Muddy paths, flooded fields and opaque obstacles. Participants at the Wampex in Vledder did not make it easy for themselves. Yet many braved the freezing cold and arrived at the finish line exhausted, but still enthusiastic.
It is a matter of guessing what inspires the few hundred daredevils, but one conclusion can be drawn this morning. All members of the ninety teams that showed up last night are go-getters of the most robust kind.
The Wampex is a (walking) tour of approximately 30 kilometers, which requires an average of 8 to 10 hours of slog. The run is in teams of 5 or 6 people, who were allowed into the meadow at different times last night. In addition to completing the distance, in darkness, a dozen tasks had to be fulfilled. The participants are also packed with, among other things, a compass, water-resistant clothing and writing materials.
Photographer Kim Stellingwerf got up before dawn and headed to the Vledder Aa. The sports enthusiasts had to overcome their last obstacle there. The Indian bridge produced numerous faces: from supreme concentration to wall-to-wall smiles.