Mud marathon of Schermerhorn 2003
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This year I hadn't a photo camera with me and video camera only. I shoot half an hour. With captures and picts from Ton I can now show you some nicest moments of the day. Disadvantage of low resolution of the captures were compensated by better timing. Both Ton and I participated with the veterans. After that there is time enough for some nice shots. I didn't do any concession concerning my clothing. Besides jeans, Nikes and jacket I wear a jumper, shirt and t-shirt too. You have to do something against the cold. Beneath you can see how thick the mud was and how tempting. A spectator could resist and jumps spontaneously fully clothed in the mud.
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He was wearing bleu jeans, grey sweeter, bleu shirt, red t-shirt and Nikes. He is and was completely unrecognizable after his fully clothed mud bad. Such a change to have a fully clothed mud bath in public can't be missed. A quarter walking around, a plunge in the water of the big canal, a clothed shower and you can to the disco again. John was there too in his white clothes. On the end he was quiet spattered. Some other spectators toke him with them in the muddiest ditch to equalize his clothes a bit. So much temptation needs some offer to get what you want...
Like every year there were four heads. First at 12.00 the ladies and veterans. The course isn't trapped. The second head is the official Dutch championship. When you want to participate you have to subscribe month in front. There was a large number of new and very young participants in jeans and t-shirt. Wearing long trousers and shoes is compulsory, because of the safety. Some where just in work outs. These aren't very comfortable. So jeans are the best solution.
After the first (dry) run, big canal, the swim, the beam and back everybody is still recognizable. But after that it's going fast. Seldom it is possible to link the guys for the start with the mud pillars somewhat farther on. Just after the shower you can find them back. Sometimes the players number helps or the clothing is typical. Otherwise it is helpless, when you want to tell the complete story.
Some of the picts beneath can be linked on above. The photo on top can be linked to pict 3 and 6 beneath. That group was fooling around, when arriving by the muddiest ditch. The boy slowly passing the ditch gets after climbing ashore another push and felt back in the mud. This happens a number of times. You should like to participate in your clean clothes with them, but you have to do your duty. Afterwards, when they go on, I toke a fully clothed plunge myself.
This year the seniors were much nicer then the groups. Probably the clubs become tired of it. Four gentlemen and a lady with a boat should bring her as clean as possible to the finish. It is nothing anymore. The ladies jump together with the guys in the mud and are in no time as muddy as the others. Some boats are completely stuck or much to small to carry anything.
