Amsterdam Marathon 2009

I'm thinking abut entering this one..

Anyone thinking the same?  If so recommendations for hotels would be really helpful, I've not travelled far for a race before and am anxious about a hotel that caters for runners (early breakfast etc).  Hoping to get somewhere booked quickly for quite cheap so I can focus on running the thing!

Would be good to have your thoughts

Tom 

Thanks Kiwi.

 I will look up the hotel.  Can you tell me where the expo is held and on what days prior to race day?

 Cheers

The expo is is held in a hall very close to the Olympic Stadium, which is where the start and finish is.  In 2008 the Expo was on Friday/Saturday/Sunday - they have it on Sunday as well because the half marathon is on Sunday afternoon.  Marathoners can still collect their packs on Sunday as well - it's so close to the start line that if you arrive a little earlier on the Sunday you can easily go to the Expo and get your start number and then go straight to the Olympic Stadium to start the race.  If you go to the Amsterdam Marathon website and then go to Extra Activities on the left and then Marathon Market, it has all the info about the 2008 Expo.

kiwiscanfly - I'm from Cambridge in NZ but have been in London close to 6 years.  Have seen you around these forums a bit - you doing Edinburgh this year?  So far I've locked in Edinburgh and Berlin.  Where are you from??

Hi Kiwidave.

I come from Wanganui.But I have lived in Somerset for nearly 22 years.My sister lives in Matamata,I don't think that is too far from Cambridge.Correct me if I am wrong.

I am not doing Edinburgh this year.I have lined up 4 for this year.I am doing the FLM,folowed by the Riga Marathon,then Berlin.I am also hoping to run for N.Z. at the World Masters Champs in the marathon there which is in Finland if I can bet selected.I think 4 marathons in one year should be enough.What do you think of London?also what have you got lined up this year.We may bump into each other somewhere along the line!

May bump into you in Berlin - I'm just going there for the weekend, arriving Sat morning and flying back to London on Sunday straight after the race.  Also doing Sussex Beacon Half in Brighton, Silverstone Half.  See my race list here. Fingers crossed that I will also get in the ballot for NYC marathon.

 Loving London - keep on saying I'll go home next year, but always end up staying here!  You're right about Matamata - only about 20 mins down the road from Cambridge.

I'm planning on running the Amsterdam Marathon this year Tom, but was waiting to book accommodation until I know I've got a place in the starting line up (and with that presuming it's not as difficult to secure one as London).

I've done a bit of research though, and a good prospect on the accommodation front (if you check out tripadvisor.co.uk) is the Zandbergen. Looks easily walkable to the start line - but don't book the family room, I've bagsied that for the terrible twosome I will inevitably be bringing with myself and the lovely wife.

I've stayed overnight before races before, but have never done one so large (or indeed a full marathon) so I'm with you on trying to get things as relaxed as possible before hand.

BTW - looks like registration opens tomorrow.

Oh thanks for the tips there Clark1e.  Glad to see you've got company with you for the race!!

 I really want to run another marathon sometime soon.  I had my head set on running London 2010 but just read on the forums that it is 5year rejections get the th year guaranteed and not 5th year guaranteed.  so pretty gutted about that right now..    so amsterdam marathon might be the way to go.

 i'll keep an eye out on the registration, thanks for the heads up.  have you done a foreign race before

Hi again Kiwidave.Where are you staying in Berlin?

P.S. see we beat the Aussies in the first cricket one dayer.Wonderful!!!

I've not....... closest I've come I guess is the Cardiff Half marathon last year, not that there's anything alien about the welsh capital, but I always promised myself that when I do "my" pre-40th marathon it'd be a good 'un ......... just in case its a one off. Amsterdam is a great city anyway and the timing fits with a significant birthday for the wife so there's a two birds, one stone mentality. Plus there's a little kids race before hand and I know there's plenty which will keep them occupied around and about.

Its one of those where it all kinda fits.

Hi kiwiscanfly - I'm staying at the Sofitel Berlin Gendarmenmarkt.

Was a great result in the cricket - we left it to the last ball but we got there in the end!

We are staying at the Agon am Alexanderplatz.I watched the match on sky before my race on Sunday and saw the highlights later on.Along with the Rugby League world Cup final (which I am still celebrating-those guys should be given the freedom of New Zealand for that) we have the upper hand.Funny how the rugby league team can do what the All Blacks can't.

I notice on fetch you have done London.I am doing it for the first time this year ,How flat is it?