TCS Amsterdam Marathon 2014

viperlogic

Still early days but anyone here doing this? I've signed up for the full marathon. Any previously participants recommend any hotels?

PDCAT

I completed this marathon last October. I stayed with the missus in Hotel Fita. Address below.

Gets good feedback from trip advisor and i was very happy with the place.

About half way between the olympic stadium and the city centre. Bus/tram will take you either direction.


Jan Luykenstraat 37, Amsterdam Oud Zuid
Amsterdam, 1071 CL
Netherlands</SPAN>

sconhome

I did it last year and plan is going back again this year. I stayed close to Centraal Station and got the metro down to the Olympic stadium.

Whatever you do check out the hotel photos first. We got an awful fright when we saw the stairs to our 1st floor hotel.

likestosmile

We are thinking of doing this as our Autumn marathon. depending on my spring marathon (in two weeks :eek:). Any information would be appreciated, course type, pros, cons etc.

sconhome

I'd a race report on my blog last year. Course is nice and flat as a pancake. Start in the olympic stadium, run around the city, out into the countryside and back in. Personally I loved it.

Whatever you do don't trust the pacers! They're not the same as the lads & lassies around here.

viperlogic

likestosmile wrote: »

course type

Flat! Hence using it for my sub 3 attempt. Have Limerick in a few weeks where I'm aiming for around 3:05.

likestosmile

"""Whatever you do don't trust the pacers! They're not the same as the lads & lassies around here."""[/QUOTE]

Explain this please......??

viperlogic

likestosmile wrote: »

"""Whatever you do don't trust the pacers! They're not the same as the lads & lassies around here."""

Explain this please......??

I don't have the link to hand of his report but when AKW did it the pacers were away off pace, going alot faster than their allotted pace

likestosmile

Eeeeekkkkkk... :eek:

I used the pacers for the first 4-5 miles of Manchester Marathon last weekend. They are a good guide but one must trust ones own pace and if they feel the pacer is going too fast (or too slow in my case), its to know when to pull back or push on. Surging pacers in the last few K are a nightmare...

Those last few miles knowing the pacer was somewhere close behind me gave me the drive to keep pushing as hard as i could. Getting excited about Amsterdam already. Post marathon high i suppose :-)

Sacksian

viperlogic wrote: »

Flat! Hence using it for my sub 3 attempt. Have Limerick in a few weeks where I'm aiming for around 3:05.

Pretty sure it doesn't have 3-hour pacers but it's a nice fast course and well organised marathon in a beautiful (for the most part) city with a great finish in the stadium.

There's one dull-ish stretch in the second half but don't think it lasts that long.

likestosmile

Always reluctant to commit so far out from an event but signed up for this one today. The web sites post "15,000 reached out of the 16,000 " frightened me into it. Anyone that is thinking of targeting this marathon take note: Its nearly full :eek:

viperlogic

I believe it's 15K out of 41K

- Marathon: 16,000 entrants
- Half Marathon: 18,000 entrants
- 8K: 7,000 entrants

likestosmile

viperlogic wrote: »

I believe it's 15K out of 41K

- Marathon: 16,000 entrants
- Half Marathon: 18,000 entrants
- 8K: 7,000 entrants

Upppspssssssss:o

Their news feed wasnt as clear as your post viperlogic. Panic diverted everyone, no rush! :P

viperlogic

Anyone else looking to do this?

viperlogic

they have released new entrant numbers....

- Marathon: 13,500 (limit 16,000)
- Half Marathon: 12,000 (limit 18,000)
- 8 km: 3,500 (limit 7,000)
- Kids run: 50 (limit 1,500)

likestosmile

Anyone else started their training for this? 16miles this weekend. The road to Amsterdam has begun...

viperlogic

likestosmile wrote: »

Anyone else started their training for this? 16miles this weekend. The road to Amsterdam has begun...

I'm week 4 into it already, 18 miles to do this weekend. All going well so far

Van.Bosch

viperlogic wrote: »

I'm week 4 into it already, 18 miles to do this weekend. All going well so far

18 miles already? Guess that's me out, 4 miles today doesn't really fill me with confidence!

viperlogic

PDCAT wrote: »

I stayed with the missus in Hotel Fita.

Hotel booked out. Any other recommendations?

likestosmile

Has anyone else booked a hotel.

Considering booking Crown Plaza Amsterdam south. Does anyone know if this is a relatively close to Olympic stadium. On the map it appears so but some of these major city maps can be deceiving. I read somewhere (possibly here) that public transport the morning of is a big no-no. Any advice appreciated.

viperlogic

likestosmile wrote: »

Has anyone else booked a hotel.

Considering booking Crown Plaza Amsterdam south. Does anyone know if this is a relatively close to Olympic stadium. On the map it appears so but some of these major city maps can be deceiving. I read somewhere (possibly here) that public transport the morning of is a big no-no. Any advice appreciated.

Google maps says thats a 2KM walk which is a nice warm up!

likestosmile

Its not the warm up I'm worrried about, its the crawl back...:p

viperlogic

likestosmile wrote: »

Has anyone else booked a hotel.

Considering booking Crown Plaza Amsterdam south. Does anyone know if this is a relatively close to Olympic stadium. On the map it appears so but some of these major city maps can be deceiving. I read somewhere (possibly here) that public transport the morning of is a big no-no. Any advice appreciated.

I picked up a deal on otel.com for one near the Heineken brewery which is about 4KM to the stadium, tram 16 and 24 go there. Just had an after taught, will trams be operating during/after the marathon as they pass right through it I think! eeeek

On running side of things, did my 22 miler last night, mentally tough but physically was ok. Body is fine today

viperlogic

viperlogic wrote: »

I picked up a deal on otel.com for one near the Heineken brewery which is about 4KM to the stadium, tram 16 and 24 go there. Just had an after taught, will trams be operating during/after the marathon as they pass right through it I think! eeeek

phew, tram 16 will be in operation

http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/transportation/

viperlogic

Marathon is now also added to Strava

http://www.strava.com/running-races/2014-amsterdam-marathon

ThebitterLemon

Have left the hotel booking a bit late and a good few are booked out, Crowne Plaza, Best Western. I was looking at the Marriott but it's a bit dear.

Ideally I'd like a place within walking distance of the start.

Anyone have any recommendations?

Tnx,

TbL

viperlogic

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Have left the hotel booking a bit late and a good few are booked out, Crowne Plaza, Best Western. I was looking at the Marriott but it's a bit dear.

Ideally I'd like a place within walking distance of the start.

Anyone have any recommendations?

Tnx,

TbL

Use trivago to find a hotel, as has a nice map feature. If you want to rent an apartment or a room in an apartment then look at AirBnB, some great deals there, and again you can search via map

ThebitterLemon

viperlogic wrote: »

Use trivago to find a hotel, as has a nice map feature. If you want to rent an apartment or a room in an apartment then look at AirBnB, some great deals there, and again you can search via map

Tnx,

Managed to get the Crowne Plaza from that site.

TbL

viperlogic

Next item on the agenda is what pub for post race drinks?!

likestosmile

tick tock, tick tock.....
Hows everyone set?
Last long run here yesterday. Tapering has begun as of today. What are peoples goals etc? Trying to get my second sub 3. fingers and toes crossed.
Did i read somewhere that there is no sub 3 pacer?

28064212

likestosmile wrote: »

tick tock, tick tock.....
Hows everyone set?
Last long run here yesterday. Tapering has begun as of today. What are peoples goals etc? Trying to get my second sub 3. fingers and toes crossed.
Did i read somewhere that there is no sub 3 pacer?

Looks like 3:15 is the fastest pacing group: http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/pacing-team-2/

viperlogic

likestosmile wrote: »

tick tock, tick tock.....
Hows everyone set?
Last long run here yesterday. Tapering has begun as of today. What are peoples goals etc? Trying to get my second sub 3. fingers and toes crossed.
Did i read somewhere that there is no sub 3 pacer?

All good, thou the weird taper dreams have started! Did 18K with 10K @ HMP on Saturday followed by a 27K progressive run yesterday.

Goal is sub 3 (2:59:59!!) thou will be going out at ~2:55 pace. I don't think there is a 3hr pacer thou I saw a comment on facebook or strava saying there was, either way I hope I don't see them!

The app got updated for 2014 also over the weekend

viperlogic

Might as well get this started....

Name|Bib|Current PB|Prediction|pen
viperlogic|5785|3:26:09|2:59:59|yellow

sconhome

Best of luck folks.

Myself and Mrs AKW decided a few weeks ago not to head over this year. Back on track for 2015 though.

viperlogic

viperlogic wrote: »

Might as well get this started....

Name|Bib|Current PB|Prediction|pen
viperlogic|5785|3:26:09|2:59:59|yellow

I know TBL and likestosmile are doing this, anyone else?

likestosmile

The nerves/butterflies have started!!!!! :P

AuldManKing

likestosmile wrote: »

tick tock, tick tock.....
Hows everyone set?
Last long run here yesterday. Tapering has begun as of today. What are peoples goals etc? Trying to get my second sub 3. fingers and toes crossed.
Did i read somewhere that there is no sub 3 pacer?

Hey - forgot you were doing this!

Best of luck to you - and not a bother to you either.

AdpRo

Name|Bib|Current PB|Prediction|pen
viperlogic|5785|3:26:09|2:59:59|yellow
weetabix||4:39:xx|3:59:59|orange


Doing this as well, final training run done this morning! Looking forward to it now, target is sub 4 but would be happy with 4.09 which is probably more realistic!

plumber77

Signed up to do the half which starts at 1.20pm. Making my comeback from injury so hard to know what to expect. Only bought a bib last week off a lady in the very back pen (which i found out too late) so I'll have plenty of excuses for a poor time. Weather is looking good for sunday, especially for the marathon runners. I've the missus to cheer on in that first. Hopefully she'll be considerate enough to do a sub 3 which will give me enough time to get to the start line for the half :P

ThebitterLemon

plumber77 wrote: »

Signed up to do the half which starts at 1.20pm. Making my comeback from injury so hard to know what to expect. Only bought a bib last week off a lady in the very back pen (which i found out too late) so I'll have plenty of excuses for a poor time. Weather is looking good for sunday, especially for the marathon runners. I've the missus to cheer on in that first. Hopefully she'll be considerate enough to do a sub 3 which will give me enough time to get to the start line for the half :P

Hey Plumber,

Gooduck with the half, and to your missus for the sub 3.

Are you based over there, forecasts are showing it to be extremely windy?

TbL

plumber77

Cheers Tbl. No, based here in the Emerald Isle. Weather looks dry and sunny, wind seems to vary from forecast to forecast. I'm going with the least windy for the moment. I'm only doing it as I over to see the girlfriend in action, won't feel as guilty then when I join the post marathon nosh up

opus

Best of look to everyone running on Sunday, hope it's a great day!

PDCAT

All the best to those running this on Sunday. Look forward to reading the reports next week.
Done this race last year and really loved it. Finishing in the old olympic stadium is a nice touch.

likestosmile

PDCAT wrote: »

All the best to those running this on Sunday. Look forward to reading the reports next week.
Done this race last year and really loved it. Finishing in the old olympic stadium is a nice touch.

Any suggestions /tips on the route PDCAT

PDCAT

likestosmile wrote: »

Any suggestions /tips on the route PDCAT

Well likestosmile - As your probably aware already, the route is flat. There is a slight drag at mile 20 or 22 (can't remember). It lasts about 100 meters or so i think. I was going ok at that time, so it didn't really affect me. I'd imagine, if you were really struggling it could cause abit of grief.
From about mile 6 or 7, you start running out/back by the Amstel River for a number of miles. Alot of people have said they found this boring. I actually enjoyed it as it broke up the monotony of running on city streets. Also running through Vondel Park (mile 2 & 25, i think) helps change the scenery.
There's an industrial area that you run through in the latter part of the race which is boring. Can't say the crowds are great, well not compared to the likes of Berlin. (Not much support out by the Amstel).

Finishing in the Stadium is a really good feeling. Good shower facilities after the race. I stayed in the stadium for a couple of hours after my race/shower and watched the 5/6 hour marathon runners coming in. (My wife was running the half marathon which also finishes in the stadium).
Very good watching the slower runners celebrating as they finish, what for some is their first marathon.

Also if you have somebody supporting you on the day, there's a area at miles 3 & 5 where they can catch you twice as you run down one road, circle around and come back on the opposite side.
Have a good run....

likestosmile

Thanks for the tips PDCAT. Really looking forward to it now.

Any venue for Drinks afterwards- TBL, Viperlogic?

viperlogic

likestosmile wrote: »

Thanks for the tips PDCAT. Really looking forward to it now.

Any venue for Drinks afterwards- TBL, Viperlogic?

I don't know Amsterdam at all, this will be my first time going there. GF has been before but ammm lets say doesn't remember it!

Anyone have recommendations?

viperlogic

Eeeekkk

http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/slider-en/important-advice-connection-expected-heat/

likestosmile

viperlogic wrote: »

Eeeekkk

http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/slider-en/important-advice-connection-expected-heat/

Double EEEEEKKKKKKKKKKK......... :eek: 20degrees:eek: not good for albino Irish woman!
Never been to Amsterdam either but surely there is some Irish pub in city centre - Surely!

plumber77

Great news for us half marathoners kicking off at 1.20 in that heat. Hopefully the marathon runners will be spared the worst of it.

viperlogic

Number picked up and now just relaxing. Very windy in exposed areas.