Hein, editor-in-chief of MAX Today, will be hosting the 4 Days of Nijmegen for the first time in 2023. As a former resident of a dorm room on Via Gladiola, now is the time to take the tour you- even. This is how he hopes to win the coveted cross after 4 days. Here is his day 4 report.
Thousands of runners lost
Thousands of runners have given up, but I’m still with them. Anyone who can run 150 kilometers in 3 days can also run 200 kilometers in 4 days. But it has to happen before I can pin the cross.
A piece of North Brabant
For this we have to cross the Meuse to North Brabant, via Overasselt, Nederasselt and Grave. The legs are heavy, but we know why we do it. And the sunrise in the morning mist makes up for that.
The countdown can begin
After passing through Gassel, Beers and Vianen, the hiking routes converge towards Cuijk. There we cross the bridge over the Meuse again, then the countdown can begin. Mook, Molenhoek and Malden are the nice supporting act. And then it’s time for the main act, the moment we’ve been working on since recording.
One gladiolus after another
The conditions could have been a little more summery, but the last kilometers are 1 big party. I get one gladiolus after another, pass my old student house, pick up my cross and then suddenly it’s over.
what an experience
I won’t miss the 2:30 a.m. wake-up call, nor the short nights on my inflatable mattress in the tent. But what an experience it has been. Tribute to all runners, wheelchair users, volunteers, ticket cutters, wristband scanners, blister pickers, masseurs and spectators. At the next edition, with or without walking shoes.
Also read Hein’s reports from previous days:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
(Photos: MAX Today editors)