Þetta hafði Eyþór að segja um hlaupið

Til skýringar er rétt að geta þess að við vorum þrír, doktorsnemarnir, frá Henley, sem tókum þátt í Amsterdam maraþoninu sl. sunnudag.

"All is good that ends well. It was a beautiful day in Amsterdam last Sunday when the three DBA19 amigos put on their running shoes ready for the challenge of the day. It was obvious in the preface of the marathon that we were no normal runners but (nearly) scientists. Eggert had analysed the map of the running track with such precision that every step was doomed to be on familiar territory. Both Eggert and Godfried had gadgets that tracked everything from the heartbeat to the movement of the solar system . . . they probably could have changed the weather if there was any need for that. Furthermore, Godfried and I drove the most part of the running track to visualise the challenge ahead. However, it seemed a lot shorter travelling with the BMW than my Nike-shoes. Everything was calculated; the time per kilometre, time per step, heartbeat, bloodstream, distanced from the start and distance to the goal, with several reports during the run. It was just a formality running the miles. It has to be said, though, that it turned out be a bit more struggle. We were, however, all looking very good for the first 30 km, although, running at different speed.

Eggert ran first time ever in shorts and you could see the women in the public glance at him with adoration and excitement. Godfried looked even taller than usual and determined like a soldier ready to march to war. Sir Arnold had told him to eat peanuts before the run, which came as a shock to two women in front of us, who thought he was popping pills. I am still not sure. To make a short story even longer (you have to get the right feeling to appreciate the accomplishment) I had ripped down some Motown songs to keep me company on the track, which were an encouragement when Martha Reeves sang "Dancing in the street" and Marvin Gaye sang "Ain't no mountain high enough". I, however, did make one mistake because after 27 km Diana Ross shouted, "Stop, in the name of love" and I was just in the groove to do just that. It was that deal, we made at lunch in the Riverside Restaurant in Henley Management College last spring, to finish this run that kept me going (as well as 17 children screaming for education). People shouting at you in Dutch also helped though I wasn’t sure if they were encouraging me or if I was a victim of a verbal abuse. At one instance the guy shouting was so big and scary that I decided it would be best lifting my feet again from the pavement.

With some cramps, lots of sweat and even tears all the DBA19 amigos managed to finish the run and proudly so. It was magical when we gathered at the Olympic stadium after giving the best we could to the challenge... the most important was that we had all made it to the end. And I remembered Godfried’s words: few days of pain but eternal glory. Well, two days later I still can't walk but I sleep with my medallion as I certainly worked for it. That evening Godfried walked like a cowboy that had been sitting on horse for days (or someone that met a big guy in dark, blind alley) but you could see that he was proud and happy as he had finished his first marathon. Eggert, after coming out of a post-run-depression (red wine helped) was cracking jokes by the evening and planning next marathons for years to come. Sir Arnold came to dinner that evening with us to celebrate the end of the journey (where was the drinking marathon gang?) ... and what a journey it was. Although it was hard I can honestly say that some of it was like walking in the park ... it was just beautiful.

So, what did this crazy idea teach us, what did we learn as we reflected on the run as good Henley-students. Well, Godfried said that he would never run another marathon in his life! We all, however, acknowledged that persistence can carry one a long way and it is important never to give up even though the goal seems impossible to reach... step-by-step, we will be there. Hopefully that is something we can apply to our DBA studies.