Finally, an update!“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming,
we lose the excitement of possibilities.
Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.”
I am very happy to tell you all that I am right on track with my "13 Happy Halves" project. :)
Easter Monday, I ran my 3rd half-marathon in the province of Utrecht.
Running De Halve van de Haar was a spontaneous decision; it was not on the original list I created when I planned to run 13 half-marathon races in 2016.
I wanted to close the first quarter of the year with 3 half-marathons and De Halve van de Haar was the perfect choice.
Next year this run will definitely be on my running calendar! Read why in my race recap (to follow!).
 |
| "My Dutch Prince" and I in front of Kasteel de Haar after I finished my 3rd marathon! |
 |
| picture courtesy of Hiro A. You could read the story behind this picture, here. |
In the second weekend of January for my first half-marathon in 2016, I ran Egmond Halve Marathon.
It was the second Egmond Halve Marathon I have ever run; I mentioned about my #13HappyHalves (2016 edition) project for the first time in the blog recapping one of the toughest half-marathon I've ran.
 |
| 500 meters from the finish picture courtesy of MeeùsRunClub by Wietse Visser Photography |
Groet uit Schoorl should have been my second half-marathon. Alas, I had to switch to the 10K distance because of my second round with the flu virus.
I recuperated in time to run a race in February but I did not feel fit enough to run the distance I originally signed up for. Luckily, there was nothing much to do but show up with my bib and start in the 10K coral.
It was a good run, considering all the factors a couple of weeks before the race, and on the day of the race. Please, stay tuned for my race recap. :)
CPC Loop Den Haag is a favorite Spring race here in Holland, and personally it belongs to my top 10 of favorite Dutch races as well.
It should have been my 3rd half if I had ran Groet uit Schoorl and De Halve van de Haar a back up in case I cannot run some of the planned races at the end of the year.
 |
| CPC run through the years! From left to right, CPC 2013, CPC 2014 and CPC 2015 |
Sadly, I was trapped in an unfortunate trend!
I was ill a couple of weeks before the CPC race. Yes. Again. Unbelievable.
Unlike Groet uit Schoorl (my one and only DNF in 2013, ever...), I ran and finished 3 times in this popular half-marathon in the Hague. I have ran it in different kind of elements, different circumstances and knew the route almost by heart.
These facts made the decision to run it even when I knew my race will not be as I had hoped it will be.
Perhaps others will groan and say, "Not a reasonable decision!"
You can read in my race recap (yes yes, to follow!) why I simply had to run and how I prepared myself mentally and what I did in my recovery period.
What I can share now: I was very happy to have participated and proud of my efforts.
 |
| near the start picture courtesy of MeeùsRunClub by Wietse Visser Photography |
 |
| 200 meters towards the finish happy to see Eva beside Wietse picture courtesy of MeeùsRunClub by Wietse Visser Photography |
 |
| soulsisters/solesisters Eva, Udjen and I in the train on our way home We are very proud of our CPC 2016 medals! |
A week before De Halve van de Haar, on the first day of Spring, exactly on my 44th birthday I ran Runner´s World Zandvoort Circuit Run for the 3rd time. The first time in the 12 km distance. Previously, I ran 5K, in 2012, and 2014.
Marleen, another running sister generously gave me one of the many start numbers, which her crew - #HALFCRAZYRUNNERSCREW - received as invitation for this event.
It was the first race this year without being fresh out of recuperation. What a joy!
I will share in my race recap why this was the best birthday in the Netherlands, ever. :)
 |
| Photo courtesy of SplitSecond |
My next half-marathon will be as a part of relay team in the Rotterdam Marathon together with Meike! More about it later.
 |
| Rotterdam Marathon 2014 in relay team Social Mile picture courtesy of MeeùsRunClub |
Will I see you there?
 |
| upper right photo summarizes the 3 half marathons from the first quarter of the year from bottom: Egmond Halve Marathon middle: CPC Loop Den Haag top: De Halve van de Haar Photo on the left of the collage courtesy of SplitSecond |
