Pa few months after leaving football, the ex-madridista Arjen Robben suffered cramps but managed to finish the Rotterdam marathon with former Olympic figure skater Erben Wennemars. The former player was satisfied with this new challenge, now far from the pitch.
Stop the clock on 3:13:4069 minutes behind race winner Abdi Nageeye. “Some say ‘you’re an idiot’, but I’m just a sports fanatic” He said after finishing the test.
“I realized very quickly that it wasn’t really my day. At one point I had to go for a walk because I had cramps, and then you have to start all over again. After 30 kilometers, it’s no longer enjoyable, it’s hell. You think you’ll never do it again, but now that you’ve started…but yeah, maybe we’ll do it one more time.” said in US. The Dutchman prepared the challenge together with Erben Wennemarsformer ice speed skater with two Olympic medals at Turn 2006.
at a good pace
Robbenwho retired from professional football last June wearing the Groningen shirt -the same club he started with in 2000-, completed the marathon at a pace of 4:35/km. Already in March, the former player participated in the Haren Half Marathon with a record of 1:20:37, a 3:49/km. Despite reaching the finish line exhausted, the Dutchman did not shy away from the press, who wanted to know his impressions after his new and complicated ‘deed’.
“It wasn’t fun, it really wasn’t fun. I made it, but that’s all. I’ve suffered a lot and been struggling mentally for a long time. The audience helps you a lot. Thank you all. At first I was worried about the brand, but in a way point you don’t think about her anymore. Then it’s about surviving and finishing my first marathon. You realize what something like that does to your body, but I did it,” said Robben, who, despite the hardship, will run again some other marathon.
