 20 miler, followed by a large meal of defrosted shellfish; that'll give you something to worry about;)

Would you not just wear an old tshirt/sweater for the start, instead of looking for a tyvek suit now? Best of luck.

Incidently, for anyone who wants to watch the race, there will be a live webcast of the Rotterdam marathon next Sunday morning on http://www.universalsports.com/

pgibbo

Best of luck to everyone this weekend. Personally, I think it's better to be nervous than complacent going in to a big event.

With regard to the weather - I was chatting to my wife last night. She has been in Breda, just south of Rotterdam, all week and the weather is very nice. Nice enough to sit outside for a beer after work! :cool:

I hope you all enjoy it and achieve your goals. Go n-eirí libh go léir ar an bóthar fada agus casta...(Thx seamusc)

Peckham

RJC wrote: »

Does anybody know where to get the Tyvek paper suits (a-la chief state pathologist).

Maybe try B&Q/Atlantic Homeware/some DIY shop? They should stock these types of things for painting etc.

asimonov

RJC wrote: »

I

Does anybody know where to get the Tyvek paper suits (a-la chief state pathologist).

Why not add a smog mask and go totally ALTERN8 ravetastic; it would be an inspired choice for the spiritual home of hardcore Gabber - the crowds will love you for it !

Best of luck to everyone running this. Looking forward to the race reports already.

Rusty Cogs 08

Huge best of lucks for all the boardsie's who stuck out their long winter training to get in top mara shape for this one and looking forward to seeing a few of those (sub 3) times go up.

RICHIE-RICH

Hey - RJC - Best of luck for Sunday
If you are who I think you are, then you can ask your brother to get one of those suits in BGE. They have plenty of them in the Stores.
PM me for more discussion.

RJC

RICHIE-RICH wrote: »

Hey - RJC - Best of luck for Sunday
If you are who I think you are, then you can ask your brother to get one of those suits in BGE. They have plenty of them in the Stores.
PM me for more discussion.

I am who you think I am! I'll ask him tonight.

I'm only going to wear one because I've used up all my sweatshirts and I'll have to start throwing away the good stuff soon!

RICHIE-RICH

I got a few of those suits for painting when I was an inmate there.

If you cant get them, go to B&Q - decorators overalls.
I totally and utterly second the ALTERN8 look.Never mind a PB, its all about how you look.

Paddyontherun

Best of luck to all heading over this weekend. Any Rotterdam veterans know anywhere central for Saturday night pasta loading or Sunday night post mortem re fueling sessions?

--amadeus--

I wouldn't call myself a veteran but I ran this last year so I'll do my best!

The expo is in the WTC, which is on teh main road that the marathon starts on. Standing on the steps of the expo looking across the road there are two streets leading back towards the shopping area that have a lot of restaurants. Last year we spent a fair bit of time in a cafe / bar place just on the corner and it was grand. There was an Italian that we ate at in a stand alone wooden building on that road as well but you'll have plenty of choice.

MoonDancer

Good luck to everyone participating in this race

Rineanna

Nice short article on the front of T&fN about the elite fields and the tweaking of the course to make it faster:

http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=3703525

Also, for those of us not lucky enough to be heading to Rotterdam, here's the live stream of the event (from 09:45):
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=34973&part=sport s

--amadeus--

I remember that bit of the course from last year - it was a real surprise to be running downhill and I have no idea where the uphill was!

Last proper run before the race last night. Was supposed to be 6 with 2@PMP but a belly full of pasta meant that the PMP part was slightly harder work than I would have liked so I picked it up for the last mile as well (1 slow, 2 fast, 2 slow, 1 fast). It was one of those nice runs - sun setting over the river, just me, the WonderHound and the wildlife. Usual taper pains (slight tweak of my groin the latest one) but looking forward to it now.

RJC

All well in Rotterdam (Friday afternoon) - It's roasting though!

pgibbo

RJC wrote: »

All well in Rotterdam (Friday afternoon) - It's roasting though!

Yes, I just heard from a friend that it's 20 degrees over there and most of the hotels still have the central heating on full pelt. Hopefully it's not as hot tomorrow for the race. Good luck RJC.

Slogger Jogger

Forecast for Rotterdam on the web now is showing:-
Fri 19°C
Sat 14°C
Sun 13°C