It takes some getting used to for both horse and runner, but with the Ride&Run it is really the intention that people and animals go equally fast. The event is on the program for the fourth time, and this year for the first time in Schoonloo.
With 240 participants one can speak of a major event. “We are not unique”, says organizer Marieke Elsenaar. “But we certainly belong to one of the larger Ride&Run events in the Netherlands.”
The fact that the eye fell on Schoonloo this year has everything to do with the location. Johan Elsenaar – father of Marieke and also active in the organization – calls it an ideal location. “With the riding school and the campsite, for sure.” The municipality of Aa en Hunze also proved helpful, says Elsenaar. “When we indicated that we wanted to organize this, they immediately helped with crush barriers and advice.”
Last year the event took place in Hoogersmilde. “Staatsbosbeheer has imposed restrictions this year, making it no longer possible there. It was possible here.”
With routes of 5 and 10 kilometers, and a special route for children, the Ride&Run aims for a large influx. And it gets that with 240 participants. “We mainly want to keep it a recreational event,” says Marieke Elsenaar.
To achieve this, the participants are given a speed limit. Anyone who has been faster than 12 kilometers per hour on average will be disqualified. For the 5 kilometers, for example, this means that everyone is not allowed to be inside within 25 minutes. In this way we guarantee the well-being of the horse and it is easy to maintain.”
Participants were enthusiastic. So did Christine and Sandra, who didn’t know each other at all before the Ride&Run. “I wanted to ride, but I didn’t have a running partner,” says Sandra, who came all the way from Delft. “Christine responded via Facebook that she wanted to. Now we see each other for the first time.”
Christine calls the event in Schoonloo ‘very pleasant’. “It is beautifully spacious and certainly worth repeating.”
The event did not run smoothly. At the end of the morning, the organization found out that some participants had walked the wrong route. According to the organization, the signs had been reversed, while they were all still in the correct position at the start of the morning. It caused some confusion about the results and not everyone had the correct time.
“Very annoying,” said Johan Elsenaar. “But we can’t keep an eye on the 10-kilometer route at every moment of the day. It’s silly that this happens then.”