New world!

So completed my first week of scheduled runs with no problems and quite some fun; the weather has been great for running and the changing season is really bringing out the best of the Vondelpark, my hometurf for the shorter runs in the coming weeks. Yesterday's run was 45 mins, still at a very slow pace, but in the 75-80% of max heartrate. Feeling jazzed about really getting started with preparations.

This weekend is the Amsterdam Marathon (today actually), so we decided yesterday to go and sniff up some of the atmosphere at the Expo close to the Olympic stadium (start/finish), where today's runners needed to pick up their starting number and where you can get all sorts of running gear at major discounts. First thing that struck me as I entered the expo was the sheer amount of folks that visit. This years Amsterdam marathon will host over 26,000 runners!! 26,000 nutters who feel they need to punish themselves! And it seemed like they were all at the Expo yesterday. Most of them looked like serial marathon runners, BMI's way in the green zone for sure! :) Some work left for me, definately a new world for me! Great to get the feel of such a large competition. Today we'll show some lovin' to the runners by cheering them on while they cross the park, just around the corner of our house. Returning the favour in advance so to speak, as hopefully they'll be around to cheer me on next year.