Rotterdam 2009

That's your place booked in 2012 then Simon  Are you still planning on driving in and out on the day?

This time next week I'll be making sure everything is ready to pick up on the way out the door early Friday morning to catch the plane to go to the expo to pick up the number to run the marathon that Rotterdam hosts.....

Hello.  I only just got an email saying someone had posted in the thread, and then find I've missed three pages of chat

How is everyone?

Anyone know of any cheap hotels?

Hello Vixx! Sometimes I get no email, sometimes I get two within 15 minutes of each other both telling me about the same message......no logic to it.

Not sure cheap and Rotterdam go together - it is also practically impossible to find a place that includes breakfast in the price. Most places seemed to be around 100 euros per night give or take when I was looking. You might find a good late deal though! TripAdvisor was quite good as you could search several places at once for a price and there are reviews from people who have stayed in the place too (it is also worth checking a hotel's own website for deals).

I am having trouble finding somewhere to stay.....

Worst case scenario, I'll stay in Amsterdam and get the train over in the morning.....

Just returned from couple of days away on business.

My, we are getting nervous aren't we.

Think a good plan is to sprint as fast as you can from the start, intimidate the Kenyans, let them know who's boss, it'll destroy their confidence, and then just try and hang on for the last 26 miles.

Vixx 76, I've hired an apartment, I always do when I do a marathon abroad, I don't need to worry about finding a decent restraunts on Sat night, will just saty in and cook plain pasta, wake up and eat exactly what IO normally do for breakfast without worrying about what they'll have, wehn breakfast starts etc... . Whats more, you get more room than in a hotel, and usually about the same price as a hotel.

GC.

Grant Cunningham wrote (see)

Think a good plan is to sprint as fast as you can from the start, intimidate the Kenyans, let them know who's boss, it'll destroy their confidence, and then just try and hang on for the last 26 miles.

Let's all do this! Link arms and make sure the rest of the field can't pass

 Hope you get sorted Vixx, your worst case only puts you an hours away so shouldn't be a problem.

 My optimism is now taking a dive, always does approaching a race... also not helped by the lack of emails regarding new posts to this thread as well.

 Are we any the wiser to best pubs/bars for post race rehydration?

First sight of a weather forecast for Rotterdam, April 5th:

On the topic of pubs, though, I have no idea! It'll be grab a bottle and back to Grant's flat won't it

You will be most welcome. Will need to inspect your bottle first, of course.

Did my last run today, 7 and a half miles, and is typical of this taper period, found it very hard indeed, jusr 2 weeks ago, I finished a 22 miler, and had enough energy to do another 4 miles.

Anyhow, this time next week!!!!!!

GC.

I haven't run since Tuesday, will hopefully get out for a run tomorrow.  Have been hit by a big bout of depression and can't be arsed about anything - and after getting myself ready for this too....

I hope I get a dose of enthusiasm soon....

Hope everyone is ok

Here, Vixx, one dose of enthusiasm.....hope it helps

Hmmmm, methinks we'd best take a bottle for Grant to inspect and then some extras for the rest of us! Of course you'll all be finished so much sooner I am that you'll see at least two bottles when I pass one over anyway

I'm expecting to finish as one of the last runners next Sunday.  My PB is just outside their cut-off point, so am not expecting to be able to work miracles after just 7 weeks build up.

6 days to go...... How is everyone feeling?

Vixx, I was just about to come looking for you! Are you feeling better? Did you get a hotel sorted? 

Part of the reason I thought Rotterdam would be nice as a first marathon was that the winner comes out and runs back in with the last person to finish (at least, that's what is says on the site). How often do you get the chance to run with the elite runners - not just in the same race but with them!?!

By this time next week it'll only be a (hopefully not too painful) memory! Getting excited now though....

Bedders : Thanks for the info and link to your 2007 blog. Are you doing Rotterdam again this year ?

Grant : generous offer of back to your flat if we can't find a pub. How are we going to meet up after the race on Sunday, without swapping mobile numbers over a public forum ?

Vixx : Really gutted to hear you've been suffering from the old darkness. I suffered from mild anxiety at the time of the Robin Hood marathon in 2005 and it completely messed up not only the race but the whole weekend. Employing every weapon in my mental arsenal to stay positive for Rotterdam on Sunday and not lose focus, after build-up has gone so well up to now.

Sean. 

hi RebekahJane                                                                                                                                                      thanks for the invite over to this thread,                                                                                                                     i am new to runnersworld website,     so i have a little caching up to do, their is alot of info on here about rotterdam,   still i am not to sure if the marathon will be run in miles or kilometrers and if they are kilometers,      will they  be 1 k markers or 5 k markers.

best regards

Welcome galeforce, we're going to have quite a little party after all - at one time it looked like only a couple of RWers would be going!

As I said, the marathon will be in km (they'll pass so much quicker....) and Bedders came on here earlier - he did Rotterdam in 2007 - and thought he remembered the markers being every KM.

hope that helps...

Hi, Galeforce.

Fancy meeting you here !

Lettuce.

Hi Metronome - I am working furiously on defeating the dark side.  Come this time next week it will be all over.......

Hi RJ - are you nervous now????

How is everyone?

OK, I've done some recon on the public house front (the internet is my second home).....

This is highly recommended, it is at the WTC (where we collect our numbers so we can all find it) and they say they take special care of folks on their birthday - celebrate with me and apparently we can all be spoilt by the staff at Paddy Murphy's http://www.paddymurphys.nl/index.htm

If jazz is your thang, there is always Dizzy's http://www.dizzy.nl/

Now, we need carnations in the lapel or something or we all sit at separate tables.....