Nothing to prove... Audi commercial
Just before this year's cancellation of Paris-Colmar, some events in France still attracted a large field of participants. Despite the awefull weather during the night, my friends were able to take some nice photo's during the Chateau-Thierry 24 hours race walk. Also, some walks in Beekbergen (near Apeldoorn), Olland (50 km race walk), Castricum (60 km walk) and Loon op Zand (15 hours race walk). These events were in March 2004.
My Dutch supporters had attached our flag to a nearby tree. The gymnasium at the riverside was once again the location of the start and finish.
The boulevard along the river was the preferred location for the supporters tent camp.
On Sunday morning the weather cleared. Under a sunny sky I walk towards the town center. Mike Bos has just handed me some food.
In the Grande Rue, walking down from the castle to the town center, number 35 is about to pass me.
At the finish line, after 162 kilometers (101 miles) and 24 hours of walking, Mike comes up to congratulate me. In the back, the Chateau-Thierry church.
A more relaxed walk: 40 km starting from a camping site near Beekbergen. The walk passes the waterfall at Loenen.
The whole area around Beekbergen is part of the Veluwe nature resort, west of Apeldoorn and Arnhem. National Parks de Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom comprise of sheep, forests and some small hills.
The walk in Beekbergen was organized by the O.W.B. (Eastern Walking Association), part of the N.W.B. (Dutch Walking Association). The N.W.B. celebrates it's anniversary with this beautiful walk.
The starting line up for the O.L.A.T. 50 km race walk: Centurions Frans Leijtens (203) and Ton van Andel (204) and Continental Centurions Theo Klanke (220), Ernst Westerhof (202) and Hugo Prinsen (218).
L.A.T. members Willem, Paul Altena (who became a Centurion in Newmarket last year) and Johan Wolvers have marked the 60 km walk through the sanddunes and along the beach north of Castricum (near Amsterdam).
To the left of nr. 56, Centurion Jo Leijtens and to the right, Centurion Rob Gordijn, pass the start and finish line (under the arc) during the final hours of the Nacht van Loon. The 4.75 km lap passes this point twice. To the right, some judges and lap counters looking for the next walker.