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Pieter ran the Comrades for Deeds for their Needs
On this page, Pieter kept you posted on his goal to run the Comrades Marathon (87km) from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
The Comrades Run – 9 juni 2019
I had a great breakfast at 03:00 am in the hotel. After the breakfast I went back to my room to get some rest and at 04:30 am I went to the start. With my result of the Amsterdam Marathon I could start in segment B. So close to “serious” runners. You needed to be present in your segment before 05:00am. Then we got a real South African start with the Comrades tradition songs and the South African atmosphere, really amazing and I was glad that I was part of it.
The start was at 05:30am. The temperature was great to perform, 15 degrees and hardly no wind at that moment. Till 08:00am there was no sun and the temperature was ok, after 08:00am the sun was coming and the clouds were moving and the temperature increased to 25 degrees, but with a little wind it was not so bad. The first 20 km went perfect, according to my expectations. I bought some energy pills with extra salt (advice from the Dutch Comrades team) and I took two pills with the energy drink and from 20 km I also started drinking at the service points during the race. The most of the drinks were served in plastic bags, something new for me, but very convenient if you run. With your teeth you can easily open the plastic bag and drink the bag empty. They also served Coca Cola during the race next to a lot of energy bars.
After the sunrise I could really enjoy the fantastic atmosphere and the audience during the race. A real experience! I can recommend this to everybody, the South African audience was really great and they push you towards your maximum result.
After 37km the mountains with the most fierce increase were done, but I still had 50 km to go. I tried to keep running, I saw some runners walking up towards the mountains, to avoid pain in the legs. During the race I was counting the things I had done, so after 8 km, I thought 10% is done, only 90% to go or I was thinking in the training rounds that I do, so only one time to for example Ter Heijde.
When I passed the 50% line I was still not tired. I know the highest point of the race was around 67km and my feeling was if I could make that I could finish the Comrades. When I reached the 67km point, I still had no pain in my legs and I was not tired, wich was really amazing! I did a 50km training once and a 58,5km training. But when I reached the 75km and saw another big mountain I really felt, this should really be the last one. After reaching the top (80km) I knew I made it!
The last km was really great, the feeling that you did something amazing, something I never thought I could do. I always thought I could never run towards Hoek van Holland and back, this is something for the bike, but I did it twice with 10% extra! When I reached the last 500 mtr of the Comrades in the stadium, my feeling got better and better and also thinking about DEEDS for their NEEDS, I did a South African thing for a fantastic South African organization!
I finished in 09:34:05, one and a half hour faster than what I thought I could do. It was a great experience, now thinking and dreaming of a next challenge! But first some safari holidays and after that some DEEDS for their NEEDS!!!
Week 23 (2019) The last week before the Comrades
After the 50 km run I recovered very well and I was able to do the last morning runs in the Netherlands on Monday and Tuesday before leaving for South Africa.
The flight went fantastic, I had a complete row for myself and everything went on time. So I arrived safely in Johannesburg.
After a short work out at the gym of the hotel I left for Drakensberg, for two days off mountain bike training and short training sessions in the mountains. The weather was great for these training sessions and everything went well, including the last short run on Saturday.
Saturday I left towards Durban early in the morning to pick up my start number and do the last shopping (water, energy drinks / bars) for the run. I booked a hotel close to the start, so I could not miss the start. The hotel arranged a very early breakfast at 03:00hrs in the morning. The night before I had prepared everything. The water bag was ready, start number on my shirt and my bag with fresh clothes and drinks for after the finish was ready, so nothing could go wrong!
Week 20 (2019) Last update from the Netherlands
Just two weeks and the race should be completed! Even though don’t have much pains anymore, I still have doubts about making it to the finish. So I decided to do another two large runs.
In april I missed the 50km training but still finished two marathons in. I decided that I wanted to do two long training sessions and one should be around 50km.
I started the week with two short runs and two cross training sessions to do a 38km on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday I did two short runs and on Sunday I decided to go for the 50km run.. and I made it within 6 hours! It was extremely hot, so I used my water bag for the first time.
I decided that I will use that one during the Comrades Marathon as well, that way I will always have something to drink.
The first package has already arrived in South Africa, so now it is time for me to pack everything I need to have a great time in South Africa with a lot of DEEDS for their NEEDS. I scheduled 10 days for doing some great DEEDS for their NEEDS!
Week 20 & 21 (2019)
The Comraden is coming closer and closer…
The week after the marathon went very well. I was able to do a short run the day after. Next to that I was able to do more runs during the week. I had a second visit at the physiotherapist and everything was ok. During the weekend I went to Luxembourg and I did a bike tour with some nice climbs wich also went ok.
The Monday after the weekend I went for a run to Hoek van Holland and back to Scheveningen, without problems.
Hopefully I can make it two times longer at the Comrades. During this past two weeks I have collected some nice stuff for the kids and the schools in South Africa. Many thanks to VARTA Consumer Batteries for the lights, to PHILIPS for the PSV scarves, to Chiquita and Colazzo for the Chiquita running shirts and IVECO SCHOUTEN for the transportation towards South Africa.
Week 17 (2019) & Utrecht Marathon
Two weeks after finishing the Marathon of Enschede I stil felt pains in my right thigh, so I called the physiotherapist. She was luckily available the Friday before the marathon of Utrecht. After 9 days of only cross training and some small running sessions, the pain was still not gone. I almost went 4 weeks without a proper running training session. So I was very curious if the physiotherapist was ok with the fact that I wanted to run the marathon of Utrecht. But after some taping on my right thigh it was ok. So I did some small running sessions on Friday and Saturday before the Utrecht Marathon and the pains disappeared after running some miles. So I felt confidence that I could make it to the finish.
The first 14 kilometers was ok, I could run at the same pace as in Rotterdam and Enschede, but after 14 kilometers I became very tired, so I decided to drink some water and continue the marathon in a slower pace. After 28 km everything hurt except my right thigh, at the one hand a very good signal on the other hand it felt like a wakeup call for more training and making more miles to be able to finish the comrades.
This marathon was the worst in terms of results, pace and my feelings about my condition. But it felt good in the end, because I kept going despite the pain and the feeling of losing power to make it to the finish. Many thanks for the pacers (polruns) and the great support of the audience. After more than 4 hours I made it to the finish, so I’m very happy with my discipline and never giving up mentality. And off course I was very happy that I could make it physically to the finish, though not happy with the performance. It was a clear warning to me that I have to make more miles and intensify trainings. During the marathon I used my new Jaybird Tarah Pro headphones and I really liked them. It gave me extra energy to listen to my favorite music during the run.
For the projects I am so happy to announce that Iveco Schouten will arrange the transport of the survival packs towards South Africa. Now we only need to collect all the products for these boxes. During the coming weeks I hope I to do more intensive training sessions and I wil finalize the travel plans and the survival packages.
Week 15 – 16 (2019)
The day after the Enschede Marathon I could not walk normal due to the right thigh. So I decided to do only cross training for four days to recover. During the Easter weekend on Friday I did a very small run but the pains were still there. Also after some stretching practices. Saturday cross training again and on Easter Sunday and Monday some small runs. After this I did some cross training sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. In the Kings weekend I did some small runs, but the pain is still not gone. So I decided to plan an appointment at the physiotherapist for a check. In two weeks I have subscribed for the marathon of Utrecht and I want to do at least a 60/70 km challenge, without a risk of a serious injury. So I really hope the physiotherapist is able to support in this.
So I had some additional time to do some checks for the projects during the trip. I work at VARTA Consumer Batteries, so I checked with the teams at our head office if it was possible to create some VARTA survival packs with flashlights, chargers, rechargeable batteries and powerbanks for schools, so they will always have enough energy at the schools. Also we have 150 Chiquita running shirts for kids. I am checking if we can send some packs towards our partners in South Africa, so I can hand them out during the trip. Next to that we have been approached to support in the set-up of a special library for Children in Graaff-Reinet and of course we will support this, so I will go book shopping South Africa. Another 40 days to go for the training!
Week 15 (2019) Enschede Marathon
After a long sleep after the Rotterdam Marathon, I was still not really recovered. In the evening I did a small cooling down run, but still felt some small pains in my right thigh. So I decided to do some small cross training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday to recover, Thursday I did a 12,5km run in the pace of what I wanted to reach in Enschede. Friday and Saturday I did some small cross training sessions to train my right thigh. The expectations for the weather in Enschede were exactly the opposite of last Sunday. The start was at 10:00hrs with a clear sky, but only 3 degrees and I wanted to finish around 13:30hrs, with an expectation of 8 degrees. I decided to run in long running pants with long sleeves. The start of the marathon was together with the semi marathon and I saw a lot of other runners with the same clothes, but when I made it to the finish I was the only one. I started with a group for the semi marathon with a finish on 01:40hrs and the run was going ok for the first 21 km, but then you get to the point that almost everybody will go to the finish and you need to go another 21 km. Luckily I decided to continue the challenge, but there were only 700 runners who ran the full marathon and more than 2.600 runners for the semi marathon, so there was less atmosphere during the second part of the marathon. After 34 km I got a difficult moment, I could not manage to continue with the same pace. I always have a pace for myself (and hopefully that pace will make the comrades), so I decided to take some sport drinks after passing the 35 km and analyze the time. I knew I could reach the target and made it to the finish in 03:35:51, faster than Rotterdam. Many thanks to Xsens for arranging the start number and great hospitality and to sportvoedingswebshop for the great drinks during the race!
Week 14 (2019) Rotterdam Marathon
The first real test of the year! After last Sunday I was still not convinced that I could manage a great race and make it to the finish. Still not in shape as it should be for the Comrades, but ready for the Marathon. I started Monday and Tuesday with some small runs in Scheveningen. Wednesday and Thursday I did some cross training, because I really felt some small pains in my right thigh. Friday and Saturday I did again some small runs, so hopefully ready for Sunday. The weather expectations were great for a Sunday in the park, but a little bit too hot for a long run. So I decided to for 03:45hrs with some additional time for drinking a lot of water during the end of the race. I made it to 03:40hrs, so I was very happy with the result, although it was still according my opinion not enough for the Comrades, but I still have 2 months training and next week also a marathon in Enschede. It was great to see and enjoy the great support of the supporters in Rotterdam. 2019
Week 13 (2019) VENLOOP
After running the 58km I didn’t do a lot of long runs, so I decided to take three Friday afternoons in march an afternoon off to run to Hoek van Holland and back. I started with 35km, after this 36 km, but the last training, the Friday before the VENLOOP I could not make the 30km. After 20km in the hot weather I was completely done. Luckily the weather was good enough to walk easily towards home. I had some worries. I am not in the best shape and will I make the semi marathon without getting injured. But as stubborn as I am, I did not cancelled a night out on Friday and I visited until the early hours some nice bars in the Hague. Of course not the best preparation. Saturday I did a short run to recover and went early to bed to be ready for Sunday. I decided to go for a flat run and a finish around 1:45hrs, hopefully 1:35 if could manage a real flat run with a pace of above the 13km per hour. After 1:37 I managed a really flat race against all my expectations and hot weather. The pace was really flat, so I was very happy with the result and hopefully it will give me the confidence for some great result in Rotterdam and Enschede in April. Thanks to Tonni and Bart for arranging the start number and great atmosphere before, during and after the run!
Volunteering for Deeds for their Needs
Hi my name is Pieter and since November 2016 a proud member and volunteer of DEEDS for their NEEDS. During my first holiday in South Africa I decided to do some DEEDS for their NEEDS. I decided to run the semi marathon (CPC) in the Hague to collect money to support DEEDS for their NEEDS. After this activity I received so many enthusiastic reactions and it gave me so much energy that I decided to do some more challenges, like running the marathon in Eindhoven, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, run two marathons in one week to support the great work of DEEDS for their NEEDS, also together with family and friends. After one year in December 2017 Lydia and I went back to South Africa to support all the activities of DEEDS for their NEEDS and I even got more excited. We have supported schools, families and children and even more important we could make that little difference to give everybody a smile for the moment. After this great time, I decided to do more DEEDS for their NEEDS. So my next challenge is running the Comrades Marathon (87km) from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, of course in South Africa. During this trip I will also support and visit some great projects of DEEDS for their NEEDS. And of course I really hope you will support me before or after I finished this challenge, so we can continue with DEEDS for their NEEDS! Please have a look at my preparations for the challenge and the preparations for DEEDS for their NEEDS.
How to prepare a challenge like the Comrades Marathon
End of 2018 I decided to do this challenge. I could combine my training for the marathon and semi marathon in one time. To prepare a marathon I always run from my home in Scheveningen towards Hoek van Holland and back, this is around 39 km. For the semi marathon I do a run towards Ter Heijde and back, together this is around 58km. I made it, so I decided to subscribe myself for the Comrades. I made a little training program for 2019, with a start in The Hague with the CPC, semi marathon, but unfortunately this run was cancelled due the weather. As alternative I could run the Dutch Semi Marathon in Venlo, VENLOOP.
Before the preparations some companies were already prepared to support me in the training. From Jaybird I received a great sport headphone and running clothes. With Esther zorgt voor u, we will prepare some great projects in South Africa. Furthermore with Iveco Schouten we will do some mobility projects to support DEEDS for their NEEDS. Really cool to see that even great companies are willing to support the great work of DEEDS for their NEEDS. Also with VARTA Consumer batteries we will look to power and lighten up the DEEDS for their NEEDS in South Africa. Please let me know if you are also interested with your company to support us, we can think in creative way how we can fit the business fo your company with DEEDS for their NEEDS.
