“These are not my circumstances,” Choukoud indicates with a smile. The 39-year-old athlete is participating in the Egmond half marathon for the fourteenth time, but prefers to run in pleasant conditions. “I’m not made for the cold, because I grew up in North Africa.”
Podium spot
Yet Choukoud does not consider himself without a chance. “If it had been eight or ten degrees, I would have gone for the win. Now I am satisfied with a podium finish.” On the boulevard of Egmond, the friendly runner faces competition from Beverwijker Stan Niesten and Filmon Tesfu from Den Helder.