Amsterdam Marathon and Run Weekend  18–20 October 2008

I think that we all learnt a lot over the course of 3 days.

    We now know that Maire hates cats.

    Ray is a closet serial killer.

    That Ray also thinks that it’s only the British who can make tea.

    Lunch is overpriced in Bruges (but Bruges is lovely – so can get away with it).

    Holland is not a country. It’s an area within the Netherlands. (It’s a bit like calling Lancashire “England”.)

    That Amsterdam is surrounded by low bridges (making life very difficult for drivers (and passengers) of double decker coaches.)

    That it’s possible to get a train from anywhere to anywhere and that we all like ferries but not boats and Angie carries an aardvark in her pocket (Ok I admit – ‘in-joke’ so don’t bother to ask).

    It’s possible to get the chairperson of the club to agree to anything – even to letting us Amsterdammers wear orange t-shirts on a club night.

    Frank has still got the old magic with 12 women in his bedroom on the first night drinking Cointreau (and we don’t know how many on the second night).

    If you are not used to energy drinks DO NOT drink them on the way round a race.  (Sick or what?) 

    Even if this is the 33rd Amsterdam Marathon they haven’t quite sorted out the bottleneck at the end of the half marathon.

    Sarah possessed the biggest grin ever at the end of the 7.5k so delighted was she with her run (as she should be).

    Sue Cane can run a PB in a half marathon with a poorly hip.

    Nigel is ace at putting data chips on other people’s shoes.

    Amsterdam has a Hash group (much to Russell’s delight who rather keenly ran a race and a hash all on the same day!) 

    Amsterdam is not all flat (if you run under an underpass you do have to come up the other side – thank goodness we all did that hill training.)

    That ‘Nice Work’ run a very well organised trip.

    And nice work from Janet too – for organising a smashing NEJ trip where all shapes, sizes and abilities could join in.  Top girl!