Luuk Maas (23) from Tilburg played football all his youth, but was actually not very good at it. Until his uncle challenged him to run the Tilburg Ten Miles. He was then 16 years old. Seven years later he ran his very first marathon. In Hamburg he set the 28th Dutch time ever. Not bad for a beginner.
“It all started as a joke with my uncle that got out of hand,” says Luuk. He mainly played football for fun. Eventually he stopped and he still has no idea what he wants to do next.
Until he starts joking with his uncle about the Tilburg Ten Miles. “The first time I participated in a competition was at the Tilburg Ten Miles. Without training,” says Luuk with a laugh.
“After six months I was Dutch champion in the B-juniors.”
After his first match, Luuk joined a training group. “After six months I was Dutch champion in the B-juniors. That was really with minimal training and against people who had been doing athletics for a long time.”
Meanwhile, the Tilburger already has many competitions and championships to his name. At the moment he is Dutch half marathon and ten kilometer champion. And that while he is only 23. That’s young, especially for a marathon.
“All in all it was a dream debut.”
Nevertheless, Luuk was at the start in Hamburg more than a week ago. Beforehand he had a clear goal in mind: 2 hours, 13 minutes and 37 seconds. It got 2 seconds faster. “All in all it was really a dream debut. There was a super fun atmosphere along the course and the weather was beautiful. If you also run such a time, you can’t complain.”
But 27 Dutch people were once faster than the 23-year-old Tilburger and he immediately fell in love with the distance. “The marathon is perhaps my favorite distance. I’ve always wanted it too. It was just a matter of waiting until I was old enough.”
Despite his fast time, Luuk thinks he hasn’t reached his top yet. “I’m sure I can go faster. I actually thought that quite soon after the finish. I think it should be relatively easy to go faster. I had also made fewer kilometers during training sessions than other guys.”
