Day 4: The last 51 KM in glorious sunshine and a nice breeze, 26 degrees

The last day in Nijmegen started around the same time as the days before, but Oh boy! I was very tired and not organised so it took me a little bit longer to get to the start. Whilst cycling to the start I heard my phone ring and had a slight suspicion that my Marcella and Floris might be waiting for me at the start - and so it was! They had been partying the whole night and had waited to see me off for the last day - fan-tas-tic!

 

So there I went, very cheerful after that start, and gradually my legs became a little less stiff.

Another fabulous start of a day - sunrise is just something beautiful one has to see every now and then!

 

Some people walking in remarkable outfits like these distinguished gentlemen - no idea if they made it on their normal (!!!) shoes!

 

For some this 4th day was incredibly tough. This lady of the Dutch police had to be dragged to the finish by her colleagues. Great team work brings fantastic results, because she crossed the finish line that afternoon, assisted by two of her mates!

 

"Hello, are you Irish? Do you want me to take a picture of you?" Well, kind of Irish and yes please;).....

 

Half way the walk I met a few people who were - just like me - making conversation with other walkers to get through a bit of a physical dip. We were walking one of the loops that only the 50 KM walkers were doing and they tend to be a little dragging and I started to feel more and more muscles with every step I took. You forget about that when you're chatting about random subjects and when starting to make a bit of fun. We took a break together in a pub before heading into Cuijk and had great fun dancing (yes, dancing!) to the music along the route.

 

 

The Dutch military always make a pontoon bridge at the city of Cuijk so that the walkers can cross - not doable to transport all these 40,000 walkers by the usual ferry.

 

Once the city of Cuijk is left behind, there are only 13 km left to the finish. It starts of in a lovely rural area, but then you walk through one town after the other, cheered on by thousands of people who are making a party out of this event. And to be honest, it's great these people are there to cheer you on, because after nearly four days, it's really a mental challenge to get to the finish line.

My parents were waiting for me in Malden and it was lovely to sit down for a chat and then continue on - great to get the support!! Even though there was some cloud cover, the sun was shining regularly and the tarmac was really hot and the feet feeling the same temperature... regular breaks and feet up definitely needed!

 

And finally, the start of the long Via Gladiola - just under 4 KM left from this point....

 

People who are familiar with the Nijmegen marches will recognise this phenomenon; a dancing police officer directing traffic at one of the few roads where the walkers have to stop to let traffic pass. This lady is so cool, have a look at the video!

 

 

And then, finally, after lots of attempted phone calls and messages I find my dearest Jos in the crowd, close to the finish line. Marlies and Roy and Marcella were there as well to welcome me - couldn't help a few tears because I was really happy! On the first day, Tuesday, I'd had my doubts whether I'd be able to get to the finish line on Friday, because it had been such a tough start! But to have finally reached the goal was such a fantastic feeling - quite overwhelming!

 

 

And here it is: the finish line!!!!

 

 

I went to the desk to get my wrist band code scanned and I got my second 4 Day Marches medal; this time, adorned with a little crown. 200KM done, I'm not so sure whether I'll do this again, but this time it was fantastic!

I've raised nearly € 600.- for the Irish Cancer Society, which is fantastic! My Fundraising page will remain open until 16 August 2013, so if you would still like to donate something, please do! Here's the link:

 

http://www.mycharity.ie/event/frederique_van_buurens_event

 

Thanks everyone for your fantastic support in the run up to the event, during the event and when I finished - it really helped! And a special thanks to Jos who was full-time daddy this week and didn't get much more sleep than I did, big achievement for him as well.

And also, special thanks to Marcella for giving me her lovely and quiet room and to Floris who allowed me to hang around the apartment for the week - so funny to bump into someone who has just returned home from a good night out, when you're leaving the house to start your day ;).

 

The best thing I experienced this week is that even when walking on your own, you're never alone!

 

 

 

Day 3 - 49.1 km in bright sunshine & including 7 Dutch hills

Today, the 3rd day, started off as if I had wings.

The sunrise was astonishingly beautiful- such that I decided to enjoy it properly during my breakfast, sitting with my back to the road where all walkers passed by.

Before I realised, nearly half of the walk was completed.

Lovely company along the way, Israelian Haim, who everybody will recognize as he carries a very big flag on his back.

 

Then, the sun started splitting the stones and even though there was some wind, it got soooo hot!

The 7 hills were tough because of that heat... It took me a long time to cross them; I had to take a good few breaks!

Very very busy on the Berg en Dal road, and utterly delighted I made it to the finish! I learned that over 900 people droppes out today, which is very high!

Last day tomorrow!  Another tough day, no hills... But these legs are starting to hurt at this stage - but glory is now only 50 km away!!

Day 2: 48.2 km, 26 degrees

Day 2 started around the same time as yesterday, so I was off for today's 48 km at 4.15 AM.
The humidity was unreal; so initially it seemed to become quite a tough day again, but it turned out to be quite nice, given that high clouds reduced the intensity of the sunshine and the heat was tempered just that little bit, and a slight breeze made it feel much better.




The result of this was that after 4 hours, I had completed 24 km, and I only had that same distance ahead of me. People were a good bit quieter this morning, the first day had really tired people out, so  only in the course of the day most walkers became 'alive' again. Same for me - with the only difference that I had actually started with a coffee this morning.

As my breakfast was a bit earlier, my lunch was that bit earlier too, so I had a pasta bolognesa at 8.30AM, unusual, but so good! And I walked much faster after that!

In Wijchen, one of the towns along today's route, I was met by my biggest supporters. They were quite cheerful when I arrived; the little once a little puzzled when I left them again to continue on the road...

Roads were wider today, so it was easier to walk at my own pace. And surprise surprise, more supporters along the route...

General supporter who was slightly (just slightly) mad:

... and my other big supporters, mum and dad, were there to cheer me up for the last stretch into Nijmegen.

The 4 day walks are certainly an occasion for big promotions, of which a result can be seen below. The number of free items (mostly food and drink) along the route is just unbelievable; one could walk without bringing any snacks and get away with loads of stuff for free. Companies are handing out new products: apples, tomatoes, muesli bars, sweets, etc. and kids are offering buckets or plates with crackers, sliced cucumber, liquorice and many other treats. And plenty of people are supplying free drinking water or a free cool shower to anyone who is interested :).

The last part of the walk went through the western part of Nijmegen into the old city... lovely ending to the walk on this Pink Wednesday - to celebrate the acceptance of the gay part of our society.

So, good day today, lots of things to see which made the walk very easy and fast. I finished at 2PM and very much enjoyed a cold beer at the finish line.

Forecast for tomorrow tells me it's going to  be a hot day; so I'd better walk fast in the morning and take a few more breaks in the afternoon... it's going to be the 'Zevenheuvelendag' or 'Seven hills day'... well, I trained for that in good old Wicklow, so I hope that's going to pay off. Tough it will be, that's for sure!

Day 1: 52km - 14-28 degrees Celsius!

3.15 AM. Alarm clock starts beeping. After a little less than 5 hours sleep I'm preparing my food for along the way. It's pitch dark outside.
I unlock the bike I have on loan from Paul to arrive at the start of the first day's walk at 4.10 AM, being nearly kicked over by the mass of people that has just started the 52 km walk that is today's test excercise. I'm giving out to myself for being late... plus having lost my camera in the slightly stressy situation I put myself in - why on earth am I this nervous? No idea...

At 4.17 AM I walk under the Start banner and then it has really started. Cheered on by hundreds of drunk students who have just been kicked out of pubs and terraces and who wish all walkers well chanting things like: only "50 KM to go" - and other songs of the intoxinated kind... For a moment I thought - I well remember the time that I would have been on that other side, but oh gosh, here I am, being cheered on - and then at the same time I thought it was absolutely hilarious!

Sunrise at approximately 5.45 AM; beautiful painting in the sky over a still misty landscape.. lovely and fresh morning, but as soon as the sun gained height, it started to heat up.

Fellow walker Erik took a picture of me - so here I was taking my first break - very happy face for the time of the day, don't you think?

I may be walking in my hiking boots, but some people use other footwear... look at this guy, I bet he'll finish the complete 4 day Marches with no problem at all - he seemed to be totally at ease.

Another break, time to give the feet a bit of air and some feet gel... no blisters today, which is brilliant!

The number of ghetto blasters along the route was very high this year. We were walking/dancing in the streets where 'Blurred lines' or 'Get lucky' were pumped out of huge speakers - the spectators themselves dressed up so cool - it really was a case of observing and being observed and cheering each other on.

The ghetto blaster on the below picture was one very old one, but worked fine. The over 70 year old DJ was delighted with himself; playing marches to the rhythm of which all the walkers could put one feet in front of the other.

And guess what, a real hookers and pimps party along the route! They all looked fabulous!

Temperatures were rising and I saw one thermometer along the road showing 28 degrees at some stage. Scorching hot and hardly a breeze, so conditions were getting tough in the afternoon. Still, the music and water that was sprayed on all of us - and welcomed by most bar a few scroogy people - made the last 10 km so much easier. Have a look at the video below; the Dutch audience will recognise Guus Meeuwis' ''t Dondert en het bliksemt'... nice marching tempo ;)

Having left the carnavalesque atmosphere behind me, the walk got serious (and hot) again for the last part up to the finish. I lost the walking mate I had walked with since early morning because I wanted to walk that road as soon as possible... which resulted in me arriving at the finish line in bad need of some salty food!

I couldn't even take any beer, I just needed something salty to balance my body. Learned a very important lesson in that today; so tomorrow my food packet will include pasta (thanks again Ms Woud!) and crisps. Instead of a beer, this bag of chips was the best I could opt for - so good!

This day was extremely tiring because of the heat. And just picture this... hundreds of people dancing to the music played on the central square at which the walk finished... in their boots... a little like apres-ski, but then the summer edition.


I'm wrecked, so off to bed to prepare myself physically for day 2 - which will be a killer day!
Fingers crossed... and talk/chat soon!

The night before...

Time is ticking away. In less than 6 hours I'll be at the start of the 200 km. I arrived in Nijmegen this afternoon in the best company of my dearest, dropped the bags at the best place you can stay in town (thank you Ms Woud!!) and went to get my wrist band.

Thrilling atmosphere in glorious sunshine, 27 degrees, plenty of bands playing and general excitement! 

Gladiolus flowers in 200 km... Death or gladioluses is the literal translation from Dutch... Lets be honest, they aren't my favourite flowers, but very happy when I'll get these at the finish on Friday!!

The sun has set and it's time for bed... It won't be this late tomorrow night!

Sleep well!