Did you even know that there are fellow human beings that can run for 100 kilometers up straight? That is almost like a piece of cake for the ultra runners who come to Winschoten, every second saturday of september. For 41 years in a row, and since 1995 the official Nederish Championship race. And it all began in 1976, when the solo run wend through the Oldambt region, but the last years the route is one of 10 KM in the city of Winschoten. Having a 5 star quality rated road race, giving by the European Athletics is quite an achiement in itself. That is why last year the official worldchampionsship was given as a present to Winschoten at the 40th anniversary of the 100 KM ultra run.
Ultra run Winschoten, a sports festival to enjoy for many
This year no worldchampionship and still participants from all over the world. Last year Jonas Buud from Sweden became worldchampion running the 100 kilometer in a time of 6 hours and 22 minutes. Now maybe you understand why it is called 'ultra running', it is humans excelling themselves, every one of them. And there's is also the 50 kilometer run, the 10 times 10 estafette and a kids run. Every year it is a huge happening, with lots of people comming to Winschoten from every place on earth, joining in the party that has become a traditional part of it. And the weather seems to be very nice for the audience, 26 degrees Celsius. And that means a lot of free water refreshments will be offered to the speed runners along side the route{video} by the inhabitants of Oldambt.
It can get a bit crowded along at Start-Finish
There are also routes available to be walked that will take you through the beautifull municipal of Oldambt. A new addition to the gigantic festival that the run has become over all those years. This year most 100 KM ultra runners are from Nederland and mainly from Europe. And it seems that the big favorite to win this years edition is Daniel Orálek from the Czech Republic, allthough Pascal van Norden, Nederland, might give him a run for his money. Their personal record could make them the first and runner up. Their backnumbers are 1 and 2, and you can find them in a total field of 272 female and male 100 KM runners. The overal participants are way more than that and this week Winschoten will be almost doubled in inhabitants, starting from friday the 9th of september.
Winner ultra run 100 KM female 2011: Marina Bychkova, Russia
For the people of Oldambt the traditional ultra run is a sportive festival towards the end of the summer. One that will get people like the 100 KM barefoot running champion Abdelkarim el Hayani Bamhind from Spain to Winschoten. But it also has left some hero's behind in history and memory. Amazing ones like Hendrik Jan Doornekamp who did the 100 KM on wooden(!) shoes, he went out off time at the age of 91. But many remember him, specially in the last years he participated still doing the 50 KM version. Always socializing on his way to the finish and stil getting in on time. The runners have a maximum of 12 hours to finish their ultra run. Starting at ten in the morning, finish closing down when it has gone dark in Winschoten at ten in the evening.
The late Hendrik Jan Doornekamp, famous for his 100 KM, and later 50 KM on wooden shoes
This event could only have become such a succes because there are always lot of volunteers involved, next to the sponsors that support the ultra run Winschoten. There is always a good atmosphere and a bit of empty feeling can be felt afterwards, leaving only trails of this event behind. And during the day I love to walk along the parcours{video}, talking to people , applauding those who are running, enjoying a lovely sunny day in Winschoten, Oldambt, Nederland.
And you are welcome to join us on saturday the 10th of september 2016!
Winner ultra run 100 KM men 2011: Giorgio Calcaterra, Italia
Photos from previous ultra run editions cc-by-sa @oaldamster
EDIT NOTE: Seemed too much of Nederish - English after re reading it, so I made some minor textual changes and linx added to a {video} of the route (made by JP Oaldamt) and some RUN related sites.