Amsterdam Marathon 2008

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On October the 18th was the Amsterdam marathon. I have always wanted to run a full marathon after completing the Glasgow Half marathon for over 10years now. I do like a challenge and its easier to get into the Amsterdam event than any UK events. Amsterdam is also a flatter course to.

I left on the Saturday afternoon though Glasgow Airport. I had 40 Euro from a previous trip that I took with me and also £50 in my wallet. After I checked in and went though security, I tried to get some more money from the bank machine to make sure I had enough for the 2 nights. My card however was rejected in all the machines in the airport.

After frantically phoning everyone I knew to get a phone no. for the RBS I finally got though to customer services. Was told the link was down and to try in Amsterdam. When I arrived I still couldn't get any money. I was lucky I had money on me beforehand and I was only away for 2nights.

On Sunday morning, I had to get up early to go to the registration point to collect my run number. It was half a mile walk from the start line, but I had to walk there and back as my hotel was next to the start line at the Olympic stadium.

The run itself was surprisingly quick for the first 13miles. My time in the Glasgow Half marathon 4 weeks before was 1hour58mins, and I was within a minute of this, with half still to go. I was feeling good though so I continued at that pace. The marathon takes you south and out of Amsterdam beside a canal into a small village and then you loop round the village and continue back towards the city on the other side of the canal.

The water stations along the way were very well spaced out and all gave you a choice of water, glucode(sports drink), chopped bananas and the occasional hard sweet.

The hard part of the marathon was between 30-40k. At this point I was still running, but I just felt that I wasn't really moving at any great speed. Longing for the race to finish or at least to see the 40km sign so physiologically I would know i was into the last 2k. When I see the 40k mark I felt I got my 3rd wind and I flew round the last part with greater pace, spurned on by the local crowd who had turned out in large numbers and filled the Olympic stadium at the finish line.


Name Paul Storrie
City Glasgow
5 km 29:17 (29:17)
10 km 56:43 (27:26)
15 km 1:24:38 (27:55)
20 km 1:52:38 (28:00)
21,1 km 1:59:23
25 km 2:21:23 (28:45)
30 km 2:51:04 (29:41)
35 km 3:24:38 (33:34)
40 km 3:58:19 (33:41)
Net time 4:13:01
Gros time 4:20:56
Speed 10,006 Km/Hour
Distance Marathon
Place 856 / Msen

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