Have you ever noticed? Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac. George Carlin
By the end of February, Ad Leermakers, Frans Leijtens and Rob Wiche were ready to do the very cold Bernouville 24 hours race. It rained all night and this local Bernouville family let us use their shower to warm up again after the race.
The Bernouville team, photographed by Frans (RWV, Delft): from left to right, Rob Wiche (RWV, Voorschoten), Riny Jehoel (Hart van Brabant, Vlijmen), Coby Leermakers (Hart van Brabant, Loon op Zand), Mike Bos (airforce, Haarlem), Jan Bertens who became seriously injured in a car accident in Roubaix last year (Hart van Brabant, Tilbug), Jan Drijvers (Hart van Brabant, Tilburg) and Ad Leermakers (Hart van Brabant, Loon op Zand).
One week later, from left to right: Rieks Haan, Jan de Jonge, Ad Leermakers and Co de Jong. Along with Frans Leijtens they walk in the sanddunes of Drunen during one of the last real winter walks. A photograph containing the best Dutch long distance walkers at this moment, only lacking Huib van Broekhoven.
Before the walk, Centurion Piet Jansens hands a silver Centurion badge to Centurion Ad Leermakers. Piet had already received one in the past, because of his work as a Brotherhood Captain and Ad received his because of his victory in the Blackpool race and his lifetime achievements in racewalking.
The last winter walk, a 60 km walk hosted by OLAT from the village of Leende. A last chanche for long distance walkers to prepare for the 15 hours of Loon op Zand or the 80 km of Sittard. Or a chanche to enjoy the scenery. At this rest stop walkers get 'boerenkool met worst' (cabbage, potatos and sausage) to eat.
April, the weather improves: Centurion Piet van der Kroft and Francis Rouppe cross the canal near Waalwijk via an old railway bridge during the 40 km Fellenoordwalk.
May, the two day IML walk in Bern/Belp, Switzerland. The Dutch Royal Military Academy meets long distance walker Cor Lockhorst (on the left) in the start/finish tent.
And as for the scenery, Bern turns out to be very beautiful and a good training for future events.
But also closer to home, in Spaarndam (near Haarlem), I was able to walk some distance in preparation for Weert. Nice weather, by the way...