Day 13 - Zevenheuvelenloop

So today i ran in the Zevenheuvelenloop 15 kilometer race (about 10 miles). i was nervous all morning. i haven't really run for more than an hour at a time in the past year, but i've been doing all my cycyling training so i'm relying on that. i didn't train for this race AT ALL since i just registered last week. so yeah, i'm nervous.

I bought the registration of a girl named Eva, so my registration bib said my number (#3777) and Eva's name. (That's right Shonna - Eeeeeeeeeevaaaaaaaaaa). The race was capped at 30,000 people so that's why i had to buy someone else's registration.

I drove to Nijmegen from Delft and it took about 1 hour and 20 minutes. i found a parking spot immediately i couldnt beleive it!! i went and picked up my tshirt (a really nice breathable running shirt) and met the rest of the Fugro squad inside of the movie theatre which was being used as a dressing/staging area and place to leave your things during the race. the banks next door to the movie theatre (about 5 banks) were also being used to accommodate all of the runners.

There was an extra Fugro jersey singlet so i put that on over my shirt. its a bit big but its ok i feel more part of the team now. i took a picture of me and elisabet before the race (below), then head out to the starting line. its like a sea of spandex. everyone has long skinny legs and just skinny overall. similar body type to me. everyone. there's young people, older people, men, women, 30,000 netherlanders all with long skinny legs and arms, not alot of curves and hips, not a lot of boobs and butts. no makeup. natural hair. nothing to hide. not trying to be something they're not. such a ReFrEsHiNg change from southern california.

the energy is so upbeat. as we walk to the starting line, there is music playing from big speakers. jason mraz "i'm yours" comes on and I sing along. i look around and have a moment of happiness and clarity. i'm so happy to be in this place at this moment. a wave of intense joy, excitement mixed with peacefullness washes over me. the dutch people are so good-natured and courteous and have a genuine care for others. they are even-tempered and positive. i feel lucky to have met such wonderful people and experience a bit of thier culture.

So the race starts. by the time i cross the start line its already been about 30 minutes. There is a little chip in my shoe that recorded my times at the 5K, 10K, and 15K marks. the first 5K i felt pretty good. i was having some trouble keeping my breathing under control and had a pretty good cramp in my side. The second 5K i was able to get my breathing under control but i was just getting tired. The third 5K breathing was fine but my legs were just so tired. Overall, the first 5K was pretty good, the second 5K kind of sucked, and the third 5K REALLY sucked. i really struggled the last 5K. But, i finished!!! see my splits below, emailed to me at the end of the race via the shoe chip company.

25e Fortis Zevenheuvelenloop 16 November 2008, 15 kilometer

CChipMail bericht van finishpassage voor:

Jamie Hutchins, startnummer 3777

Hallo,
Hieronder staan de starttijd en de netto tussentijden en finishtijd.

Gestart om 13:31:13 uur

5 km gepasseerd om 14:02:08 uur = 30:55 minuten netto

10 km gepasseerd om 14:35:27 uur = 1:04:14 minuten netto

Finish gepasseerd om 15:09:40 uur = 1:38:27 minuten netto

the race was really well organized and very easy for the participants (i mean besides the running part!!). the course was well marked, and the streets are closed to cars so there is plenty of room to run. part of the course is on city streets and part of it goes through some wooded area and that part is really nice. there are random pands, pianos, marching bands etc. playing intermittently along the route. there are a TON of spectators and cheerers along the route. my bib said Eva so people were shouting encourgement to Eva in dutch, probably like "come on Eva! you're almost finished Eva!" or something like that :) it made the race go by quicker.

After we finished a few of us went to a local pub and got a well-deserved beer. i got a hamburger too. i was really hungry. elisabet and i drove home. i'm very tired. i had some green beans for dinner. i think i'll watch some TV and head to bed now :)