The Amsterdam Marathon: Its History, Route and Time

Never is there such a challenging race in the course of Netherlands's impressive history like the Amsterdam Marathon. It is called that because it is held in Amsterdam annually and has been eagerly anticipated by running aficionados ever since when it started in 1975. It is one of the largest marathons in the world and athletes from every walks of life flock in to test their mettle in this grueling event.

History of the Marathon

The first ever marathon was held in, as above mentioned, 1975, on the 3^rd of May. It is run in the Olympic Stadium itself, which seats an impressive 31,600. The first winner of the Amsterdam Marathon was a Demark citizen, who finished at a respectable time of 2 hours and 16 seconds.

Amazing, but it gets better. The most recent winner of the marathon is a young man named Emmanuel Mutai, who finished the tough race first at an astonishing rate of a little over 2 hours. He beat the previous year's champion Haile Gebrselassie by a mere 9 seconds-but what a win, indeed!

When the majestic Olympic Stadium sadly fell into a dilapidated state, the Amsterdam Marathon was moved away from whence it first began. With no stadium available for the event, organizers made do with the Dam Square as the beginning and ending point for the race-after all, the race had to go on. It turned out to be the most fascinating runs in the entire long history of the Amsterdam Marathon, but later, the Marathon was again relocated, this time to Museumplein.

However, the numerous changes of location had not deterred marathon fans as thousands continue to flock in to join the annual race. It seemed as though the Amsterdam Marathon had magical powers-it was able to continue its attraction no matter how rough or tough the terrain was.

Thankfully, the beautiful Olympic stadium was repaired and restored to its former glory in 1996. Perhaps the beauty added to the marathon's appeal as in the very same year, the marathon saw a skyrocketing increase in both male and female competitors. This event has enabled many a low profile and unknown runner to shoot to fame and thus be forever remembered as one who braved-and won-the Amsterdam Marathon.

The Route

To enable safety of the runners, the path taken by runners is smooth and debris free. This help to reduce abrasions should athletes take a tumble, but at the same time, the track is rough enough for their shoes to get a proper grip. Of course it is also flat to enable runners to showcase their running abilities to the max. Large clocks, banners and advertisements pepper the area too, to enable runners to time themselves properly. First aid stations are located at strategic points to help athletes who are in need. Their health is of paramount concern and will not be sacrificed for anything else.

Time Allowed for Race

As with any major marathon, the safety limit for the marathon is set at 6 hours-not a minute more or less. This is to ensure that runners do not strain themselves too much and have a proper guideline on when they ought to stop to give their bodies a break. Should they be unable to finish, a marathon officer will gently request them to do so.

Sources:

Andrew Bender, "Lonely Planet Amsterdam", Lonely Planet

Amsterdam Marathon official site