The Stratumseind has been scrapped from the course for the entire marathon during the ASML Marathon Eindhoven on October 12. To this end, the organization has decided to spread the crowds better, she reports in a video on Facebook. Various participants respond, because in their eyes the most attractive part of the course now disappears: “bizarre”, “who gets this in his head?” Are just a few of the many indignant reactions.
The decision is also a surprise for the hospitality industry at the Stratumseind, which runs a top turnover on the day of the marathon. The entrepreneurs have not been involved in the decision, reports Tom van Brussel, board member of the United Horecabelangen Stratumseind (VHS). Chairman Arjan Bouter only heard the news this Saturday night.
The participants in the half and quarter marathon (and there are many more than the entire marathon runners) is not remembered the bustling Stratumseind.
“Too bad that this falls away for the competition runners.”
Van Brussel is happy with that. “I know that many participants feel behaved by the audience that is on the Stratumseind. But that press also brings a smile to their face for the professional runners. It is narrow, but also for them all those encouragements are a welcome support. Too bad that this is lost for the competition runners.”
Bouter: “Fortunately, the other participants will see the Stratumseind. I can imagine that the competition runners of the entire marathon are really going for a great time, so that must have been the assessment of the organization.”
Last year it was busy at the start, on the course and at the finish. “We tackled that smarter this year by spreading the crowds,” is explained in a video on Facebook. The consequence of this is that the Stratumseind is skipped.
No word is mentioned how the recreational runners are looking forward to this part of Eindhoven when they participate in the marathon in the city of lights. Speed seems to be going for atmosphere. The market and part of Strijp have also died.
A few more comments on the Facebook video:
“You run literally but also figuratively there. That gives you such a kick, that the last kilometer is almost a breeze. So eternal that they remember it.”
“It is precisely because of the atmosphere that it certainly pulls the runners who are having a hard time.”
“(…) They help everything here in Eindhoven and now also the marathon. Chapeau Eindhoven.”
“If you don’t walk on the Stratumseind, you’d better run on the treadmill.”
“If you don’t walk on the Stratumseind, you’d better run on the treadmill.”
There were also people who can understand the decision, because it was very busy in some places in the previous edition. That tries to overcome the organizing Golazo by offering the participants of the entire and half marathon on the last kilometers more space before they finish (together) on the Vestdijk.
Also the flow after that, where people got stuck in a trap last year, should now be better. Furthermore, it was decided to use more spacious starting times for the half marathon, so that there should be a better spread.
Golazo was not available to be able to explain the decision. Was that decision only inspired by safety reasons. Or does the adjustment make the course even faster and therefore even more attractive for the bread runners? The municipality of Eindhoven could not give a response either.