Rotterdam Marathon

Index

Marathon Sport Expo

In April 2023, I completed the longest distance of the Marathon Rotterdam Walk. The event offers three routes: 5, 10, and 15 kilometers. Most hiking events send out the route in advance, but Rotterdam does things differently: before collecting my route map, I was invited to explore the Marathon Sport Expo, just like the runners do. The walkers complete their routes on Saturday, mostly following the same track the runners use on Sunday. It is a pity that hikers cannot walk more than 15 kilometers, as the event would easily support a longer distance.

The Marathon Rotterdam Walk

The hike leads through the Centre of Rotterdam. What stood out most that day was how exceptionally clean the route was, the same track the runners would use on Sunday. I had never seen the heart of Rotterdam so spotless. The pavement was almost shining, and there was no litter anywhere. Rotterdam should consider keeping the city this clean and not only for the Marathon Rotterdam & Walk.

A High‑Profile Marathon Event

I chose to collect my walking route map on Friday, the day before the hike. This allowed me to experience the atmosphere surrounding a major marathon, an atmosphere shaped by elite runners and large‑scale sports marketing. It feels very different from hiking events that focus exclusively on walking. Most hiking events are low‑profile, with a relaxed mixed zone, a few stalls, and walkers moving calmly through the area. Events such as the Eindhoven Marathon, Dam tot Damloop, and the Rotterdam Marathon, where multiple activities are combined, create a completely different dynamic. At high‑profile marathon events like Rotterdam, walking through the Marathon Sport Expo feels almost like being a professional athlete, surrounded by major sports brands luring me with gadgets. In addition, almost the entire track is not only marked but also fenced off, and it is even possible to spot marathon stars preparing for Sunday's race.

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