After returning from Zurich yesterday there was no time to rest! Our second race this month was happening with or without us and of course we wanted to be there!
 |
| Maxima Park, Utrecht |
So Sunday morning rolled around and we figured out directions to Maxima Park in the heart of Leische Rijin, a small reasonably new settlement west of Utrecht city, but still within the Utrecht province.
We had signed up to this race quite a few weeks back, enticed by their beautifully coloured website. In fact there were two races in the programme that Kara really wanted to do but in the end we chose the longer 15km - the race of the Romans!
Well we thought we would have been ready by the end of May when we initially signed up but as of that morning neither of us had yet run 15km; so keeping things light and fun we were aiming to just finish.
 |
| A cherry coloured band playing in the ran for the racers |
As Utrecht isn't far out of Amsterdam we were able to have a little sleep in, but not much. We traced out our route and arrived two hours ahead of the scheduled start time. This gave us ample opportunity to pick up our racing bibs and check out a little section of the huge 45 hectare park.
It was relatively recently (just in 2002 in fact) that when preparing land for new subdivisions and housing that surveyors discovered an ancient military road and Roman watch towers which date back to the mid-first century. It's believed that the paths were reconstructed from stone in the second half of the second or first half of the third century based on archeological evidence. The original wooden towers may have been part of a large building project of the Roman general who around that time held the ancient Roman fort, Traiectum (now the city of Utrecht).
 |
| Two women setting up camp |
 |
| Some Romans leaving their stuff lying about |
 |
| John checking out the Roman camps |
Among the other recent discoveries are two large barges, which were strangely very well preserved. The first one, 25 meters long, was made of local wood. The second ship is even larger (35 meters) but has not been excavated yet. Yet it seems that it was deliberately sunk to fortify the riverbank that runs through the big park, a not uncommon practice, and although they weren't by the starting line we hoped that we might race by them. As we gathered our bearings it seemed that even the looming thunderstorm and dark clouds couldn't dampen the festival-like spirit.
There were kids and families everywhere, Roman-themed warriors mingled between runners and a brightly coloured band beat their music at a deafening racket. Everyone felt excited, it's hard to beat the atmosphere at a race event. Especially one that had gone to so much effort to make the emphasis the significance of the park!
 |
| Race stage |
 |
| Pre-race faces |
Soon enough we were lining up and getting ready to start, boom we were off! Through the park we ran, and ran, and ran. Then we ran some more! And then ran more! Past baby swans looking around in the grass for grubs, past lakes and open green grasslands, past villas with black and red shutters over their windows. We really pounded out the run while the skies opened every ten minutes to cool us down.
 |
| Getting a sneak peak at the medals |
 |
| AND first one finished! |
 |
| Kara making a great finish! |
 |
| Kara with her medal |
By the time we finished we were sore all over and hobbled to the car, with our heavy gold medals dangling from our necks. Visiting Maxima park was a great little outing and when the sun shines we would love to go back for a picnic one time.
Tot siens,
John and Kara
No comments:
Post a Comment