He has never participated in a running competition. Nevertheless, Tom Eelink from New Amsterdam is determined today at the start of the Cascaderun in Hoogeveen. He doesn’t just do that, because he runs on clogs. “I only hear positive reactions from everyone, especially: what beautiful clogs.”
The idea arose in the workplace. A colleague Van Eelink participated in the Cascaderun last year, but Eelink found that performance disappointing. “I joked: did you walk? And then he said: Then you walk it yourself?” The goal of Finischen within an hour was then recorded.
Walking, Eelink is used to clogs. Every weekend he walks around six kilometers. But running is something else, he explains. “You miss a little damping compared to running shoes.” He fears in particular for his knees. “But I also hear my knee on running shoes.”
He wants to spend the attention that Eelink gets with his action. That is why the proceeds go to charity, Alzheimerfonds Nederland. At the time of running, the counter is more than seven thousand euros. Almost a euro per meter. This made the promotion successful. “That went beyond everyone’s expectations and that makes everything right. What also puts down in time today, it’s a success.”
In a time of 59:14, Eelink is running out of his race. So he kept his word. Eelink does not know whether it will ever be continued. “I will not do this again very quickly. But never say never.”