Walk of the World 2013

First: thanks everyone for congratulating me on finishing the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse (nicknamed 'the Walk of the World': this year walkers from about 120 countries participated)!!

Exactly two weeks after finishing the Vierdaagse I have finally found the time to write another blog. There's not much else I can do anyway today. I'm off work today (thankfully). Temperature outside is probably reaching 35 degrees right now. So I rather stay inside for the time being ;).

My verdict of this year's Vierdaagse:

- My preparation was a lot better as compared to last year. No injuries.
I started my training early this year, back in January (we had a very cold winter this year, but that did not prevent me from training, I just put on some warm comfy cloths lol). I also decided not to walk long distances every week. After walking a long distance (for example 40 km) one weekend, I would walk a shorter distance (for example 20 km) the next weekend. By giving my body a little more rest (I also cut back on running), I hoped that I would be able to prevent an injury like I had last year (inflammed achilles tendon).

Even though I did not walk long distances every week, I ended up walking over 860 km in training. That was more than enough for me ;).

- I started my Vierdaagse training in the cold. But the actual Vierdaagse took place in the heat (pretty high temperatures, fortunately not as high as today). I was well prepared. Good sunscreen. Cap. Towel. Good cloths (no cotton…). Good shoes. My parents offered to meet me after approximately 30 km each day. This meant that I would only have to take half of my lunch (my bag still weighed about 2.6 kg though :P). My parents would then provide me with the other half of my lunch (including some fresh vegetables and fruits, yummy). Also got an icepack in my neck when I paused at my parent’s rest stop (my mother got this idea from watching Wimbledon lol).

- Still very annoying: just like last year, the anti-social walkers. The ones that cut the lines at the start. Or the ones that go and stand in line when they are not supposed to (for example: walkers from a later starting group, not allowed to start for another hour, but standing in line anyway with the earlier starting groups). On the third day it was the worst. The many anti-social walkers, probably so high in number because this was the Vierdaagse's hottest day, caused a traffic jam, euh walker jam. The walkers who were actually standing in line properly, like me, had to wait forever to start. That day it took me over 45 minutes to cross the starting line. Probably passed quite a few of those anti-social walkers en route. Hah!!

- Highlights: so many.. Elst and the Oosterhoutsedijk on the first day (a lot of people find this part very hard, but I actually enjoyed it!). Alverna, Wijchen and the festive Waterkwartier (area in Nijmegen) on the second day. Plasmolen, Groesbeek and of course the Zevenheuvelenweg (Seven Hills, I love to climb!) on the third day. Last year, during the fourth day, I was a little ‘out of it’, so I did not fully notice the amazing atmosphere @ particularly Linden, Cuijk and the Sint Annastraat (named the Via Gladiola during the Vierdaagse).

- Fysical state: I was fine (got a massage after every Vierdaagse stage, which of course helped). I forced myself to take it slowly during the Vierdaagse. I wanted to conserve my energy. I did not conserve my energy at all last year. Result: three big blisters and barely any energy to walk during the last day. This year I was determined to finish the Vierdaagse "fresh". So I walked more slowly (which is hard for me, I love to pass people lol, I still passed people, but not nearly as much). I also took more breaks (I was forced to take more breaks anyway, because I had to use the restroom all the time, disadvantage of having to drink more due to the higher temperatures ;)). Result of my slower pace was plenty of energy and only one blister. I was not sore at all after the Vierdaagse. I expected some aches. I had one, just the blister, which was a little sore. Blister healed (or better say just vanished within two days). My faithful walking shoes unfortunately didn’t cope as well with the Vierdaagse as I did. They look pretty worn out (especially at the sole and the instep). Since I am so happy with these shoes, I am thinking about having them repaired…

- Mental state: I was fine, never thought “oh I do not want to go on”. But I was boooored during the beginning of the stages of the second, third and fourth day. The beginning of those stages is similar and boring (according to my opinion). On the fourth day I decided to get my MP3 player out of my bag. I just listened to my favorite music during those boring kilometers (which did go by faster than the previous days).

- Support: because of the nice temperatures there were so many people standing on the side of the road. Most of them were very friendly and kind and enthousiastic. Handing out treats. Providing drinks and water (I would often be able to dip my cap and towel in water, put the towel in my neck, very refreshing).

A lot of my friends and family supported me as well, even if it was from a distance, I appreciated it very much. Thanks again! There were a few people who actually saw me "live". My parents of course every day, I wouldn't have passed the finish line so fresh if it wasn't for them (I was looking forward to my mother's icepack every day :D). My aunt Mary was also there to greet me on the fourth day on the Via Gladiola. Just like my friends Martina and Sjoerd. Sjoerd even walked the last 3 km with me to the finish line. During the beginning of the fourth day, I had already met a friend of my mother's which was really nice as well (it was just in the middle of the boring part of the stage).

- Will I participate in next year's Vierdaagse?? I am not sure yet. I will decide what to do with the 2014 Vierdaagse in February, when it's time to register.

But I will keep on walking. The next Vierdaagse is already planned.
I will be participating in the Vierdaagse of Marbella (Spain) from 10-13 October. I will probably walk 20 km a day (so total distance will be only half of the distance covered at the Vierdaagse in Nijmegen). I am going to fly to Malaga on 8 October, then I will take the bus to Marbella. And stay there for six days. The rest of the trip is not really planned yet. But I would love to visit Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, Madrid and Valencia. Those five cities won't fit in my travelling schedule (I also want to visit Calpe of course), so I still have to drop one....

PS. I will try to post some Vierdaagse pictures, all taken with my cell phone. Although I am really happy with my cell phone, it doesn’t make the best pictures (as you can see).