The second day of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches today leads the walkers to what many consider to be a highlight of the event: the Zevenheuvelenweg between Groesbeek and Berg en Dal. Also seen by many as the toughest stage, but Tamara Hiddes from Emmen likes it ‘secretly nice’.
Runners at all distances travel the long road with some considerable height differences, shortly before returning to Nijmegen. “It’s not seven hills, because we’re going down earlier,” says Hiddes, who started at 04:45 this morning. “But it’s hilly, and that’s nice, because you walk differently. You use different muscles so it’s secretly a bit nice.”
And that is welcome after yesterday’s tough stage. “The last five kilometers was very hard. There was no shade and there were few water points. And the water point that was there was very busy.” Around her, Hiddes saw people becoming unwell from the heat and the exertion. “I haven’t had any complaints myself, but I did rest twice in the last five kilometers. Something I never do. But I listen to my body, then come in a little later.”
Conditions are better today. With poncho and rain cape in his pocket, Hiddes went for a walk. “It’s cloudy and below 20 degrees, wonderful.”
Along the Zevenheuvelenweg there are traditionally thick lines of spectators to encourage the walkers. “It’s fantastic, it looks just like the Tour de France. You see all kinds of caravans, parasols and party tents. As you see the mountain stages in the Tour de France, it is also the case in Groesbeek today.”