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THE AMSTERDAM
MARATHON
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For the 2006 Autumn Tour,
Finlay proposed the 31st
Edition of the Amsterdam Marathon. Although this was to be my first visit, Amsterdam had always been
a place of images for me. Anne Frank,
Ronnie Hilton’s ‘Windmill in Old Amsterdam’ and 
Van Der Valk had all left a strong impression on a
child’s imagination. Whilst not possessing the decaying beauty of Venice or the
stately grandeur of St.
Petersburg, Amsterdam does not
disappoint. Built during Holland’s ‘Golden Age’, its concentric canals
and leaning buildings make it one of the prettiest of cities.
The Marathon
begins in the 1928 Olympic Stadium
and follows a 7km route through Vondelpark
before re-entering the stadium and heading off along the Amstel River. After a reasonably successful summer I was optimistic
about improving on my 2:53 from Barcelona.
It soon became apparent however that I was running tired.
The 10km stretch along the Amstel
is most picturesque with magnificent mansions on the west and the nature
reserves of the east. The route heads back towards the city through the
attractive Watergraffsmeer quarter
and then along the Singlegracht
Canal and its classic images of Amsterdam.
We run past the world famous Rijksmuseum
for a second time and re-enter Vandelpark
at 38km. It’s a great race that ‘Bates’
would score 9, possibly 10, but I’m panicking – 3 hours is slipping away.
Tired and needing inspiration I remember the words of Reg Holdsworth, world famous manager of
Bettabuys: “I’m no longer the callow youth
of yesteryear but a man of steel, forged on the anvil of life.” At 39km
I rallied and crossed the line in 2:59,
totally exhausted. Finlay improved greatly on Barcelona with 3:54 and promised fireworks at his next outing – Windermere.
Tired and emotional, I ventured off to the Van Gogh Museum
which houses the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s work. It was all
here; from his early representational work, to the Sunflowers and his final painting, the foreboding ‘Wheatfield with Crows’. His studies
were of humble, peasant girls; his Christ
was a lowly beggar. Van Gogh’s descent into depression reflected in the increasingly
compulsive and passionate nature of his abstracts. Yet, with every stroke of
his brush, he captured the joy and sadness, laughter and tears, hope and
despair and those spiritual emotions that, in themselves, make life worth
living. How true the singer had sung, “Vincent,
this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you”.
If Van Gogh had been the
Kurt Cobain of the piece, then
surely Rembrandt van Rijn was the Francis Albert Sinatra, honing his craft, perfecting his art,
wooing his adoring public whilst keeping one steady eye fixed firmly on the
bank. All of this took place at Rembrandthuis which Rembrandt bought in 1639 for the pricely sum of thirteen
thousand guiders. A hidden treasure, an
unexpected delight. Rembrandthuis –
check it out.
If it’s in town and happening, expect tour leader McCalman to offer an excursion. On Monday
evening it was in town and happening in the form of The New Cool Collective.
Reminiscent of an early Count
Basie Orchestra, we danced with
the young and beautiful of Amsterdam to
this magnificent twenty piece jazz band. Their pulsating beat and driving
rhythms perfectly capturing the heartbeat of this vibrant city. Worth the trip itself, The New Cool Collective – remember where you heard it first!
Super race, splendid city, fantastic people – Amsterdam.
The Red Light District? I didn’t go
there, honest! I did stumble across one tired, old pro sat in a shop window.
You know the sort, indeterminate age, lips like Pete Burns and Spectrum
Torpedos, Lieutenant Uhura would love to bestow on some unsuspecting Klingon. My goodness! There’s a
seasoned trouper like that propping up the end of every bar in Poulton. I know because I have been
there – Poulton that is!
That’s it! The
road goes on and on so keep the faith. I’ll see you in Amsterdam on October 21st for the 32nd Edition for the Ing
Amsterdam Marathon. You know it makes
sense!
Written by: Russ Mabbutt
Submitted: Monday 14th
May 2007
Edited By: Brenda J Earnshaw
WRR Editor