Mud marathon of Schermerhorn 2002
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The second year I was in time. Month in front I subscribed. Last Sunday it was the 24e mud marathon of Schermerhorn. An Englishmen consider to participate. I send him a map, but he didn't show up. Ton consider to postpone his holyday. The urgent appointment with the dentist was a possibility, but his wife calls and it become still Hungary. Long before the start I was there for the playing number and the souvenir of the event. At 12.00 hours together with the other participants starts the fully clothed run to the big canal, that should bring three times 24 very muddy ditches.
On the parking I met a great
number of friends. There were at least a dozen mud lovers. Rudi was the only one
besides me who participated in the race. The other were active spectators only.
There were 2 Rudi, Eugenie, 2 johns, Frank, Timo, Paul, William, Gijs and Rob.
The only missing person was the Englishmen. Timo, Paul and Frank were somewhat
later. Not everybody toke a plunge. One John did have a photo camera with them
and of course he toke numerous great pictures. But some people ask them self
what the effect of the thick layer of mud over his lens should be. But he did
really everything to make the best of it with terrible damage on his
clothing...
The other John was dressed in brand new white jeans. He was the one who pushed me in the mud with my last clothes previous year. The participants don't consider the clean state of the clothes of the spectators. When you was to near to the edge, then the spatter hit your clothes everywhere. Some of them did it deliberately. All the times they jump as close as possible by John in his brand new white jeans. So he was compelled to the end to take a plunge in the mud to 'safe' his trouser. Rob was there too. He helps everyone on the shore and becomes very spattered. So he took the shortest way to the exit.
Essential in the Dutch championship are the strict rules. It is forbidden to
pass the ditches outside the markers. It is forbidden to extract clothing during
the race. You have to participate in long trousers. Otherwise you will be
disqualified. Arriving on the spot I met several participants in shorts. I told
them, that they should by disqualified. So the decided to go in there normal
clothes. Of 400 participants there were 50 like me in there normal clothes. The
other were in workout or just taking out of the competition. Exactly at 12.00 I
was there in jeans, t-shirt, shirt, jumper, white sneakers and without glasses.
So I could take the horizontal plunge for a easy passing of muddy ditches.
From start you have to run still dry 100 meters till the big canal, with a lot of water plants a beam and rather clean water. Brave I toke from the very beginning the horizontal plunge. After two crossings you go soaked but rather clean to the muddy ditch, that you have to take five times. In the beginning it is 1 meter mud and 10 cm water. Later on it is mud only. This repeating crossing is ideal for photographs. Everything you missed the first time can be repeated. After five crossings there is thick layer of mud over and under clothes, in face, shoes, ears, hairs, etc. This will stay until the very end.
After the competition you can have a shower by firemen with warm water from a
number of water cars. After cleaning I changed in fresh clothed to be ready for
taking pictures of the seniors. The guys of the parking with shorts changed to
there normal clothes were there too. I asked them if the mud was nice in their
third round. They suggested to walk with them and to there big surprise I did
so. I was in a light gray cargo, tshirt, shirt and sweeter I jumped together with them
in the first muddy ditch. After some crossing I went again to the showers. There
was television and they asked where my playing number was.
Again in clean clothed I watched the start of both heads with groups. Four guys and one girl with a boat should do the course twice. After taking pictures I walked to the muddiest ditch where the other mud lovers were assembled. Most of them aren't really clean anymore. Eugene want to take a picture of me on the very edge of the ditch. He ask me for another step behind. The result was, that I lost my balance and become completely submerged in de mud. I was in dark grey trouser, jumper, etc.
