Whether someone from the editors thought it would be fun to participate with Team Asics at the Dam Tot Damloop? The editors declined, but marketing colleague Kelly dared.
Kelly: 'And so my colleagues from Santé recruited me for Team Asics. Since apparently I am the only runner of Van Santé. In the sense of… I go for a run sometimes. I am not such a huge hero.
In advance we received an invitation to participate in the pre-event at the Asics Flagshipstore in Amsterdam together with the other participants of Team Asics. There we could meet while enjoying a (healthy) snack and drink. Then we were hoisted into a complete Asics outfit:from running tights to shirts, socks and new running shoes.
After we were installed, a core workout followed in a gym in the Flagshipstore. Once the abs had warmed up, it was time to go for a run to the Runtoday store. Here we got a presentation and short lecture about interval training and how it can affect your running performance. Time to put it into practice right away. We received a fun and spicy interval training in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam to prepare for the Dam tot Damloop.
More than a week later the time had come...
My best friend, my running buddy, my everything, had canceled a few days in advance. So I would walk alone. When I was invited to friends' homes on Saturday evening and it was then 1.30 am, I didn't care anymore, because:I'll still see if I go tomorrow. So in the end I really couldn't sell it to myself not to go. I knew how happy and proud I would be if I finally walked it, so go. In the morning I put on my running outfit and took the bus and ferry from Amsterdam North to Central Station. Here it became clear to me that even though my buddy had dropped out, I really wouldn't walk alone.
With hundreds of other participants I walked to the start area where we started at 11 am. After the starting gun, I knew I shouldn't start too fast for the first kilometer because of the adrenaline rushing through my body. Hold back for a while and then later 'when I'm up and running' see how much I can add. I immediately felt in the first two kilometers that I was running well and that I would enjoy this 16 kilometers. Crazy how you actually feel that right away. The first 12 kilometers I ran whistling, after that I decided to accelerate a bit so that I could get a good time. My aim was between 1.20 and 1.30. I felt in the last kilometer that it was really going to be tough because I was running faster than average. But I had to and would cross the finish line within that time!
When I was almost at the finish line and saw my parents and another Very Important Person standing on the sidelines, it gave me even more power to add some speed. In the end I reached my goal with a score of 1.27. Next year is the aim – WITH MY FRIEND. DO YOU READ IT? DO YOU READ IT? – to finish between 1.20 and 1.25. But now first the half marathon on October 15! Who else participates?
Team Asics:Thank you!
Text:Kelly Veerman
