NOS Sport•
Despite the harsh winter weather, the Egmond half marathon will continue as usual on Sunday. The organization in the North Holland coastal town is taking numerous additional measures.
Among other things, the distribution of heating blankets and more medical posts should help runners caught in the cold warm up again. There is no fear of cancellation, but the organization is continuously monitoring the situation.
It was already known that it will be freezing at the 51st edition of the Egmond half marathon, with a feeling temperature that can drop to 10 degrees below zero.
But with the necessary extra measures, event manager Jeroen Wouda from Le Champion expects that everything will be fine. “Safety comes first, but we assume that we can go,” he says NH News.
To ensure this, there is constant consultation and all necessary adjustments are made in advance. “We now pay particular attention to all medical matters. Is the course easily accessible for emergency services, do we have enough blankets and aid stations?”
“You absolutely have to scale up in this kind of weather. It will be a battle against the elements anyway.”
Varying responses to winter weather
The latter is part of the half marathon in the coastal town, which always takes place on the second Sunday of the year. Yet there are varying reactions to the announced cold, Wouda says.
“Some are looking forward to it even more than in other years, but there are also participants who offer their starting ticket online. Yet we see no signs of fewer participants due to the weather.”
Participants are also asked to take the weather into account. “That starts with checking in time how you want to reach the site. And clothing is super important. The temperature difference between the windy beach and sheltered dunes can be large, so dress in layers. Before the race, a garbage bag or poncho can block the worst wind.”
Despite the extra worries, Wouda is looking forward to it again. “It will be a nice winter edition.”
