Where are John and Kara?: Utrecht, Central Netherlands

Getting ready to start the Utrecht Science Park race

Our first marathon of the year! After competing last year in the Madrid Rock n Roll and the IX marathon de Zaragoza we were inspired to give another quarter marathon a try here in the Netherlands. Overly optimistic we signed ourselves up to not one but three races in the next four weeks and have been rigorously training since mid January.

After having an early restful night we were up this morning ready and rearing to go and soon enough we were on our way to Utrecht. Not far from Amsterdam, about 40 kilometres south, the city of Utrecht is one of the country's oldest cities and has been the religious centre of the Netherlands since the 8th century.

Although there is some evidence of earlier inhabitation in the region of Utrecht dating back to the Stone Age (approx 2200 BC), the founding date of the city is related to the construction of a Roman fortification, probably built around 50CE. Today it's also a thriving student town and capital of the Utrecht province.

We arrived early and making our way to the race start in the city's business district, excitedly warmed up and soon enough the bang went and we set off! John had a great race, breaking a personal best record but this time round Kara got really stuck behind some slow joggers, ended up eating two flying bugs and got a bit of knee trouble.

Finishers!!!

Post race selfie

She didn't break any records but finished and we both walked away happily with our little medals, grateful that we'd put in some hard yards recently and quietly mulling over things we need to improve on (like starting closer to the front and Kara to run with her mouth closed).

Heading into the old centre

Car free 'new street'

After the race we had a real good sponge off, downed several cups of water, walked off the aches, changed clothes and went to grab some lunch in the city centre. We had been looking forward to exploring Utrecht, considered the most important city in the Netherlands until the Dutch Golden Age when it was succeeded by Amsterdam. Its centre is full of buildings from the high Middle Ages that are wrapped around medieval split-level canals and tree-lined roads. Although today was the first day of spring, there's much to be desired in the way of leaves on these beautiful trees!

Walking into the centre

First canal!

Lunch in an old renovated church was smoked chicken sandwich and homemade tomato soup as we waited out a passing rain shower, then the real exploring began. Small enough to walk most of the old centre on foot we cascaded the cobbled streets admiring the 17th century buildings.

Lunch in the restored church behind

Hemingway in front of the town hall

Lively terrace cafes

Walking up Domstraat

First glimpse of the Cathedral and Dom tower

The city's masterpiece, the Dom, stood high, dark and proud, slightly gothic and almost in stark contrast to the small crisp buildings below. Built between 1321 and 1382 the Dom tower is 112 meters high. Along its lanes underneath the tower the full 42km marathon runners flew by! We stopped to cheer them on, knowing full well how tough it must be for them to keep up such a pace, and on cobbles!

Dom tower

Utrecht Cathedral

The Dom Tower was one of the largest towers constructed in Europe during the fourteenth century, and it was planned to show the power of the church of Utrecht. Across its plaza we investigated an interesting looking door and once through found a beautiful courtyard, this was part of the city cathedral. Built in the Middle Ages (but refurbished many times) it once was joined to the large tower.

Inside the Cathedral- secret gardens!

Something is leaning here?

In 1674 the central portion of the cathedral had a large nave which collapsed in a storm, in fact it was a tornado that ripped through utrecht causing many to die and split the cathedral in two. It was never rebuilt, leaving the tower now isolated from the east end and leaving us feeling like we should read up more on tornado frequency!

University of Utrecht

Moving in we paraded down the tiered canals, peeking over the bridges and the small cafes, cellars and restaurants down below. Utrecht’s canals are one of a kind in the world! Back in the Middle Ages when the city's river Rhine was moved south, parts of the old river bed were dug out to create the Old Canal and wharfs were added to create an inner city harbour system.

Afternoon rowers in the city

The old wharfs down in the canal

Cargo boats were able to directly dock and unload onto the wharfs lining the canal. The wharf cellars had pedestrian walkways (with dangerously steep stairs down) and provided storage at water level, which created a unique two-level street system along the canals. Nowadays the unique wharfs of Utrecht below are dotted with restaurants, craft shops and cafés. Although, today most were closed because it was a cold Sunday afternoon. But we moved on happily looking down the gorgeous streets and the old Dutch houses, same dated as far back as the 14th century.