Vondelparkloop 2014

Yesssssssss! Finally after a long running drought, I ran, bathed in the lights and happiness of runners, who all celebrated the 40th Edition of Vondelpark Run this weekend.

First, a Sentimental Journey to my first Vondelpark Run ~ 2012

My Stats:
5 months of running experience
ran a 5K, 4M, 10K in the months prior to this event
1st race in 6,7 km distance
ran it in 55:19

Short Story:

Not feeling top fit but ran on the 15th of January, 2012 because I was excited to run the event. I fell in love with Vondelpark, the first time mijn liefste P brought me there, and it seem fitting that I run it as part of my young running adventures.

Long Story:
I shared a longer version of my first Vondelpark Run experience for the FlyingBlue Running Blogging Competion.

running beside a lady, I met at the start

Nostalgic!
After the run of Vondelpark 2012

Now, on to Vondelpark Run ~2014!

My Stats:

• 2 years 5 months of running experience
• ran a LOT in these 29 months! (including 3 marathons)
• ran a back to back for this 40th edition ~ 10K in the evening of the 18th and the 6,7 km revisited in the morning of the 19th!
• my best time in the 10K is 01:01:40; I ran 1:10:25 for this event
• my best time in the 5K is 00:30:24 (during a 10K in Marikenloop 2013), and for the 7K (during the Driedorpenloop 2013) 41:49; I ran (based on my watch, no official time released yet) 4.28 miles in 48:21

Short Story:

I'm a sentimental runner! :) I love running events, I've previously ran, and most of all I love anniversary edition of running events.

Vondelpark Run 2014, 40th Edition fulfilled both.


Long Story :

Vondelparkloop ~ Light The Night

Meg's Miles ( http://bit.ly/ARunDedicatedToMeg )

I had a fabulous time! The night was truly made special and magical through the lights worn by the runners, and lights set up at different points of the course.


Get an impression of the night through various pictures shared by:

Running Matters
Run2Day Amsterdam
Phanos Amsterdam

The route was not new to me. In the 29 months of running, I've ran around it, through it, parts of it countless of times, during day and night time.

The cheering enthusiastic crowd in the park gave the evening a beautiful positive energy. It was literally a LOVELY surprise - in the dark! - to get cheered by Ada, a  very positive supportive friend I met through AMS Running Junkies. *MUAH* Thanks, @da!

(No picture but thanks Irene, Mo's friend for cheering along the way!)

Ada  and  Eva @LittleEveGrows
the following day
I did not get to see Ada anymore

Personally, I was satisfied with the organization of the event. Drink post midway, and energy drinks were given at the end of the race.  There were also a number of volunteers along the route.

My friend Lianne, picked up my bib for me, and that gave me a bit of peace to prepare for the journey to Amsterdam with my family. We did not have to be too early, and stand in the cold with our little girl. Thanks again, Lianne!

Monique aka Mo, was very generous, paced me during the 3 rounds around the park, and ran with me with a the entire time with good humor.  We got separated at the last 100-200 meters, where I lost momentum (due to lack of training). If it was not for her, I would have not ran as fast as I did. Thanks again, Mo!

BELATED EDIT - got a tag last night on FB by Mo for our picture together running Saturday evening :)

Vicky, congratulated us at the finishline, and ask a lady to take this commemorative photo with his mobile phone; I am always grateful to have friends around, who always have their cameras with them. Great moment captured; we all finished the 40th edition of Vondelpark Run! Thanks again, Vicky!

Amsterdam Running Junkies after the finish
left to right:
Mo, Lianne, Vicky, & moi

The next day . . .

The Story Behind #DYR (Dedicate Your Run)

Vondelparkloop then...
photo credit :  cover page of  Running Matters

Vondelparkloop 40th Edition...
photo credit: Daniel Andriessen, originally shared on Running Matters FB page

Fellow AMS Running Junkie/soul/solesister, Eva @LittleEveGrows took this picture
as I neared the finish line in my second and last round in the park;
I was VERY happy to see her!

Annnnnnnnd, here we I am together with :) Eva @LittleEveGrows
Wilbert, also an  AMS Running Junkie friend
thoughtfully took this picture of Eva and I
Congratulations again on your back to back PRs this weekend, Wilby!
Thanks and *MUAHS* to you both!
No picture but special thanks to Anoek for the congratulatory hugs after my 6,7 km run!

Squeezing in a photo planking opportunity!

#30DayPlankChallenge

#plankadaycozwhynot

The run during the day was as special as the evening run.

Get an impression of the day through various pictures shared by:

Running Matters

I was very delighted, that I was able to run this back to back race weekend even though I barely ran in the last weeks. My fitness base obviously remains strong due to my active personal/family life (biking 20-30 km a day).

Vondelparkloop  40th edition was truly a great kick off to start Running 2014! Can't wait for the 41st edition!

Life in the Netherlands

a four Seasons collage of the image in front of our window done from 2008-2010; it is a collage that never fails to soothe me, whenever I feel rushed by life...

In my Easter Greeting post, I announced that I will be back after the long Easter weekend, on Tuesday with the blogs for F-H (#atozchallenge). 

This decision was a part of my baby step with unplugging.

Well, it's a big surprise to me, that we now have Friday because of how busy the week has been!

I'm late. Very late. But not gone and definitely not giving up on the #atozchallenge.

You might wonder what kept me busy besides our three daughters, and the daily life of a stay at home mom!

After the long family weekend, Tuesday thru Friday simply whooshed by.

If you have been following Happy Feet in the Netherlands, for a while now, you will know that I am preparing for the 38th Berlin Marathon.

You might have also read here, that as part of my preparations, and as a long time dream, I've been meaning to fulfill for my 40th year here on earth: I will be running a marathon in our old home town Hamburg.

Not a full one (yet) but as part of a relay team, which I put together with the help of the Amsterdam Running Junkies.

In it's 27th year, Hamburg Marathon will have a marathon relay team participation for the first time in it's history.

Summer, 2011 in front of the Hamburg Rathaus (city hall)

Last night,  I ran together with my team-mates around the Vondelpark twice, and after our shared fun run, we discussed how we will spend the marathon weekend, together in Hamburg.

More about it - detailed accounts with pictures! - here at Happy Feet in the Netherlands.
 
What kept me also pre-occupied is the Filipino Bloggers Worldwide, a group who has generously supported my bid to be Flying Blue Running's new community blogger.

More about the group , at My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands, in the coming weeks.

My bike at the Smidsbrug, 's Graveland, January 2011

And on top of all the responsibilities at home, organizing of my first marathon relay team, and networking, I had to park the bike away for days (my daily destressing activity!), while the Littlest was home to recuperate from her stubborn chest cold.

She is better now but still has to stay home today, and rest the whole weekend.

The day before yesterday, I was talking to mijn liefste P, and I told him that I miss the simple joy of bird- watching with him, which we did that day.

Wednesday, 11th of April, a day of bird-watching with mijn liefste P

The quote below did not come to me then, but it does in a way summarize what I felt.

Be careful what you set your heart upon - for it will surely be yours.
James A. Baldwin

I guess, this is why I am willing myself not to feel guilty for pausing with the #atozchallenge.  I simply want to have time to let the flurry of all wishes coming true settle down, that I might have a chance to savour them longer than it seems possible with all of them rushing towards me.

The preparations for the Hamburg marathon, the Berlin marathon, working together with creative, supportive people, and my beautiful & loving family, are all wishes I treasured in my heart.

Now, they are there: the family I long for and am thankful for everyday, and the other dreams I enjoy, and some just within hand-reach.

Taking a day to look out of our front window to watch the changing of the season, and at the back window, to see how our resident blue tits prepare their nest in the bird house we provided, is a way for me to pause, and be receptive to what is being realised in our lives.

Wonderful Spring; new beginnings.  They are wonderful cycles of life.