Focus on a raceInterview

Interview: Leiden Marathon

23 Nov, 2015 (Mon)
Credit : Leiden Marathon

Hello, on May 22nd 2016, you’ll be organizing the Leiden Marathon. Can you tell us where it is located?

The event is held in Leiden, in the Netherlands. The city is located between Amsterdam and The Hague.

How old is the race and why was it created in the first place?

This will be our 26th edition. The race started in 1991. We wanted to bring the special atmosphere of the New York City Marathon back to Leiden.

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What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it?

The nice course leads the runners through ancient Leiden (where the start and finish are located) and the typical Dutch surroundings with meadows, cows and windmills. All along the course, the Dutch people are eager to cheer the runners up.

What are the distances on the agenda?

The weekend start with a night 5 km on Saturday. On Sunday, the runners can choose between a full marathon, a half marathon, a 10 km and a 2 km KidsRun.

Credit : Leiden Marathon

How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract?

We hope to break the 15 000 runners mark, all races combined. The event is open to anyone, but the runners who search for special (half) marathons like the Leiden Marathon the most.

At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect?

The temperature are usually between 15 and 19 degrees. We should have a nice spring weather.

Have you planned festivities around the event?

There is an appropriate side program, but the city itself is best side event with its cultural atmosphere.

The race finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Leiden before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing?

Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden, and there are 7 museums and an historic center with many restaurants, terraces, pubs and nice shops.

Our visitors are never disappointed by the city, especially thanks to the inhabitants. On marathon day, spectators are very enthusiastic and take a special care to cheer the runners up.

Leiden is a few miles away from Katwijk, Noordwijk and the Keukenhof, one of the world’s largest flower garden, reknown for its millions of bulbs and flowers.

Credit : Leiden Marathon

In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of ahotu Marathons to make them register for the LeidenMarathon?

Leiden Marathon is the right race for people who seek for a unique experience and a well organized event in an environment in which the name of Holland was invented.

Interview with Tjeerd Scheffer, runner, founder and race-director of the Leiden Marathon

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