No careful watching the cat out of the tree. Dutch champion Khalid Choukoud promises to go full attack on Sunday at the 46th edition of the Amsterdam Marathon. “It will be all or nothing,” said Choukoud at the press conference this afternoon in Vondel CS.
Choukoud, 36, feels strong and wants to tighten his personal best of 2 hours 9 minutes 55 seconds (Siena, 2021). The end time also weighs more heavily for him than a possible new Dutch title. “I really want to run a PR on Dutch soil.”
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Khalid Choukoud promises to fly in immediately on Sunday – NH Sport/Edward Dekker
Last year, Choukoud in Amsterdam had help from the hares up to the 24-kilometre mark. Then he had to make it on his own. With success, although afterwards the feeling lingered that there was a faster time than the 2.10.25 which he put down. “The start was careful and I ran a minute faster in the second part.”
Learning to walk
Athlete broker Valentijn Trouw of Global Sports Communication also believes that Choukoud can go faster. Moreover, his experience gives him an edge. “You have to learn to run a marathon,” says Trouw.
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Athlete broker Valentijn Trouw understands Khalid Choukoud – NH Sport / Edward Dekker
In the battle for the Dutch title, Choukoud could still expect competition from Richard Douma. The athlete born in Zaandam ran this spring in Rotterdam his first marathon at 2.12.21. In the capital he hopes to break this time. The 29-year-old Douma looks remarkably relaxed in the run-up to the marathon.
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Richard Douma is looking forward to his second marathon in a relaxed manner – NH Sport/Edward Dekker
“It’s just asphalt, no different than usual,” says Douma soberly. “I don’t have to be able to cut every corner well. It’s not Formula 1 or cycling. I do it the way I feel good.”
Record number of registrations
A total of 46,000 people have registered for the various distances. A record 18,000 of these are at the start of the entire marathon. With 130 different nationalities, the organization praises the ‘international character’ of the running event.
“It’s not Formula 1 or cycling. I do it the way I feel good”
Due to the Commonwealth Games, the European Championship and competition from four World Major Marathons, the competition was fierce to get a strong top field at the start in the Olympic Stadium. Whether there is a course record for the men and women, just like last year, depends partly on the weather conditions. The outlook is quite good. The temperature is stable and it will probably remain dry. Only the wind is an uncertain factor.
The starting gun will sound on Sunday at 9 a.m. You can see both the game and a report from the recreational users on TV on Sunday at NH Nieuws.
Check out the summary of last year’s competition below.
Summary Amsterdam Marathon 2021 – NH Sport/Edward Dekker
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