They are terribly tired and their feet hurt very much, but they are also very proud. The friends Len van den Bosch (17) from Waalwijk and Mathijs Ruis (17) from Drunen finished the 80 Van de Langstraat on Sunday afternoon. They did just over seventeen hours on the eighty kilometer long walking tour. The friends also raised money for the Hartstichting, because Len has a heart condition. “We really helped each other to the finish, Mathijs me when I got blisters and I Mathijs at the end.”
Len is in bed with his feet up on Sunday evening: tired but satisfied with his hiking adventure. “When we crossed the finish line, we thought it was not too bad with the muscle pain and feet. But after a car ride, I almost didn’t get out of the car anymore. And then I had to pull myself up the stairs with my arms. The legs no longer wanted to,” says Len.
His good friend Mathijs recognizes that. “I have put my feet in an ice bath because of swollen feet, the muscle pain is not too bad now. I am afraid it is a different story on Monday,” he says with a careful smile.
“At first aid it became exciting when the shoes went out.”
The two started well on the 80 of the Langstraat, but after 25 kilometers, fate seemed to strike for len. “Then I felt the first blisters. So at the second main post we went to the first aid and then it became exciting when the shoes went out.”
The damage was not too bad, because there was no moisture under it. “So it was taped and we could continue without problems. That was really a relief,” Len looks back. Mathijs was not bothered by blisters at all, but became a bit grumpy the last kilometers. “Then Len really helped me through it, just as I supported him with his blisters.”
“The audience pulls you through it.”
The two friends look back on the walking tour with pleasure. “It was a very nice experience. All those walkers around you, the atmosphere that hangs and you will also be pulled through the audience,” says Len. He also found the support of his family and friends very beautiful.
Mathijs is very proud of their performance. “Although I don’t think so yet. We of course skipped overnight during the walking tour. So then you are also less sharp and you just keep on walking. I only think that it will really be descended in a few days.”
“Our friendship has become even stronger.”
Len wants to walk the 80 Van de Langstraat again. “But certainly not only. I was very happy with Mathijs. Otherwise it will also be so endlessly for miles, together is much more pleasant.” Mathijs agrees, but he doubts whether it is participating again. “Our friendship has become even stronger due to the trip, because you walk for 17 hours and then you get to know each other even better.”
The friends eventually collected 2730 euros for the Hartstichting by finishing the 42nd edition of the 80 van de Langstraat. Especially for Len that is a nice amount: heart problems in his family have been playing a role for at least three generations. He himself also has a heart condition for which he under control street at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam.
“For a long time I was afraid that I wouldn’t get old.”
He is wearing a heart monitor who warns him about dangerous heart rhythm. “For a long time I was afraid that I wouldn’t get old.” Len has put himself over with that with the help of friend Mathijs. “Now he wants to create awareness among peers. That heart problems can also prevent young and live a healthy life if you are young can make a difference.”
