41st Amsterdam Waterland Marathon

A small team traveled to Amsterdam for the 41st Amsterdam Waterland Marathon part of the ICF World Classic Marathon kayak series for 2013. The race is completely different to the normal international races no 4.3km laps, it's a 23km race with 2 portages on the canals and waterways of Amsterdam.

We were invited by Edwin De Nijs, Ex European marathon champion and regular visitor to the UK in the past for our national marathon championships.

Race day saw clear skies but some strong winds which would make some of the exposed areas very challenging! There were 60 boats on the senior men's start with international athletes from Sweden Italy Belgium Germany Ireland and Hungary, a larger start line than at most world cups!
 
The 1st 1km was on a very wide canal straight into the wind, with Robin Koenders Dutch 1000m paddler in the middle of the field it was always going to be a very fast start. Jon Simmons and Tim Pendle (Norwich) both had great starts on either side of the canal, the race turns into a narrow canal so you can't afford to be trailing. A large group turned into the canal with Jon and Tim in close attendance. The canal at this point is similar width to the River Wey, a road running beside the canal meant I was able to watch the lead group with Edwin driving the route.

Jon started to struggle and as it we found out later had injured his shoulder soon after turning on to the narrow canal hanging on to the back of the lead group as Tim piled on the pressure at the front.

The first portage would see the lead group break up with Tim and Joep Van Bakel (Holland) taking a small lead. This portage is up and over a lock and nothing too challenging. The race then headed out on to a wide lake with a cross/head wind wiping up the waves for the next 3km.

The second portage was more challenging involving running the boat aground on the reed bed before running down a road and across a field of sheep before getting back into the boat from a floating reed bed. By this point Tim was away with Joep,  a second group more than a minute behind contained Keith Moule (Chelmsford). Now the waterways were even narrower weaving through the fields for another 4km before emerging on the the large canal where the race started.

It was all coming down to the finish now with Joep and Tim keeping a very high pace, the race victory in a very quick 1hr 41.04 went to Joep with Tim in 2nd, Jon crossed the line in agony in 13th 6 minutes down on the leaders.

Edwin organised everything for us including fantastic accommodation an athletes meal the night before the race and a sight seeing tour of Amsterdam afterwards.

 If you want a race that is very different and always has a very strong field you must go next year www.kvviking.nl