Race Report: Amersfoort Half Marathon - 2025
Goal:
- Primary: Finish Strong and Enjoy the Experience
- Secondary: Sub 01:55
Training:
After running Den Haag CPC Loop Half Marathon just near to sub2, I've started training with Runna app. I had 10 weeks to train, lost 1 week due to sickness, and 1 week due to a cycling camp, but followed the rest of the training very well.
Runna pushes you hard with
- one interval
- one tempo
- two easy runs
- one long (mostly easy, but may have hard sets)
This schedule is much harder tha what I do normally. It was very challenging at first, but later on my body adapted, and it was fun following the whole training!
Pre-Race:
- Woke up at 7:00 AM, had my usual pre-race breakfast, jam/bread/cottage cheese and coffee.
We were discussing the weather might be too warm weeks ago, but this is not the case. Dutch weather hits again with a cold and gray sunday with occasional rains, which is not too bad to run.
Race:
-
Start:
- Chaos. We started with a huge pack and the narrow cycling roads did not help. I was stuck in the crowd in the first five kms, could not hold a steady pace because of it and it was very frustrating and tiring.
-
Middle:
- I liked my constant pace (05:22) between 8-16.
- Finish:
- Route became a bit boring since it was two laps of a 10k route, and the weather turned into a sunny day. Finished strong.
Post-Race:
I had some groin pain after the race. That injury reminds itself after each hard session, but I can manage it for now.
Fueling:
4 gels. 1 before starts, and one in every 5-6 kms.
Results:
- Official time: 1:54:20. Both goals are met!
Gear:
- Nike Vaporfly Next% 2, Asics running shorts, custom-made running top, Garmin Fenix 7 pro, Coros HR monitor.
Lessons Learned:
- Do not pick races with no pace gates, or arrive earlier and pick up a good starting slot.
Laps:
| km | pace | HR |
|------|-------|-----|
| 0 | 5:25 | 153 |
| 1 | 5:11 | 166 |
| 2 | 5:24 | 162 |
| 3 | 5:29 | 163 |
| 4 | 5:20 | 164 |
| 5 | 5:11 | 167 |
| 6 | 5:15 | 173 |
| 7 | 5:21 | 171 |
| 8 | 5:18 | 170 |
| 9 | 5:22 | 167 |
| 10 | 5:22 | 168 |
| 11 | 5:22 | 164 |
| 12 | 5:21 | 168 |
| 13 | 5:24 | 169 |
| 14 | 5:22 | 169 |
| 15 | 5:23 | 169 |
| 16 | 5:28 | 169 |
| 17 | 5:31 | 170 |
| 18 | 5:46 | 169 |
| 19 | 5:30 | 170 |
| 20 | 5:22 | 174 |
| 21 | 5:05 | 176 |
| 22.12 | 5:19 | 177 |
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