The Ganzenloop on Sunday morning will be a regular part of the program in the future of the Ganzenmarkt. The walking and running event is the legacy of the Coevorder Grachtenloop, but without the competition element.
The permits have been completed and the organization is ready. Under the banner of Stichting Ganzenmarkt, the participants walk and run through and around Coevorden on Sunday 13 November. Running group CoDaC from the city of geese sets out the routes of 5, 10 and 21 kilometers.
Grachtenloop Foundation ceased to exist in March, due to canceled editions and declining numbers of participants. Last year, an alternative run was held during Ganzenmarkt under the name Grachten-Ganzenloop. That was a recreational running and walking event without timekeeping. That form is now being continued by the organization of the Ganzenmarkt weekend.
Geert Bults of Stichting Ganzenmarkt: “Last year the response to the alternative run was very good. We wanted something for the whole family and accessible, so a walking tour and the running tours without a competitive element.”
Running group CoDaC organized the Grachtenloop and is now doing the same for the Ganzenloop. Chairman Martijn Oudhuis is pleased that the running event will continue: “We cannot do it on our own, because of the costs, permits and liability. Now this is a great solution, to do it with the Ganzenmarkt organization. another gap in the program.”
The Grachtenloop, which always took place in the summer, was also sometimes canceled due to too hot weather. In the Ganzenmarkt weekend in November, the organization need not be afraid of that.
“The competition element of the Grachtenloop will therefore definitely not be adopted. Everyone will receive a medal, but we have no formal time registration for our participants. We think it will now attract more participants.”
The walking group devises the routes. “The distances remain the same. Only now we have twice a kids run there. We think that’s very important. The Ganzenloop is also brought to the attention of primary schools. We want it to be an event for everyone. That is why the registration is also free. Last year we saw many families and recreational walkers on the walking tours,” says Oudhuis. “We hope that this will be the case again this year.”